The Wayro route from Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Otumba is 389 miles (626 km), about 6 h 36 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 389 mi (626 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 36 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-45D → MEX-45 → MEX-47D → MEX-57D → MEX-M40D → MEX-132 |
| Mexican states on the route | Zacatecas (Level 4), Aguascalientes (Level 2), Jalisco (Level 3), Guanajuato (Level 3), Querétaro (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-45D, MEX-43D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Driving this route in a car with U.S. plates
| Temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) | Required: this route is outside the zones where U.S.-registered cars can skip the temporary import permit (Baja California, Baja California Sur and part of Sonora) |
|---|---|
| Mexican auto insurance | Required for all vehicles: buy a Mexican policy before you drive |
Sources: U.S. State Department, Mexico travel information (updated August 11, 2026); permits are issued by Banjercito.
What the drive from Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Otumba is like
MEX-45D (163 mi) and MEX-M40D (60 mi) carry about 57% of the 389 miles. MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D, MEX-M40D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-45, MEX-132 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 7 states: Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Guanajuato, Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Otumba, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 4–25 | 21 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 25–53 | 28 | Zacatecas, Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 53–57 | 4 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 57–87 | 30 | Aguascalientes, Jalisco |
| MEX-45D | 87–229 | 142 | Jalisco, Guanajuato |
| MEX-47D | 229–281 | 52 | Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 281–316 | 35 | Querétaro, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 316–318 | 2 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-M40D | 318–378 | 60 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| MEX-132 | 378–385 | 7 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 385–389 | 4 | State of Mexico |
- Mile 30 of this route: Zacatecas → Aguascalientes (state line)
- Mile 83 of this route: Aguascalientes → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 132 of this route: Jalisco → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 242 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 283 of this route: Querétaro → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 316 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 345 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 360 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 377 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
Stops between Guadalupe, Zacatecas and Otumba
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Espacio, Aguascalientes (mile 67), Aguascalientes Cathedral (mile 68), Parque Rodolfo Landeros (mile 71)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Rodolfo Landeros (mile 71), Cerro de las Campanas (mile 240)
- Museums and history: Museo Espacio, Aguascalientes (mile 67), Aguascalientes Cathedral (mile 68), Tula (mile 329), Jorge R. Acosta Museum (mile 329), Museo Arqueológico de Apaxco (mile 345)
Museo Espacio, Aguascalientes
Inside the Tres Centurias complex at Aguascalientes' old train station, Museo Espacio is a contemporary art museum, so a visit pairs current work with a look at the city's railroad buildings.
Aguascalientes Cathedral
The cathedral of Aguascalientes stands on the Plaza de la Patria in the city's historic center.
Parque Rodolfo Landeros
Also called Parque Héroes, this environmental and recreation park on Avenida José María Chávez in Aguascalientes has an artificial lake, bike rentals and several other attractions.
Cerro de las Campanas
Rising within Querétaro City, the Cerro de las Campanas is a hill that is protected as a Mexican national park.
Tula
Once the Toltec capital, the Tula archaeological zone is best known for its Atlantes, basalt warrior figures over four meters (13 feet) tall crowning the main pyramid. Visitors also see a ball court, the Burnt Palace and the Coatepantli wall, carved with snakes devouring skeletons.
Jorge R. Acosta Museum
Next to the Tula ruins, the Museo de Sitio Jorge R. Acosta traces the rise and decline of the Toltecs and their city, Tollan Xicocotitlan. It moved into new facilities in 1982 and covers nearly 20 years of digs led by archaeologist Jorge R. Acosta.
Museo Arqueológico de Apaxco
Founded in 1985, the Museo Arqueológico de Apaxco sits across from the parish church of San Francisco de Asís and beside the town hall in Apaxco, State of Mexico.
Church and former convent of Todos los Santos
Franciscan friars built this fortress-style convent in Zempoala, and the complex still keeps the classic layout of atrium, church, open chapel and cloister. It pairs well with a drive through the area's old pulque haciendas.
Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque
Built by Franciscan friar Francisco de Tembleque between 1554 and 1572, this 16th-century water system runs more than 48 km between Zempoala and Otumba. Its tallest arcade at Tepeyahualco reaches almost 40 meters, and UNESCO listed it in 2015.
When you get to Otumba
Teotihuacan
Built between the 1st and 7th centuries AD, this UNESCO-listed ancient city lines the Avenue of the Dead, where you can walk between the Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon and the Temple of the Feathered Serpent.
Pyramid of the Sun
Rising along the Avenue of the Dead between the Pyramid of the Moon and the Ciudadela, the Pyramid of the Sun is the largest building in Teotihuacan, believed to date to about AD 200.
Museo del Ferrocarril en Otumba
The Museo del Ferrocarril en Otumba is a museum in the town of Otumba de Gómez Farías devoted, as its name says, to the railroad.
More drives to Otumba
- Mexico City to Otumba
- Tepotzotlán to Otumba
- Toluca to Otumba
- Metepec to Otumba
- Jilotepec to Otumba
- Cuernavaca to Otumba
From Guadalupe, Zacatecas to other places in Mexico
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to San Juan de los Lagos
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Temacapulín
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Tepatitlán
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Amatitán
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Ajijic
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Tequila
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Otumba?
About 6 h 36 min of driving without stops, over 389 miles.
How far is Otumba from Guadalupe, Zacatecas by car?
About 389 miles (626 km) on the Wayro route. Other map services may show a few miles more or less, depending on where they start and end in each city.
Do I need a permit to drive my U.S. car from Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Otumba?
Yes. A temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) is required for a U.S.-registered car on this route, which is outside the zones where it can be skipped. Mexican auto insurance is required for every vehicle.
Is it safe to drive from Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Otumba?
The U.S. State Department rates Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel; Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Otumba use?
In order: MEX-45D, MEX-45, MEX-47D, MEX-57D, MEX-M40D and MEX-132. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Guadalupe, Zacatecas and Otumba?
Closest to the road: Museo Espacio, Aguascalientes (art museum, mile 67, 0.8 mi from the route); Aguascalientes Cathedral (church building, mile 68, 0.2 mi from the route); Parque Rodolfo Landeros (park, mile 71, 0.2 mi from the route). All stops are described above.
How we put this guide together
Wayro calculates the route from OpenStreetMap road data; mile numbers are positions along this route, not highway mile markers, and "from the route" distances are straight-line, so the real detour depends on access roads. Stops are chosen from parks, natural sites, museums, historic sites and attractions close to the route (roughly 2 to 7 miles depending on the type, farther for World Heritage sites): at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, with no more than five of one type, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place and city descriptions are written by the Wayro team from official park, museum, tourism and government websites and other published sources. Safety levels and entry rules were checked against the U.S. Department of State on September 29, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.