Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Pénjamo Road Trip: Stops & Drive Time

By admin, 3 October, 2026

The Wayro route from Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Pénjamo is 216 miles (348 km), about 3 h 59 min of driving without stops.

U.S. State Department travel advisory: Zacatecas — Level 4, Do Not Travel; Aguascalientes — Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution; Jalisco — Level 3, Reconsider Travel; Guanajuato — Level 3, Reconsider TravelAdvisory issued May 29, 2026; checked September 29, 2026. Guanajuato is the Mexican state that contains Pénjamo. This route passes through a state at the advisory's highest level. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive.
Museo de la InsurgenciaTeatro MorelosTequila CorralejoGuadalupe, ZacatecasPénjamo
Route from Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Pénjamo with the 3 stops listed below (blue dots).
Distance216 mi (348 km)
Driving time, no stops3 h 59 min
Main roads, in orderMEX-45D → MEX-45 → MEX-I-20D → MEX-90
Mexican states on the routeZacatecas (Level 4), Aguascalientes (Level 2), Jalisco (Level 3), Guanajuato (Level 3)
Toll roadsMEX-45D, MEX-I-20D
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 8.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below3

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 insuranceRequired 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 Pénjamo is like

MEX-45D (109 mi) and MEX-45 (58 mi) carry about 77% of the 216 miles. MEX-45D, MEX-I-20D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-45, MEX-90 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Guanajuato. Of the 3 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.

The route from Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Pénjamo, road by road

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miState
local roads0–44Zacatecas
MEX-45D4–2521Zacatecas
MEX-4525–5328Zacatecas, Aguascalientes
local roads53–574Aguascalientes
MEX-4557–8730Aguascalientes, Jalisco
MEX-45D87–17588Jalisco, Guanajuato
MEX-I-20D175–19116Guanajuato
MEX-90191–21423Guanajuato
local roads214–2162Guanajuato
  • 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)

Stops between Guadalupe, Zacatecas and Pénjamo

  • Right off the route (under 1 mile): Teatro Morelos (mile 68)
  • Museums and history: Museo de la Insurgencia (mile 48)

Museo de la Insurgencia

Mile 48 · Museum · 3 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Set in a 17th-century estate, the Museo de la Insurgencia opened in 1964 to tell the story of Mexico's independence movement. One hall shows farm, mining and textile tools from hacienda work; another displays everyday objects from past eras.

Teatro Morelos

Mile 68 · Theatre building · 0.2 mi from the route

In downtown Aguascalientes, Teatro Morelos is a neoclassical theater designed and built by engineer José Noriega and opened in 1885. In October and November 1914 it hosted the Sovereign Revolutionary Convention.

Tequila Corralejo

Mile 209 · Distillery · 1 mi from the route

Tequila Corralejo is distilled in Pénjamo, Guanajuato, at the historic Hacienda de Corralejo, where the brand, established in 1996, offers guided tours and hosts social events.

More drives to Pénjamo

From Guadalupe, Zacatecas to other places in Mexico

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Pénjamo?

About 3 h 59 min of driving without stops, over 216 miles.

How far is Pénjamo from Guadalupe, Zacatecas by car?

About 216 miles (348 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 Pénjamo?

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 Pénjamo?

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 (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.

What roads does the drive from Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Pénjamo use?

In order: MEX-45D, MEX-45, MEX-I-20D and MEX-90. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.

What are good stops between Guadalupe, Zacatecas and Pénjamo?

Closest to the road: Museo de la Insurgencia (museum, mile 48, 3 mi from the route); Teatro Morelos (theatre building, mile 68, 0.2 mi from the route); Tequila Corralejo (distillery, mile 209, 1 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.