The Wayro route from Guanajuato to Bernal is 127 miles (204 km), about 2 h 30 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 127 mi (204 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 2 h 30 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-110 → MEX-45 → MEX-45D → MEX-57D → QRO 4 → QRO 100 |
| Mexican states on the route | Guanajuato (Level 3), Querétaro (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-45D, MEX-43D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 5.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
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 Guanajuato to Bernal is like
MEX-45D (69 mi) and QRO 4 (19 mi) carry about 69% of the 127 miles. MEX-45D, MEX-57D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-110, MEX-45 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 2 states: Guanajuato, Querétaro. None of the 5 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Guanajuato to Bernal, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-110 | 1–7 | 6 | Guanajuato |
| local roads | 7–13 | 6 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45 | 13–23 | 10 | Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 23–24 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 24–93 | 69 | Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 93–103 | 10 | Querétaro |
| QRO 4 | 103–122 | 19 | Querétaro |
| QRO 100 | 122–127 | 5 | Querétaro |
- Mile 84 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
Stops between Guanajuato and Bernal
- Nature and outdoors: El Cimatario National Park (mile 96)
- Museums and history: Celaya Cathedral (mile 63), El Cerrito (mile 88)
Celaya Cathedral
Celaya's main Catholic church, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, occupies the space of a former chapel that was annexed to the neighboring Temple of St. Francis.
El Cerrito
Just outside Querétaro city in Corregidora, El Cerrito is an INAH archaeological zone centered on a pyramid close to 100 feet high, later topped by a 19th-century fort, with a small site museum on the grounds.
Templo y exconvento de San Francisco de Asís de Querétaro
Querétaro's San Francisco church once served as the city's cathedral. The convent was begun in 1589 and the church finished in 1640, and it keeps a Baroque lectern and upper-choir stalls by Francisco Eduardo Tresguerras.
Aqueduct of Querétaro
Finished in 1738, Querétaro's aqueduct carries 74 stone arches up to 23 meters high across a valley for about 1,280 meters. It once brought spring water to the city by gravity and still stands as a symbol of colonial Mexico.
El Cimatario National Park
El Cimatario National Park protects about 24 square kilometers of land just south of the city of Santiago de Querétaro.
More drives to Bernal
- Celaya to Bernal
- Salamanca to Bernal
- Irapuato to Bernal
- Pénjamo to Bernal
- León to Bernal
- Morelia to Bernal
From Guanajuato to other places in Mexico
- Guanajuato to Amatitán
- Guanajuato to Tequila
- Guanajuato to Jerez, Zacatecas
- Guanajuato to Sombrerete
- Guanajuato to El Rosario, Sinaloa
- Guanajuato to San Ignacio, Sinaloa
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Guanajuato to Bernal?
About 2 h 30 min of driving without stops, over 127 miles.
How far is Bernal from Guanajuato by car?
About 127 miles (204 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 Guanajuato to Bernal?
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 Guanajuato to Bernal?
The U.S. State Department rates Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Guanajuato to Bernal use?
In order: MEX-110, MEX-45, MEX-45D, MEX-57D, QRO 4 and QRO 100. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Guanajuato and Bernal?
Closest to the road: El Cerrito (archaeological site, mile 88, 2 mi from the route); Templo y exconvento de San Francisco de Asís de Querétaro (convent, mile 91, 1 mi from the route); Aqueduct of Querétaro (aqueduct, mile 93, 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.