The Wayro route from Guanajuato to Ixtenco is 301 miles (484 km), about 5 h 11 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 301 mi (484 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 11 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-110 → MEX-45 → MEX-45D → MEX-47D → MEX-57D → MEX-M40D → MEX-136 |
| Mexican states on the route | Guanajuato (Level 3), Querétaro (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-45D, MEX-43D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.0 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 Guanajuato to Ixtenco is like
MEX-M40D (88 mi) and MEX-47D (52 mi) carry about 47% of the 301 miles. MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D, MEX-M40D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-110, MEX-45, MEX-136 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 5 states: Guanajuato, Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala. None of the 9 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Guanajuato to Ixtenco, 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 | 24–75 | 51 | Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 75–76 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-47D | 76–128 | 52 | Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 128–163 | 35 | Querétaro, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 163–164 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-M40D | 164–252 | 88 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Tlaxcala |
| MEX-136 | 252–301 | 49 | Tlaxcala |
- Mile 88 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 130 of this route: Querétaro → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 163 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 193 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 207 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 224 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 236 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 244 of this route: Hidalgo → Tlaxcala (state line)
Stops between Guanajuato and Ixtenco
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro de las Campanas (mile 87), El Cimatario National Park (mile 93), Parque nacional Xicoténcatl (mile 276)
- Museums and history: Celaya Cathedral (mile 63), Jorge R. Acosta Museum (mile 175), Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Apizaco (mile 280)
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.
Cerro de las Campanas
Rising within Querétaro City, the Cerro de las Campanas is a hill that is protected as a Mexican national park.
El Cimatario National Park
El Cimatario National Park protects about 24 square kilometers of land just south of the city of Santiago de Querétaro.
Atlantean figures
Crowning the main pyramid at the Tula archaeological zone, these basalt sculptures of Toltec warriors stand more than four meters tall in what was once the Toltec capital; the nearby Wall of Snakes shows carved serpents 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.
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.
Parque nacional Xicoténcatl
Covering roughly 600 hectares in central Tlaxcala, Xicohténcatl National Park takes in the historic center of Tlaxcala city plus Quiahuixtlán, Ocotelulco and Tepeticpac, which correspond to three of the old Tlaxcalan lordships.
Ex Convento de Santa María de la Concepción Atlihuetzia
The ruined walls of this 16th-century Franciscan convent in Atlihuetzia rise as high as 21 meters beside the 17th-century Purísima Concepción church. The site also holds a sanctuary to Cristóbal, honored as the first Catholic child martyr in the Americas.
Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Apizaco
In the city of Apizaco, this Catholic basilica (Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Misericordia) was begun in the third decade of the 20th century and completed in 1961.
When you get to Ixtenco
Museo Nacional del Títere
On the main square of Huamantla, the National Puppet Museum (Museo Nacional del Títere) fills eight galleries with puppets from Mexico and abroad, including pieces tied to the Rosete Aranda family, whose company toured Mexico for generations.
More drives to Ixtenco
- Huejotzingo to Ixtenco
- Otumba to Ixtenco
- Pachuca to Ixtenco
- Mexico City to Ixtenco
- Tepotzotlán to Ixtenco
- Actopan to Ixtenco
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
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Guanajuato to Ixtenco?
About 5 h 11 min of driving without stops, over 301 miles.
How far is Ixtenco from Guanajuato by car?
About 301 miles (484 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 Ixtenco?
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 Ixtenco?
The U.S. State Department rates 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; Tlaxcala 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 Ixtenco use?
In order: MEX-110, MEX-45, MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D, MEX-M40D and MEX-136. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Guanajuato and Ixtenco?
Closest to the road: Atlantean figures (atlantean figures, mile 175, 1 mi from the route); Jorge R. Acosta Museum (museum, mile 175, 1 mi from the route); Ex Convento de Santa María de la Concepción Atlihuetzia (convent, mile 277, 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.