The Wayro route from Guanajuato to Tonatico is 250 miles (402 km), about 4 h 38 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 250 mi (402 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 38 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-110 → MEX-45 → MEX-45D → MEX-47D → MEX-55 → MEX-55D |
| Mexican states on the route | Guanajuato (Level 3), Querétaro (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-45D, MEX-43D, MEX-47D, MEX-55D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
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 Tonatico is like
MEX-55D (59 mi) and MEX-45D (51 mi) carry about 44% of the 250 miles. MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-55D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-110, MEX-45, MEX-55 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Guanajuato, Querétaro, State of Mexico. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Guanajuato to Tonatico, 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 | 76–127 | 51 | Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| MEX-55 | 127–167 | 40 | Querétaro, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 167–168 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 168–203 | 35 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 203–208 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 208–220 | 12 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 220–221 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 221–245 | 24 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 245–250 | 5 | State of Mexico |
- Mile 88 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 130 of this route: Querétaro → State of Mexico (state line)
Stops between Guanajuato and Tonatico
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 168), Parque de la Ciencia Fundadores (mile 206)
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro de las Campanas (mile 87), Parque Estatal Sierra Morelos (mile 203), Nevado de Toluca National Park (mile 226), Desierto del Carmen National Park (mile 241)
- Museums and history: Celaya Cathedral (mile 63), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 168), Calixtlahuaca (mile 202), Parque de la Ciencia Fundadores (mile 206)
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.
Cathedral of Atlacomulco
Atlacomulco's cathedral, the Catedral de la Divina Providencia, is the seat of the Diocese of Atlacomulco and is dedicated to Divine Providence, making it the town's principal Catholic church.
Calixtlahuaca
Spread over the slopes of Cerro Tenismó near Toluca, this site's standout is the round Temple of Ehécatl-Quetzalcóatl, rebuilt in four phases. Nearby, a Mexica-era skull rack displays stone skulls set into cross-shaped walls.
Parque Estatal Sierra Morelos
This Toluca park, one of the State of Mexico's protected natural areas, is home to more than 500 species of plants and animals. Families come for the axolotl center, bat house, small farm and jogging track.
Parque de la Ciencia Fundadores
Opened in 2021 in downtown Toluca on the site of the former Plaza Ángel María Garibay, this science park adds green space, children's play areas and a planetarium with a 360-degree screen.
Nevado de Toluca National Park
The Nevado de Toluca volcano was declared a flora and fauna protection area in 2013, a protected zone spanning ten municipalities of the State of Mexico, including Toluca, Zinacantepec and Temascaltepec.
Desierto del Carmen National Park
Declared a national park on October 10, 1942, Desierto del Carmen is a protected area in the municipality of Tenancingo, in the State of Mexico.
More drives to Tonatico
- Valle de Bravo to Tonatico
- Zitácuaro to Tonatico
- Tlalpujahua to Tonatico
- Amealco to Tonatico
- San Juan del Río to Tonatico
- Tequisquiapan to Tonatico
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 Tonatico?
About 4 h 38 min of driving without stops, over 250 miles.
How far is Tonatico from Guanajuato by car?
About 250 miles (402 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 Tonatico?
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 Tonatico?
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 (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Guanajuato to Tonatico use?
In order: MEX-110, MEX-45, MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-55 and MEX-55D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Guanajuato and Tonatico?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Atlacomulco (catholic cathedral, mile 168, 0.5 mi from the route); Calixtlahuaca (archaeological site, mile 202, 1 mi from the route); Parque de la Ciencia Fundadores (museum, mile 206, 0.9 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.