The Wayro route from Iguala to Real de Catorce is 473 miles (762 km), about 10 h 24 min of driving without stops.
| Distance by road | 473 mi (762 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 10 h 24 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-95 → MEX-92D → MEX-55 → MEX-55D → MEX-M40D → MEX-57D → MEX-57 → MEX-49 → MEX-63 → SLP 43 |
| Mexican states on the route | Guerrero, Morelos, State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-92D, MEX-55D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.9 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.
The Iguala–Real de Catorce drive in a few lines
MEX-57 (108 mi) and MEX-63 (74 mi) carry about 38% of the 473 miles. It runs through 6 states: Guerrero, Morelos, State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-92D, MEX-55D and MEX-M40D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Iguala to Real de Catorce: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Guerrero |
| MEX-95 | 1–24 | 23 | Guerrero |
| MEX-92D | 24–29 | 5 | Guerrero |
| MEX-95 | 29–35 | 6 | Guerrero |
| MEX-55 | 35–58 | 23 | Guerrero, Morelos, State of Mexico |
| local roads | 58–63 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 63–87 | 24 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 87–89 | 2 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 89–99 | 10 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 99–110 | 11 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 110–139 | 29 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 139–142 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-M40D | 142–150 | 8 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 150–151 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 151–181 | 30 | State of Mexico, Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 181–232 | 51 | Querétaro |
| MEX-57 | 232–340 | 108 | Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| connecting roads | 340–343 | 3 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-49 | 343–359 | 16 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-63 | 359–433 | 74 | San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 43 | 433–467 | 34 | San Luis Potosí |
| local roads | 467–473 | 6 | San Luis Potosí |
- Mile 37 of this route: Guerrero → Morelos (state line)
- Mile 40 of this route: Morelos → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 48 of this route: State of Mexico → Guerrero (state line)
- Mile 51 of this route: Guerrero → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 179 of this route: State of Mexico → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 239 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 293 of this route: Guanajuato → San Luis Potosí (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Iguala and Real de Catorce
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Church of Santa Prisca de Taxco (mile 22), Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park (mile 40)
- Nature and outdoors: Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park (mile 40), Nevado de Toluca National Park (mile 83), Museo de Ciencias Naturales del Estado de México (mile 101)
- Museums and history: Church of Santa Prisca de Taxco (mile 22), Museo de Ciencias Naturales del Estado de México (mile 101), Calixtlahuaca (mile 106), Museo Leonora Carrington (mile 340)
Church of Santa Prisca de Taxco
Silver baron José de la Borda paid for Santa Prisca with the bonanza from his San Ignacio mine in Taxco, and the church was dedicated in 1759, the same year his nearby house on the plaza was finished.
Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park
Protected as a national park since 1936, this area near Taxco centers on the Cacahuamilpa caverns, where a guided route of about 4 km passes chambers up to 80 meters high, decorated with flowstone and floor-to-ceiling columns.
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.
Museo de Ciencias Naturales del Estado de México
Set in the Parque de los Matlatzincas on Cerro del Calvario, the Natural Sciences Museum of the State of Mexico explores biology, geology and the preservation of natural resources.
Teatro Morelos
In Toluca's historic center, just west of the State of Mexico's Palace of Justice, Teatro Morelos stages plays along with other shows and cultural events.
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.
Historic Monuments Zone of Querétaro
Baroque churches and mansions from the 17th and 18th centuries line the streets of Querétaro's historic center, along with the city's landmark aqueduct.
Museo Leonora Carrington
Inside the Centro de las Artes, a former state penitentiary, this museum shows Leonora Carrington's sculptures, engravings, drawings, jewelry and personal objects, including monumental bronzes of her fantastical creatures.
When you get to Real de Catorce
High in the mountains of northern San Luis Potosí Real de Catorce is a former silver-mining town whose most prosperous era began in 1778. It joined the Pueblos Mágicos program in 2001, and its identity grew out of both its mining past and the culture of the Huichol (Wixárika) people.
- Túnel de Ogarrio: The Túnel de Ogarrio, the town's famous tunnel, is one of the landmarks SECTUR highlights for visitors to Real de Catorce. source
- Parroquia de la Purísima Concepción: The Parroquia de la Purísima Concepción is the parish church at the center of town life, and the feast of St. Francis of Assisi on October 4 is its biggest celebration. source
- Museo Parroquial Padre José Robledo: The Museo Parroquial Padre José Robledo preserves pieces of the town's religious history. source
More drives to Real de Catorce
- Comfort, TX to Real de Catorce
- San Antonio, TX to Real de Catorce
- Boerne, TX to Real de Catorce
- San Marcos, TX to Real de Catorce
- McAllen, TX to Real de Catorce
- Bandera, TX to Real de Catorce
From Iguala to other places in Mexico
- Iguala to Tonatico
- Iguala to Malinalco
- Iguala to Metepec
- Iguala to Atlixco
- Iguala to Tepotzotlán
- Iguala to Valle de Bravo
Coming to Real de Catorce from the United States? Border crossings, permits and routes from U.S. cities: Driving to Real de Catorce, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Iguala to Real de Catorce?
About 10 h 24 min of driving without stops, over 473 miles.
How far is Real de Catorce from Iguala by car?
About 473 miles (762 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 Iguala to Real de Catorce?
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 Iguala to Real de Catorce?
The U.S. State Department rates Guerrero Level 4: Do Not Travel; Morelos Level 3: Reconsider Travel; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Iguala to Real de Catorce use?
In order: MEX-95, MEX-92D, MEX-55, MEX-55D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-57, MEX-49, MEX-63 and SLP 43. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Iguala to Real de Catorce?
Closest to the road: Church of Santa Prisca de Taxco (church, mile 22, 0.2 mi from the route); Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park (national park, mile 40, 0.1 mi from the route); Teatro Morelos (theater, mile 101, 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 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: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place 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.