The Wayro route from Ihuatzio to Mineral de Pozos is 203 miles (326 km), about 3 h 45 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 203 mi (326 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 45 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-37D → MEX-15D → MEX-43D → MEX-45D → MEX-57 → GTO 100 |
| Mexican states on the route | Michoacán (Level 4), Guanajuato (Level 3), Querétaro (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-43D, MEX-45D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.1 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 Ihuatzio to Mineral de Pozos is like
MEX-43D (50 mi) and MEX-45D (48 mi) carry about 48% of the 203 miles. MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-43D, MEX-45D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-57 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 3 states: Michoacán, Guanajuato, Querétaro. None of the 5 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Ihuatzio to Mineral de Pozos, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 3–8 | 5 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 8–45 | 37 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 45–46 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 46–49 | 3 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 49–51 | 2 | Michoacán |
| MEX-43D | 51–101 | 50 | Michoacán, Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 101–102 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 102–150 | 48 | Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| connecting roads | 150–151 | 1 | Querétaro |
| MEX-57 | 151–189 | 38 | Querétaro, Guanajuato |
| local roads | 189–193 | 4 | Guanajuato |
| GTO 100 | 193–203 | 10 | Guanajuato |
- Mile 65 of this route: Michoacán → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 144 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 176 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
Stops between Ihuatzio and Mineral de Pozos
- Nature and outdoors: El Cimatario National Park (mile 151)
- Museums and history: Celaya Cathedral (mile 124), Former hacienda of Chichimequillas (mile 164)
Historic Centre of Morelia
Morelia's old core, founded in the 16th century as Valladolid, keeps more than 200 historic buildings in the region's pink stone around its cathedral and checkerboard streets. UNESCO added it to the World Heritage List in 1991.
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.
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.
Former hacienda of Chichimequillas
Discalced Carmelite friars founded this hacienda around 1690 to shelter travelers on the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro and to farm. Its two-story stone and lime main house, finished in 1813, wraps around a central courtyard beside a chapel.
More drives to Mineral de Pozos
- Celaya to Mineral de Pozos
- Salvatierra to Mineral de Pozos
- León to Mineral de Pozos
- Salamanca to Mineral de Pozos
- Irapuato to Mineral de Pozos
- Moroleón to Mineral de Pozos
From Ihuatzio to other places in Mexico
- Ihuatzio to Omitlán
- Ihuatzio to Huasca de Ocampo
- Ihuatzio to Metztitlán
- Ihuatzio to Pinal de Amoles
- Ihuatzio to Ixcateopan
- Ihuatzio to Boca de Pascuales
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Ihuatzio to Mineral de Pozos?
About 3 h 45 min of driving without stops, over 203 miles.
How far is Mineral de Pozos from Ihuatzio by car?
About 203 miles (326 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 Ihuatzio to Mineral de Pozos?
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 Ihuatzio to Mineral de Pozos?
The U.S. State Department rates Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; 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 Ihuatzio to Mineral de Pozos use?
In order: MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-43D, MEX-45D, MEX-57 and GTO 100. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Ihuatzio and Mineral de Pozos?
Closest to the road: Celaya Cathedral (church building, mile 124, 2 mi from the route); Aqueduct of Querétaro (aqueduct, mile 151, 2 mi from the route); El Cimatario National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 151, 4 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.