The Wayro route from Irapuato to Pachuca is 202 miles (325 km), about 3 h 19 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 202 mi (325 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 19 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-45D → MEX-47D → MEX-57D → MEX-M40D → MEX-85 |
| Mexican states on the route | Guanajuato (Level 3), Querétaro (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.1 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 Irapuato to Pachuca is like
MEX-47D (53 mi) and MEX-45D (46 mi) carry about 49% of the 202 miles. MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D, MEX-M40D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-85 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 4 states: Guanajuato, Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo. None of the 8 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Irapuato to Pachuca, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 4–50 | 46 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-47D | 50–103 | 53 | Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 103–137 | 34 | Querétaro, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 137–139 | 2 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-M40D | 139–185 | 46 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| MEX-85 | 185–196 | 11 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 196–202 | 6 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 63 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 104 of this route: Querétaro → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 137 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 167 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 181 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
Stops between Irapuato and Pachuca
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro de las Campanas (mile 61), El Cimatario National Park (mile 66)
- Museums and history: Celaya Cathedral (mile 37), Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl (mile 149), Tula (mile 150), Museo Arqueológico de Apaxco (mile 166), Teotihuacan (mile 185)
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.
Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl
The Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl is an archaeological museum located in Tula de Allende, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
Tula
Once the Toltec capital, the Tula archaeological zone is best known for its Atlantes, basalt warrior figures over four meters (13 feet) tall crowning the main pyramid. Visitors also see a ball court, the Burnt Palace and the Coatepantli wall, carved with snakes devouring skeletons.
Museo Arqueológico de Apaxco
Founded in 1985, the Museo Arqueológico de Apaxco sits across from the parish church of San Francisco de Asís and beside the town hall in Apaxco, State of Mexico.
Teotihuacan
Built between the 1st and 7th centuries AD, this UNESCO-listed ancient city lines the Avenue of the Dead, where you can walk between the Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon and the Temple of the Feathered Serpent.
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.
When you get to Pachuca
Monumental Clock of Pachuca
Rising over Plaza Independencia in Pachuca's historic center, the Monumental Clock tower was built between 1904 and 1910 to mark the centennial of Mexico's War of Independence.
Centro Interactivo Mundo Futbol
Centro Interactivo Mundo Fútbol is an interactive museum devoted to soccer, located in the city of Pachuca de Soto in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
El Hiloche
Bosque El Hiloche is a state park of about 100 hectares of forest in Mineral del Monte, Hidalgo, and one of the geosites of the Comarca Minera Geopark.
More drives to Pachuca
- Mexico City to Pachuca
- Toluca to Pachuca
- Cuernavaca to Pachuca
- San Juan del Río to Pachuca
- Celaya to Pachuca
- Morelia to Pachuca
From Irapuato to other places in Mexico
- Irapuato to Paracho
- Irapuato to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Irapuato to Amatitán
- Irapuato to Tequila
- Irapuato to Jerez, Zacatecas
- Irapuato to Sombrerete
Continue Your Adventure
- Irapuato to El Rosario, Sinaloa Road Trip: Route & Stops
- Irapuato to Atlatlahucan Road Trip: Where to Stop on the Way
- Irapuato to Mineral de Pozos Road Trip: Route, Stops & Safety
- Irapuato to Cuernavaca Road Trip: Stops, Tolls & Drive Time
- Irapuato to El Salto, Durango Road Trip: Route, Stops & Safety
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Irapuato to Pachuca?
About 3 h 19 min of driving without stops, over 202 miles.
How far is Pachuca from Irapuato by car?
About 202 miles (325 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 Irapuato to Pachuca?
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 Irapuato to Pachuca?
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 (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Irapuato to Pachuca use?
In order: MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D, MEX-M40D and MEX-85. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Irapuato and Pachuca?
Closest to the road: Celaya Cathedral (church building, mile 37, 2 mi from the route); Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl (museum, mile 149, 1 mi from the route); Tula (archaeological site, mile 150, 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.