The Wayro route from Irapuato to Tepoztlán is 244 miles (393 km), about 4 h 2 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 244 mi (393 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 2 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-45D → MEX-47D → MEX-57D → MEX-57 → Periférico → MEX-95D → MEX-160D |
| Mexican states on the route | Guanajuato (Level 3), Querétaro (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), Mexico City (Level 2), Morelos (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D, MEX-95D, MEX-115D, MEX-160D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.8 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 Irapuato to Tepoztlán is like
MEX-57D (73 mi) and MEX-47D (53 mi) carry about 52% of the 244 miles. MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D, MEX-95D, MEX-160D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-57 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 6 states: Guanajuato, Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Mexico City, Morelos. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Irapuato to Tepoztlán, 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 | 103–176 | 73 | Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| MEX-57 | 176–184 | 8 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 184–185 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| Periférico | 185–203 | 18 | State of Mexico, Mexico City |
| connecting roads | 203–205 | 2 | Mexico City |
| MEX-95D | 205–237 | 32 | Mexico City, Morelos |
| connecting roads | 237–238 | 1 | Morelos |
| MEX-160D | 238–242 | 4 | Morelos |
| local roads | 242–244 | 2 | Morelos |
- 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 157 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 189 of this route: State of Mexico → Mexico City (state line)
- Mile 222 of this route: Mexico City → Morelos (state line)
Stops between Irapuato and Tepoztlán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Templo y exconvento de San Francisco (mile 150), National Biodiversity Pavilion (mile 201)
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro de las Campanas (mile 61), Parque de Cultura Urbana (mile 191)
- Museums and history: Celaya Cathedral (mile 37), Centro de la Imagen (mile 190), Copilco (mile 196), Museo Universitario de Ciencias y Artes (mile 196), National Biodiversity Pavilion (mile 201), San Bernardino de Siena Church, Xochimilco (mile 211)
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.
Templo y exconvento de San Francisco
The Templo y Exconvento de San Francisco is a church and former convent located in the city of Tepeji del Río, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
Centro de la Imagen
In Mexico City, the Centro de la Imagen is a cultural center that visitors can add to their list of stops in town.
Parque de Cultura Urbana
Skaters and free runners use the Parque de Cultura Urbana, an outdoor space for skateboarding, parkour and extreme sports in the third section of Chapultepec Forest.
Copilco
Copilco was an important Mesoamerican ceremonial center southwest of Mexico City, located about four kilometers north of Cuicuilco.
Museo Universitario de Ciencias y Artes
MUCA, the Museo Universitario de Ciencias y Artes, is a university venue that promotes multidisciplinary exhibitions and also offers academic and outreach activities.
National Biodiversity Pavilion
Opened in 2021 at Ciudad Universitaria in Mexico City, the National Biodiversity Pavilion is a museum about the variety of life found across Mexico.
San Bernardino de Siena Church, Xochimilco
Xochimilco's parish church of San Bernardino de Siena and its former monastery were built in the 16th century over a pre-Hispanic temple.
When you get to Tepoztlán
El Tepozteco National Park
Eroded volcanic hills of the Sierra de Tepoztlán fill this national park, about half of which lies in Mexico City's Milpa Alta borough. A short, steep climb leads to the Tepozteco archaeological zone; wear good shoes, since the rocks get slippery.
Museo Carlos Pellicer
Tepoztlán's Museo de Arte Prehispánico Carlos Pellicer, opened in 1965 and named for the poet and museographer, displays a collection of pre-Hispanic objects in the former granary of the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Natividad.
El Tepozteco
High on a hill above Tepoztlán, El Tepozteco holds the remains of a shrine to Ometochtli-Tepoztécatl, god of pulque, fertility and the harvest, along with terraced platforms built from around AD 1200.
More drives to Tepoztlán
- Mexico City to Tepoztlán
- Metepec to Tepoztlán
- Toluca to Tepoztlán
- Atlixco to Tepoztlán
- Taxco to Tepoztlán
- Tepotzotlán to Tepoztlán
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
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Irapuato to Tepoztlán?
About 4 h 2 min of driving without stops, over 244 miles.
How far is Tepoztlán from Irapuato by car?
About 244 miles (393 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 Tepoztlán?
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 Tepoztlán?
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; Mexico City Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Morelos Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Irapuato to Tepoztlán use?
In order: MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D, MEX-57, Periférico, MEX-95D and MEX-160D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Irapuato and Tepoztlán?
Closest to the road: Templo y exconvento de San Francisco (convent, mile 150, 0.6 mi from the route); Museo Universitario de Ciencias y Artes (museum, mile 196, 1 mi from the route); National Biodiversity Pavilion (museum, mile 201, 0.6 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.