The Wayro route from Ixcateopan to Real de Catorce is 472 miles (760 km), about 10 h 30 min of driving without stops.
| Total distance | 472 mi (760 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 30 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-92D → MEX-95 → MEX-55 → MEX-55D → MEX-M40D → MEX-57D → MEX-57 → MEX-49 → MEX-63 → SLP 43 |
| Mexican states on the route | Guerrero, 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 | 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.
On the road from Ixcateopan to Real de Catorce
MEX-57 (108 mi) and MEX-63 (74 mi) carry about 39% of the 472 miles. It runs through 5 states: Guerrero, State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-92D, MEX-55D and MEX-M40D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Ixcateopan and Real de Catorce
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–22 | 22 | Guerrero |
| MEX-92D | 22–27 | 5 | Guerrero |
| MEX-95 | 27–34 | 7 | Guerrero |
| MEX-55 | 34–57 | 23 | Guerrero, State of Mexico |
| local roads | 57–62 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 62–86 | 24 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 86–88 | 2 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 88–98 | 10 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 98–109 | 11 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 109–138 | 29 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 138–141 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-M40D | 141–149 | 8 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 149–150 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 150–180 | 30 | State of Mexico, Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 180–231 | 51 | Querétaro |
| MEX-57 | 231–339 | 108 | Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| connecting roads | 339–342 | 3 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-49 | 342–358 | 16 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-63 | 358–432 | 74 | San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 43 | 432–465 | 33 | San Luis Potosí |
| local roads | 465–472 | 7 | San Luis Potosí |
- Mile 39 of this route: Guerrero → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 178 of this route: State of Mexico → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 238 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 291 of this route: Guanajuato → San Luis Potosí (state line)
Stops between Ixcateopan and Real de Catorce
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Church of Santa Prisca de Taxco (mile 21), Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park (mile 39), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 139)
- Nature and outdoors: Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park (mile 39), Nevado de Toluca National Park (mile 81)
- Museums and history: Church of Santa Prisca de Taxco (mile 21), Museo Felipe Santiago Gutiérrez (mile 100), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 139), Museo Regional Potosino (mile 342)
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.
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.
Museo Felipe Santiago Gutiérrez
In Toluca's historic center, a building from the late 18th and early 19th centuries holds about 225 watercolors, oils and drawings tracing the work of painter Felipe Santiago Gutiérrez. It opened in December 1992.
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.
Historic Monuments Zone of Querétaro
UNESCO listed Querétaro's historic center in 1996. Here, the Spanish grid of streets meets the winding lanes of the old Indigenous quarters, with Baroque churches and mansions throughout.
Teatro de la Paz
Built between 1889 and 1894 and opened on December 4, 1894, San Luis Potosí's Teatro de la Paz is a historic monument listed by INAH.
Museo Regional Potosino
Opened on November 20, 1952, the Museo Regional Potosino occupies part of the former Convent of San Francisco, built in 1586, in San Luis Potosí.
Once you reach 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 Ixcateopan to other places in Mexico
- Ixcateopan to Omitlán
- Ixcateopan to Huasca de Ocampo
- Ixcateopan to Tócuaro
- Ixcateopan to Jalpa de Cánovas
- Ixcateopan to Aquismón
- Ixcateopan to Chacala
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 Ixcateopan to Real de Catorce?
About 10 h 30 min of driving without stops, over 472 miles.
How far is Real de Catorce from Ixcateopan by car?
About 472 miles (760 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 Ixcateopan 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 Ixcateopan to Real de Catorce?
The U.S. State Department rates Guerrero Level 4: Do Not 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 Ixcateopan to Real de Catorce use?
In order: MEX-92D, MEX-95, 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.
What are good stops between Ixcateopan and Real de Catorce?
Closest to the road: Church of Santa Prisca de Taxco (church, mile 21, 0.3 mi from the route); Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park (national park, mile 39, 0.1 mi from the route); Cathedral of Atlacomulco (cathedral, mile 139, 0.2 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.