The Wayro route from Jalpa to Ixcateopan is 448 miles (721 km), about 8 h 43 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 448 mi (721 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 43 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-70 → MEX-71 → MEX-45 → MEX-45D → MEX-47D → MEX-55 → MEX-55D → MEX-95 → MEX-92D |
| Mexican states on the route | Zacatecas (Level 4), Aguascalientes (Level 2), Jalisco (Level 3), Guanajuato (Level 3), Querétaro (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Guerrero (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-45D, MEX-43D, MEX-47D, MEX-55D, MEX-92D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.9 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.
What the drive from Jalpa to Ixcateopan is like
MEX-45D (142 mi) and MEX-55 (62 mi) carry about 46% of the 448 miles. MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-55D, MEX-92D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-70, MEX-71, MEX-45, MEX-55, MEX-95 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 7 states: Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Guanajuato, Querétaro, State of Mexico, Guerrero. Of the 8 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Jalpa to Ixcateopan, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-70 | 1–52 | 51 | Zacatecas, Aguascalientes |
| MEX-71 | 52–58 | 6 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 58–75 | 17 | Aguascalientes, Jalisco |
| MEX-45D | 75–217 | 142 | Jalisco, Guanajuato |
| MEX-47D | 217–268 | 51 | Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| MEX-55 | 268–308 | 40 | Querétaro, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 308–309 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 309–344 | 35 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 344–349 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 349–362 | 13 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 362–363 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 363–386 | 23 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 386–391 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 391–398 | 7 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 398–415 | 17 | State of Mexico, Guerrero |
| MEX-95 | 415–418 | 3 | Guerrero |
| connecting roads | 418–421 | 3 | Guerrero |
| MEX-92D | 421–426 | 5 | Guerrero |
| local roads | 426–448 | 22 | Guerrero |
- Mile 17 of this route: Zacatecas → Aguascalientes (state line)
- Mile 71 of this route: Aguascalientes → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 120 of this route: Jalisco → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 229 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 270 of this route: Querétaro → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 400 of this route: State of Mexico → Guerrero (state line)
- Mile 403 of this route: Guerrero → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 412 of this route: State of Mexico → Guerrero (state line)
Stops between Jalpa and Ixcateopan
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): La Santa Cruz (mile 24), Parque Rodolfo Landeros (mile 58), Cosmovitral (mile 348), Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park (mile 410), Museo de Arte Virreinal de Taxco (mile 427)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Rodolfo Landeros (mile 58), Cerro de las Campanas (mile 227), Nevado de Toluca National Park (mile 367), Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park (mile 410)
- Museums and history: La Santa Cruz (mile 24), José Guadalupe Posada Museum (mile 58), Cosmovitral (mile 348), Museo de Arte Virreinal de Taxco (mile 427)
La Santa Cruz
In Calvillo's town center, La Santa Cruz is a cultural and monumental complex with Catholic and historical themes devoted to Calvillo's role in the Cristero War of 1926; it opened in 2021.
José Guadalupe Posada Museum
Aguascalientes is the birthplace of printmaker José Guadalupe Posada, and this museum shows the original signed printing plates he used to create his graphic images.
Parque Rodolfo Landeros
Also called Parque Héroes, this environmental and recreation park on Avenida José María Chávez in Aguascalientes has an artificial lake, bike rentals and several other attractions.
Cerro de las Campanas
Rising within Querétaro City, the Cerro de las Campanas is a hill that is protected as a Mexican national park.
Cosmovitral
Toluca's Cosmovitral wraps a botanical garden of more than 500 plant species in a huge stained-glass work designed by artist Leopoldo Flores. Light filtering through the colored glass sets the mood as you walk the garden paths.
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.
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.
Museo de Arte Virreinal de Taxco
Housed in the historic Casa Humboldt in Taxco, the Museo de Arte Virreinal shows colonial sacred art recovered from the Santa Prisca parish church, along with permanent exhibitions on Alexander von Humboldt and the town's history.
When you get to Ixcateopan
Ixcateopan
Some 36 kilometers from Taxco in the rugged mountains of northern Guerrero, the ruins at Ixcateopan de Cuauhtémoc belong to a city that served as an important regional ceremonial center.
More drives to Ixcateopan
- Tlaltizapán to Ixcateopan
- Tepoztlán to Ixcateopan
- Metepec to Ixcateopan
- Oaxtepec to Ixcateopan
- Tlayacapan to Ixcateopan
- Zacualpan de Amilpas to Ixcateopan
From Jalpa to other places in Mexico
- Jalpa to Real de Asientos
- Jalpa to Ajijic
- Jalpa to Pinos
- Jalpa to Mazamitla
- Jalpa to Mineral de Pozos
- Jalpa to Nombre de Dios
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Jalpa to Ixcateopan?
About 8 h 43 min of driving without stops, over 448 miles.
How far is Ixcateopan from Jalpa by car?
About 448 miles (721 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 Jalpa to Ixcateopan?
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 Jalpa to Ixcateopan?
The U.S. State Department rates Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel; Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Guerrero Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Jalpa to Ixcateopan use?
In order: MEX-70, MEX-71, MEX-45, MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-55, MEX-55D, MEX-95 and MEX-92D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Jalpa and Ixcateopan?
Closest to the road: La Santa Cruz (museum, mile 24, 0.1 mi from the route); Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 410, 0.1 mi from the route); Museo de Arte Virreinal de Taxco (museum, mile 427, 0.4 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.