The Wayro route from Jalpa to Jilotepec is 308 miles (495 km), about 5 h 29 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 308 mi (495 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 29 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-70 → MEX-71 → MEX-45 → MEX-45D → MEX-47D → MEX-57D → MEX-661 |
| 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) |
| Toll roads | MEX-45D, MEX-43D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.3 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 Jalpa to Jilotepec is like
MEX-45D (142 mi) and MEX-47D (52 mi) carry about 63% of the 308 miles. MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-70, MEX-71, MEX-45, MEX-661 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 6 states: Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Guanajuato, Querétaro, State of Mexico. Of the 5 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Jalpa to Jilotepec, 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 | 217–269 | 52 | Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 269–301 | 32 | Querétaro, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 301–303 | 2 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-661 | 303–306 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 306–308 | 2 | State of Mexico |
- 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 230 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 272 of this route: Querétaro → State of Mexico (state line)
Stops between Jalpa and Jilotepec
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): La Santa Cruz (mile 24)
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro de las Campanas (mile 228), El Cimatario National Park (mile 234)
- Museums and history: La Santa Cruz (mile 24), Museum of Contemporary Art (mile 58), Celaya Cathedral (mile 205)
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.
Museum of Contemporary Art
Aguascalientes' Museum of Contemporary Art shows works by contemporary Mexican artists in its Jesús F. Contreras gallery.
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.
More drives to Jilotepec
- Mexico City to Jilotepec
- Cuernavaca to Jilotepec
- Cuautla to Jilotepec
- Taxco to Jilotepec
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Jilotepec
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Jilotepec
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 Jilotepec?
About 5 h 29 min of driving without stops, over 308 miles.
How far is Jilotepec from Jalpa by car?
About 308 miles (495 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 Jilotepec?
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 Jilotepec?
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 (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Jalpa to Jilotepec use?
In order: MEX-70, MEX-71, MEX-45, MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D and MEX-661. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Jalpa and Jilotepec?
Closest to the road: La Santa Cruz (museum, mile 24, 0.1 mi from the route); Museum of Contemporary Art (art museum, mile 58, 3 mi from the route); Celaya Cathedral (church building, mile 205, 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 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.