The Wayro route from Jalpa to Zimapán is 320 miles (515 km), about 6 h 45 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 320 mi (515 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 45 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-70 → MEX-71 → MEX-45 → MEX-45D → MEX-57D → QRO 4 → QRO 5 → MEX-120 |
| Mexican states on the route | Zacatecas (Level 4), Aguascalientes (Level 2), Jalisco (Level 3), Guanajuato (Level 3), Querétaro (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-45D, MEX-43D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
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 Zimapán is like
MEX-45D (159 mi) and MEX-70 (51 mi) carry about 66% of the 320 miles. MEX-45D, MEX-57D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-70, MEX-71, MEX-45, MEX-120 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 6 states: Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Guanajuato, Querétaro, Hidalgo. Of the 7 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Jalpa to Zimapán, 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 | 75–234 | 159 | Jalisco, Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 234–244 | 10 | Querétaro |
| QRO 4 | 244–263 | 19 | Querétaro |
| QRO 5 | 263–268 | 5 | Querétaro |
| local roads | 268–272 | 4 | Querétaro |
| MEX-120 | 272–284 | 12 | Querétaro |
| local roads | 284–320 | 36 | Querétaro, Hidalgo |
- 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 226 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 303 of this route: Querétaro → Hidalgo (state line)
Stops between Jalpa and Zimapán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): La Santa Cruz (mile 24), Teatro Aguascalientes (mile 58)
- Nature and outdoors: El Cimatario National Park (mile 237)
- Museums and history: La Santa Cruz (mile 24), Aguascalientes Museum (mile 58), Teatro Aguascalientes (mile 58), Celaya Cathedral (mile 205), Queretaro Art Museum (mile 232)
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.
Aguascalientes Museum
Located in the state capital, the Aguascalientes Museum is the city's art museum, set in the city of Aguascalientes, Mexico.
Teatro Aguascalientes
Teatro Aguascalientes is the city's main opera house, a modern building by architect Abraham Zabludovsky with seating for about 1,650 people.
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.
Queretaro Art Museum
Set in the cloister of the former San Agustín convent, the Museo de Arte de Querétaro opened in 1988 and shows paintings and sculpture across fifteen galleries.
Templo de Santa Clara de Asís
Founded in the 17th century, the church and convent of Santa Clara de Asís stands in Querétaro's historic center and was a major convent for women in New Spain.
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 Zimapán
- Celaya to Zimapán
- Tlalpujahua to Zimapán
- Moroleón to Zimapán
- Pénjamo to Zimapán
- Zitácuaro to Zimapán
- Cuitzeo to Zimapán
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 Zimapán?
About 6 h 45 min of driving without stops, over 320 miles.
How far is Zimapán from Jalpa by car?
About 320 miles (515 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 Zimapán?
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 Zimapán?
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; Hidalgo 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 Zimapán use?
In order: MEX-70, MEX-71, MEX-45, MEX-45D, MEX-57D, QRO 4, QRO 5 and MEX-120. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Jalpa and Zimapán?
Closest to the road: La Santa Cruz (museum, mile 24, 0.1 mi from the route); Teatro Aguascalientes (opera house, mile 58, 0.9 mi from the route); Queretaro Art Museum (art museum, mile 232, 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.