The Wayro route from Jerez, Zacatecas to Santa Clara del Cobre is 339 miles (546 km), about 6 h 9 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 339 mi (546 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 9 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-23 → MEX-54 → MEX-45 → MEX-45D → MEX-43D → MEX-15D → MEX-37D → MEX-120 |
| Mexican states on the route | Zacatecas (Level 4), Aguascalientes (Level 2), Jalisco (Level 3), Guanajuato (Level 3), Michoacán (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-45D, MEX-43D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D, MEX-14D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.6 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 Jerez, Zacatecas to Santa Clara del Cobre is like
MEX-45D (128 mi) and MEX-45 (70 mi) carry about 58% of the 339 miles. MEX-45D, MEX-43D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-23, MEX-54, MEX-45, MEX-120 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 5 states: Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Guanajuato, Michoacán. Of the 8 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Jerez, Zacatecas to Santa Clara del Cobre, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-23 | 0–16 | 16 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-54 | 16–30 | 14 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 30–42 | 12 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 42–63 | 21 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 63–91 | 28 | Zacatecas, Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 91–95 | 4 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 95–125 | 30 | Aguascalientes, Jalisco |
| MEX-45D | 125–232 | 107 | Jalisco, Guanajuato |
| MEX-43D | 232–283 | 51 | Guanajuato, Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 283–285 | 2 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 285–288 | 3 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 288–327 | 39 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 327–330 | 3 | Michoacán |
| MEX-120 | 330–339 | 9 | Michoacán |
- Mile 68 of this route: Zacatecas → Aguascalientes (state line)
- Mile 121 of this route: Aguascalientes → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 169 of this route: Jalisco → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 270 of this route: Guanajuato → Michoacán (state line)
Stops between Jerez, Zacatecas and Santa Clara del Cobre
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral Basilica of Zacatecas (mile 34), Guadalupe regional museum (mile 38), Aguascalientes Museum (mile 106), Aguascalientes Cathedral (mile 106)
- Museums and history: Cathedral Basilica of Zacatecas (mile 34), Guadalupe regional museum (mile 38), Museo de la Insurgencia (mile 86), Aguascalientes Museum (mile 106), Aguascalientes Cathedral (mile 106), Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro (mile 329), Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares (mile 329)
Cathedral Basilica of Zacatecas
Dedicated to the Virgin of the Assumption, the Cathedral of Zacatecas is the main church of the Diocese of Zacatecas.
Guadalupe regional museum
In Guadalupe, Zacatecas, the Museo de Guadalupe fills a former college that sent missionaries to the north and holds an important collection of 17th- to 19th-century painting, including works by Cristóbal de Villalpando, Miguel Cabrera and Juan Correa.
Museo de la Insurgencia
Set in a 17th-century estate, the Museo de la Insurgencia opened in 1964 to tell the story of Mexico's independence movement. One hall shows farm, mining and textile tools from hacienda work; another displays everyday objects from past eras.
Aguascalientes Museum
Located in the state capital, the Aguascalientes Museum is the city's art museum, set in the city of Aguascalientes, Mexico.
Aguascalientes Cathedral
The cathedral of Aguascalientes stands on the Plaza de la Patria in the city's historic center.
Historic Centre of Morelia
Morelia's old core, founded in the 16th century as Valladolid, keeps more than 200 historic buildings in the region's pink stone around its cathedral and checkerboard streets. UNESCO added it to the World Heritage List in 1991.
Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro
Pátzcuaro's basilica (Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Salud) rises on pre-Hispanic platforms beside its own plaza. Bishop Vasco de Quiroga planned it as a five-nave cathedral, only one nave was finished, and his remains rest inside.
Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares
Housed in an 18th-century building adapted from the Colegio de San Nicolás, which Vasco de Quiroga founded in the 16th century, this INAH museum in Pátzcuaro shows Purépecha pottery, textiles, woodwork and lacquerware.
More drives to Santa Clara del Cobre
- Tepatitlán to Santa Clara del Cobre
- Tequila to Santa Clara del Cobre
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Santa Clara del Cobre
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Santa Clara del Cobre
- Zacatecas to Santa Clara del Cobre
- Fresnillo to Santa Clara del Cobre
From Jerez, Zacatecas to other places in Mexico
- Jerez, Zacatecas to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Jerez, Zacatecas to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Jerez, Zacatecas to Temacapulín
- Jerez, Zacatecas to Ajijic
- Jerez, Zacatecas to San Luis Soyatlán
- Jerez, Zacatecas to Cotija
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Jerez, Zacatecas to Santa Clara del Cobre?
About 6 h 9 min of driving without stops, over 339 miles.
How far is Santa Clara del Cobre from Jerez, Zacatecas by car?
About 339 miles (546 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 Jerez, Zacatecas to Santa Clara del Cobre?
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 Jerez, Zacatecas to Santa Clara del Cobre?
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; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Jerez, Zacatecas to Santa Clara del Cobre use?
In order: MEX-23, MEX-54, MEX-45, MEX-45D, MEX-43D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D and MEX-120. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Jerez, Zacatecas and Santa Clara del Cobre?
Closest to the road: Cathedral Basilica of Zacatecas (minor basilica, mile 34, 0.6 mi from the route); Aguascalientes Museum (art museum, mile 106, 0.4 mi from the route); Aguascalientes Cathedral (church building, mile 106, 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 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.