The Wayro route from Lagos de Moreno to Tonatico is 290 miles (466 km), about 5 h 6 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 290 mi (466 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 6 min |
| Main roads, in order | JAL 302 → MEX-45D → MEX-47D → MEX-55 → MEX-55D |
| Mexican states on the route | Jalisco (Level 3), Guanajuato (Level 3), Querétaro (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-45D, MEX-43D, MEX-47D, MEX-55D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.6 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 Lagos de Moreno to Tonatico is like
MEX-45D (107 mi) and MEX-55D (58 mi) carry about 57% of the 290 miles. MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-55D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-55 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 4 states: Jalisco, Guanajuato, Querétaro, State of Mexico. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Lagos de Moreno to Tonatico, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Jalisco |
| JAL 302 | 1–8 | 7 | Jalisco |
| MEX-45D | 8–115 | 107 | Jalisco, Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 115–116 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-47D | 116–167 | 51 | Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| MEX-55 | 167–207 | 40 | Querétaro, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 207–208 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 208–242 | 34 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 242–247 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 247–260 | 13 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 260–261 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 261–285 | 24 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 285–290 | 5 | State of Mexico |
- Mile 18 of this route: Jalisco → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 128 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 169 of this route: Querétaro → State of Mexico (state line)
Stops between Lagos de Moreno and Tonatico
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 207), Cosmovitral (mile 246)
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro de las Campanas (mile 127), El Cimatario National Park (mile 132), Nevado de Toluca National Park (mile 265), Desierto del Carmen National Park (mile 281)
- Museums and history: Celaya Cathedral (mile 103), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 207), Calixtlahuaca (mile 242), Cosmovitral (mile 246)
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.
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.
Calixtlahuaca
Spread over the slopes of Cerro Tenismó near Toluca, this site's standout is the round Temple of Ehécatl-Quetzalcóatl, rebuilt in four phases. Nearby, a Mexica-era skull rack displays stone skulls set into cross-shaped walls.
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.
Desierto del Carmen National Park
Declared a national park on October 10, 1942, Desierto del Carmen is a protected area in the municipality of Tenancingo, in the State of Mexico.
More drives to Tonatico
- Valle de Bravo to Tonatico
- Zitácuaro to Tonatico
- Tlalpujahua to Tonatico
- Amealco to Tonatico
- San Juan del Río to Tonatico
- Tequisquiapan to Tonatico
From Lagos de Moreno to other places in Mexico
- Lagos de Moreno to Real de Asientos
- Lagos de Moreno to Amatitán
- Lagos de Moreno to Tequila
- Lagos de Moreno to San Luis Soyatlán
- Lagos de Moreno to Bernal
- Lagos de Moreno to Ezequiel Montes
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Lagos de Moreno to Tonatico?
About 5 h 6 min of driving without stops, over 290 miles.
How far is Tonatico from Lagos de Moreno by car?
About 290 miles (466 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 Lagos de Moreno to Tonatico?
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 Lagos de Moreno to Tonatico?
The U.S. State Department rates 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 Lagos de Moreno to Tonatico use?
In order: JAL 302, MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-55 and MEX-55D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Lagos de Moreno and Tonatico?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Atlacomulco (catholic cathedral, mile 207, 0.4 mi from the route); Calixtlahuaca (archaeological site, mile 242, 1 mi from the route); Cosmovitral (museum, mile 246, 0.8 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.