The Wayro route from León to Zacatecas is 150 miles (241 km), about 2 h 59 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 150 mi (241 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 2 h 59 min |
| Main roads, in order | GTO 37 → MEX-45D → MEX-45 |
| Mexican states on the route | Guanajuato (Level 3), Jalisco (Level 3), Aguascalientes (Level 2), Zacatecas (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-45D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 6.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
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 León to Zacatecas is like
MEX-45D (72 mi) and MEX-45 (68 mi) carry about 93% of the 150 miles. MEX-45D is a toll highway (cuota); MEX-45 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 4 states: Guanajuato, Jalisco, Aguascalientes, Zacatecas. Of the 4 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from León to Zacatecas, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Guanajuato |
| GTO 37 | 2–6 | 4 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 6–58 | 52 | Guanajuato, Jalisco |
| MEX-45 | 58–88 | 30 | Jalisco, Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 88–91 | 3 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 91–120 | 29 | Aguascalientes, Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 120–140 | 20 | Zacatecas |
| connecting roads | 140–141 | 1 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 141–150 | 9 | Zacatecas |
- Mile 14 of this route: Guanajuato → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 63 of this route: Jalisco → Aguascalientes (state line)
- Mile 116 of this route: Aguascalientes → Zacatecas (state line)
Stops between León and Zacatecas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Rodolfo Landeros (mile 75), Museo Nacional de la Muerte (mile 77), Museo Espacio, Aguascalientes (mile 78)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Rodolfo Landeros (mile 75)
- Museums and history: Museo Nacional de la Muerte (mile 77), Museo Espacio, Aguascalientes (mile 78), Museo de la Insurgencia (mile 98)
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.
Museo Nacional de la Muerte
Run by the Autonomous University of Aguascalientes, the Museo Nacional de la Muerte displays objects about death in Mexican culture, drawn from a collection donated by printmaker Octavio Bajonero Gil.
Museo Espacio, Aguascalientes
Inside the Tres Centurias complex at Aguascalientes' old train station, Museo Espacio is a contemporary art museum, so a visit pairs current work with a look at the city's railroad buildings.
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.
When you get to Zacatecas
Zacatecas climbs the steep slopes of a narrow valley between the Bufa and Grillo hills in north-central Mexico. Founded in 1546 after the discovery of a rich silver lode, its historic center has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993, and the city is also part of the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, the colonial silver route listed by UNESCO in 2010.
- Zacatecas Cathedral: Built between 1730 and 1760, the cathedral dominates downtown with Baroque façades that mix European and Indigenous decorative elements. source
- Teatro Calderón: The downtown theater dates from 1834 and is one of the civic landmarks UNESCO highlights in the historic center. source
- Mercado González Ortega: The iron-framed market building from 1886 stands in the historic center near the cathedral. source
Cathedral Basilica of Zacatecas
Dedicated to the Virgin of the Assumption, the Cathedral of Zacatecas is the main church of the Diocese of Zacatecas.
Manuel Felguérez Museum
A former seminary begun in 1870, later a barracks and then a prison until 1995, now holds Zacatecas' Museo de Arte Abstracto Manuel Felguérez, devoted to abstract art and to the work of the painter it's named after.
Museo Toma de Zacatecas
On the Cerro de la Bufa, this museum explains the military and social story behind the Taking of Zacatecas during the Mexican Revolution, along with glimpses of daily life in the city at the time.
More drives to Zacatecas
- Del Rio, TX to Zacatecas
- South Padre Island, TX to Zacatecas
- McAllen, TX to Zacatecas
- Laredo, TX to Zacatecas
- Corpus Christi, TX to Zacatecas
- Brownsville, TX to Zacatecas
From León to other places in Mexico
- León to Pabellón de Arteaga
- León to Real de Asientos
- León to Amatitán
- León to Tequila
- León to Jerez, Zacatecas
- León to San Luis Soyatlán
Coming to Zacatecas from the United States? Border crossings, permits and routes from U.S. cities: Driving to Zacatecas, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from León to Zacatecas?
About 2 h 59 min of driving without stops, over 150 miles.
How far is Zacatecas from León by car?
About 150 miles (241 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 León to Zacatecas?
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 León to Zacatecas?
The U.S. State Department rates Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from León to Zacatecas use?
In order: GTO 37, MEX-45D and MEX-45. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between León and Zacatecas?
Closest to the road: Parque Rodolfo Landeros (park, mile 75, 0.2 mi from the route); Museo Nacional de la Muerte (art museum, mile 77, 0.1 mi from the route); Museo Espacio, Aguascalientes (art museum, mile 78, 0.9 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.