The Wayro route from Malinalco to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes is 355 miles (571 km), about 6 h 50 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 355 mi (571 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 50 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-55 → MEX-55D → MEX-M40D → MEX-47D → MEX-45D → MEX-45 → AGS 19 |
| Mexican states on the route | State of Mexico (Level 2), Querétaro (Level 2), Guanajuato (Level 3), Jalisco (Level 3), Aguascalientes (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-A10D, MEX-55D, MEX-M40D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.2 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 Malinalco to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes is like
MEX-45D (141 mi) and MEX-47D (52 mi) carry about 54% of the 355 miles. MEX-55D, MEX-M40D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-55, MEX-45 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 5 states: State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Aguascalientes. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Malinalco to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–34 | 34 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 34–45 | 11 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 45–74 | 29 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 74–76 | 2 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-M40D | 76–85 | 9 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 85–86 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 86–116 | 30 | State of Mexico, Querétaro |
| MEX-47D | 116–168 | 52 | Querétaro, Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 168–309 | 141 | Guanajuato, Jalisco |
| MEX-45 | 309–339 | 30 | Jalisco, Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 339–342 | 3 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 342–345 | 3 | Aguascalientes |
| connecting roads | 345–346 | 1 | Aguascalientes |
| AGS 19 | 346–354 | 8 | Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 354–355 | 1 | Aguascalientes |
- Mile 114 of this route: State of Mexico → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 155 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 264 of this route: Guanajuato → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 313 of this route: Jalisco → Aguascalientes (state line)
Stops between Malinalco and San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 75), Aguascalientes Cathedral (mile 327), Museo Nacional de la Muerte (mile 327)
- Nature and outdoors: Nevado de Toluca National Park (mile 24), Cerro de las Campanas (mile 156)
- Museums and history: Museo Taller Nishizawa (mile 36), Calixtlahuaca (mile 40), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 75), Celaya Cathedral (mile 180), Aguascalientes Cathedral (mile 327), Museo Nacional de la Muerte (mile 327)
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.
Museo Taller Nishizawa
A late 18th-century house in Toluca, where painter Luis Nishizawa once taught painting workshops, now preserves and displays his work, a collection of nearly 800 pieces in a range of techniques.
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.
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.
Cerro de las Campanas
Rising within Querétaro City, the Cerro de las Campanas is a hill that is protected as a Mexican national park.
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.
Aguascalientes Cathedral
The cathedral of Aguascalientes stands on the Plaza de la Patria in the city's historic center.
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.
When you get to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
Santuario del Cristo Roto, San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
A 28-meter broken Christ, the Cristo Roto, stands on an island in the Presidente Calles dam at San José de Gracia, reachable only by boat. Sculptors Erasmo Aguilar and Miguel Romo Santino made it to recall what the town lost when the dam was built.
More drives to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Jerez, Zacatecas to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- El Rosario, Sinaloa to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Tepatitlán to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Amatitán to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Ajijic to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Tequila to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
From Malinalco to other places in Mexico
- Malinalco to El Oro
- Malinalco to Amealco
- Malinalco to Bernal
- Malinalco to Mineral de Pozos
- Malinalco to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Malinalco to Ihuatzio
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Malinalco to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
About 6 h 50 min of driving without stops, over 355 miles.
How far is San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes from Malinalco by car?
About 355 miles (571 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 Malinalco to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
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 Malinalco to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
The U.S. State Department rates State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Malinalco to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes use?
In order: MEX-55, MEX-55D, MEX-M40D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D, MEX-45 and AGS 19. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Malinalco and San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Atlacomulco (catholic cathedral, mile 75, 0.1 mi from the route); Aguascalientes Cathedral (church building, mile 327, 0.2 mi from the route); Museo Nacional de la Muerte (art museum, mile 327, 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.