The Wayro route from Metepec to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes is 324 miles (521 km), about 5 h 56 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 324 mi (521 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 56 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-55D, MEX-M40D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.9 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 Metepec to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes is like
MEX-45D (141 mi) and MEX-47D (52 mi) carry about 60% of the 324 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 Metepec to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 3–14 | 11 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 14–43 | 29 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 43–45 | 2 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-M40D | 45–54 | 9 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 54–55 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 55–85 | 30 | State of Mexico, Querétaro |
| MEX-47D | 85–137 | 52 | Querétaro, Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 137–278 | 141 | Guanajuato, Jalisco |
| MEX-45 | 278–308 | 30 | Jalisco, Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 308–311 | 3 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 311–314 | 3 | Aguascalientes |
| connecting roads | 314–315 | 1 | Aguascalientes |
| AGS 19 | 315–323 | 8 | Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 323–324 | 1 | Aguascalientes |
- Mile 83 of this route: State of Mexico → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 124 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 233 of this route: Guanajuato → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 281 of this route: Jalisco → Aguascalientes (state line)
Stops between Metepec and San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 44), Museum of Contemporary Art (mile 296), Historic centre of Aguascalientes (mile 296)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Estatal Sierra Morelos (mile 8), El Cimatario National Park (mile 119), Cerro de las Campanas (mile 125)
- Museums and history: Calixtlahuaca (mile 9), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 44), Celaya Cathedral (mile 149), Museum of Contemporary Art (mile 296), Historic centre of Aguascalientes (mile 296)
Parque Estatal Sierra Morelos
This Toluca park, one of the State of Mexico's protected natural areas, is home to more than 500 species of plants and animals. Families come for the axolotl center, bat house, small farm and jogging track.
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.
El Cimatario National Park
El Cimatario National Park protects about 24 square kilometers of land just south of the city of Santiago de Querétaro.
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.
Museum of Contemporary Art
Aguascalientes' Museum of Contemporary Art shows works by contemporary Mexican artists in its Jesús F. Contreras gallery.
Historic centre of Aguascalientes
The historic center of Aguascalientes is the city's zone of historic monuments, which INAH has declared part of the nation's heritage.
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 Metepec to other places in Mexico
- Metepec to Valle de Bravo
- Metepec to El Oro
- Metepec to Ezequiel Montes
- Metepec to Zimapán
- Metepec to Tócuaro
- Metepec to Cotija
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Metepec to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
About 5 h 56 min of driving without stops, over 324 miles.
How far is San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes from Metepec by car?
About 324 miles (521 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 Metepec 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 Metepec 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 Metepec 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 Metepec and San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Atlacomulco (catholic cathedral, mile 44, 0.1 mi from the route); Historic centre of Aguascalientes (historic district, mile 296, 0.1 mi from the route); Museum of Contemporary Art (art museum, mile 296, 0.3 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.