Mexico City to Jerez, Zacatecas Road Trip: Stops & Drive Time

By admin, 3 October, 2026

The Wayro route from Mexico City to Jerez, Zacatecas is 413 miles (665 km), about 7 h 43 min of driving without stops.

U.S. State Department travel advisory: Mexico City — Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico — Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo — 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; Zacatecas — Level 4, Do Not TravelAdvisory issued May 29, 2026; checked September 29, 2026. Zacatecas is the Mexican state that contains Jerez, Zacatecas. This route passes through a state at the advisory's highest level. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive.
Catedral de AzcapotzalcoMuseo TezozómocMuseo Hacienda de Santa MónicaTula National ParkCerro de las CampanasCelaya CathedralAguascalientes CathedralMuseo de la InsurgenciaCathedral Basilica of ZacatecasMexico CityJerez, Zacatecas
Route from Mexico City to Jerez, Zacatecas with the 9 stops listed below (blue dots).
Distance413 mi (665 km)
Driving time, no stops7 h 43 min
Main roads, in orderViaducto → Periférico → MEX-57 → MEX-47D → MEX-45D → MEX-45 → MEX-54 → MEX-23
Mexican states on the routeMexico City (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), Querétaro (Level 2), Guanajuato (Level 3), Jalisco (Level 3), Aguascalientes (Level 2), Zacatecas (Level 4)
Toll roadsMEX-57D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 16.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below9

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 insuranceRequired 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 Mexico City to Jerez, Zacatecas is like

MEX-45D (162 mi) and MEX-57 (70 mi) carry about 56% of the 413 miles. MEX-47D, MEX-45D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-57, MEX-45, MEX-54, MEX-23 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 8 states: Mexico City, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Querétaro, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Aguascalientes, Zacatecas. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.

The route from Mexico City to Jerez, Zacatecas, road by road

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miState
local roads0–22Mexico City
Viaducto2–64Mexico City
Periférico6–2418Mexico City, State of Mexico
MEX-5724–9470State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Querétaro
MEX-47D94–14854Querétaro, Guanajuato
MEX-45D148–289141Guanajuato, Jalisco
MEX-45289–31930Jalisco, Aguascalientes
local roads319–3223Aguascalientes
MEX-45322–35028Aguascalientes, Zacatecas
MEX-45D350–37121Zacatecas
connecting roads371–3721Zacatecas
MEX-45372–38311Zacatecas
MEX-54383–39815Zacatecas
MEX-23398–41315Zacatecas
  • Mile 9 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)
  • Mile 41 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
  • Mile 60 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
  • Mile 93 of this route: State of Mexico → Querétaro (state line)
  • Mile 135 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
  • Mile 244 of this route: Guanajuato → Jalisco (state line)
  • Mile 293 of this route: Jalisco → Aguascalientes (state line)
  • Mile 346 of this route: Aguascalientes → Zacatecas (state line)

Stops between Mexico City and Jerez, Zacatecas

  • Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Hacienda de Santa Mónica (mile 16), Aguascalientes Cathedral (mile 307), Cathedral Basilica of Zacatecas (mile 379)
  • Nature and outdoors: Tula National Park (mile 56), Cerro de las Campanas (mile 136)
  • Museums and history: Catedral de Azcapotzalco (mile 11), Museo Tezozómoc (mile 12), Museo Hacienda de Santa Mónica (mile 16), Celaya Cathedral (mile 160), Aguascalientes Cathedral (mile 307), Museo de la Insurgencia (mile 327), Cathedral Basilica of Zacatecas (mile 379)

Catedral de Azcapotzalco

Mile 11 · Catholic cathedral · 3 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Officially the Cathedral of the Holy Apostles Philip and James, the Catedral de Azcapotzalco is the seat of the Diocese of Azcapotzalco in Mexico City.

Museo Tezozómoc

Mile 12 · Museum · 2 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Run by the Instituto Politécnico Nacional since 1999, Museo Tezozómoc is an interactive museum about science and technology.

Museo Hacienda de Santa Mónica

Mile 16 · Museum · 0.4 mi from the route

Part of the Antonio Haghenbeck Cultural Foundation, the Museo Hacienda de Santa Mónica is a museum in the municipality of Tlalnepantla de Baz, State of Mexico.

Tula National Park

Mile 56 · National Park of Mexico · 9 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

This park protects the ruins of Tula, ancient capital of the Toltecs. Walk up to the main pyramid to stand beside the Atlantes, basalt warrior figures more than four meters tall, and look for the Coatepantli wall's reliefs of snakes devouring skeletons.

Cerro de las Campanas

Mile 136 · National Park of Mexico · 12 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Rising within Querétaro City, the Cerro de las Campanas is a hill that is protected as a Mexican national park.

Celaya Cathedral

Mile 160 · Church building · 2 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

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

Mile 307 · Church building · 0.0 mi from the route

The cathedral of Aguascalientes stands on the Plaza de la Patria in the city's historic center.

Museo de la Insurgencia

Mile 327 · Museum · 3 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

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.

Cathedral Basilica of Zacatecas

Mile 379 · Minor basilica · 0.5 mi from the route

Dedicated to the Virgin of the Assumption, the Cathedral of Zacatecas is the main church of the Diocese of Zacatecas.

When you get to Jerez, Zacatecas

Jerez de García Salinas lies in a valley about 35 miles (57 km) from the city of Zacatecas, and in 2007 it became the state's first Pueblo Mágico. The town is the birthplace of poet Ramón López Velarde and is closely tied to tamborazo music, filigree jewelry and leatherwork.

  • Teatro Hinojosa: Built between 1872 and 1890, the theater keeps its hand-carved wooden seating and balconies. source
  • Casa Museo Ramón López Velarde: The poet's birthplace now displays his manuscripts and recordings of his work. source
  • Santuario de la Soledad: This neoclassical sanctuary has twin towers and an unusual lobed arch at its entrance. source

More drives to Jerez, Zacatecas

From Mexico City to other places in Mexico

Coming to Jerez, Zacatecas from the United States? Border crossings, permits and routes from U.S. cities: Driving to Jerez, Zacatecas, Mexico from the U.S.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from Mexico City to Jerez, Zacatecas?

About 7 h 43 min of driving without stops, over 413 miles.

How far is Jerez, Zacatecas from Mexico City by car?

About 413 miles (665 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 Mexico City to Jerez, 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 Mexico City to Jerez, Zacatecas?

The U.S. State Department rates Mexico City Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo 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; Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.

What roads does the drive from Mexico City to Jerez, Zacatecas use?

In order: Viaducto, Periférico, MEX-57, MEX-47D, MEX-45D, MEX-45, MEX-54 and MEX-23. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.

What are good stops between Mexico City and Jerez, Zacatecas?

Closest to the road: Museo Hacienda de Santa Mónica (museum, mile 16, 0.4 mi from the route); Aguascalientes Cathedral (church building, mile 307, 0.0 mi from the route); Cathedral Basilica of Zacatecas (minor basilica, mile 379, 0.5 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.