The Wayro route from Mexico City to Pinos is 317 miles (510 km), about 6 h 32 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 317 mi (510 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 32 min |
| Main roads, in order | Viaducto → Periférico → MEX-57 → MEX-57D → MEX-49 → ZAC 291 |
| Mexican states on the route | Mexico City (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), Querétaro (Level 2), Guanajuato (Level 3), San Luis Potosí (Level 2), Zacatecas (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
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 Mexico City to Pinos is like
MEX-57 (178 mi) and MEX-57D (53 mi) carry about 73% of the 317 miles. MEX-57D is a toll highway (cuota); MEX-57, MEX-49 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 7 states: Mexico City, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, Zacatecas. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Mexico City to Pinos, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Mexico City |
| Viaducto | 2–6 | 4 | Mexico City |
| Periférico | 6–24 | 18 | Mexico City, State of Mexico |
| MEX-57 | 24–94 | 70 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 94–147 | 53 | Querétaro |
| MEX-57 | 147–255 | 108 | Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| connecting roads | 255–257 | 2 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-49 | 257–300 | 43 | San Luis Potosí, Zacatecas |
| connecting roads | 300–301 | 1 | Zacatecas |
| ZAC 291 | 301–315 | 14 | Zacatecas |
| local roads | 315–317 | 2 | Zacatecas |
- 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 154 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 207 of this route: Guanajuato → San Luis Potosí (state line)
- Mile 289 of this route: San Luis Potosí → Zacatecas (state line)
Stops between Mexico City and Pinos
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Acuario Inbursa (mile 9)
- Nature and outdoors: Los Remedios National Park (mile 12), Tula National Park (mile 56)
- Museums and history: Museo Tezozómoc (mile 12), Santa Cecilia Acatitlan (mile 18), Former hacienda of Chichimequillas (mile 139), Centro de las Artes de San Luis Potosí (mile 254), Federico Silva Museum (mile 255)
- With kids: Acuario Inbursa (mile 9)
Acuario Inbursa
In the Nuevo Polanco area of Mexico City, Acuario Inbursa spreads across about 3,500 square meters of exhibits holding some 1.6 million liters of seawater.
Los Remedios National Park
Los Remedios National Park, created by federal decree in 1938, covers about 400 hectares on the far western side of Naucalpan, just northwest of Mexico City.
Museo Tezozómoc
Run by the Instituto Politécnico Nacional since 1999, Museo Tezozómoc is an interactive museum about science and technology.
Santa Cecilia Acatitlan
Santa Cecilia Acatitlan is an early Aztec archaeological zone in Tlalnepantla de Baz, about 10 km northwest of Mexico City, once on the shore of Lake Texcoco.
Tula National Park
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.
Casa de la Corregidora
Completed in 1770 as Querétaro's royal houses and town hall, the Casa de la Corregidora is where Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez, held there in 1810, sent word of danger to Miguel Hidalgo. After independence it became the state government palace.
Former hacienda of Chichimequillas
Discalced Carmelite friars founded this hacienda around 1690 to shelter travelers on the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro and to farm. Its two-story stone and lime main house, finished in 1813, wraps around a central courtyard beside a chapel.
Centro de las Artes de San Luis Potosí
San Luis Potosí's Centro de las Artes Centenario occupies the state's former penitentiary on Calzada de Guadalupe, an eclectic-style building listed as a historic monument by INAH.
Federico Silva Museum
Opened on September 18, 2003, in San Luis Potosí's historic center, the Federico Silva Museum is devoted entirely to sculpture.
More drives to Pinos
- Calvillo to Pinos
- El Rosario, Sinaloa to Pinos
- Amatitán to Pinos
- Tequila to Pinos
- Paracho to Pinos
- Pátzcuaro to Pinos
From Mexico City to other places in Mexico
- Mexico City to Metepec
- Mexico City to Toluca
- Mexico City to Cuernavaca
- Mexico City to Atlatlahucan
- Mexico City to Malinalco
- Mexico City to Cuautla
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Mexico City to Pinos?
About 6 h 32 min of driving without stops, over 317 miles.
How far is Pinos from Mexico City by car?
About 317 miles (510 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 Pinos?
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 Pinos?
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; San Luis Potosí 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 Pinos use?
In order: Viaducto, Periférico, MEX-57, MEX-57D, MEX-49 and ZAC 291. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Mexico City and Pinos?
Closest to the road: Acuario Inbursa (public aquarium, mile 9, 0.6 mi from the route); Centro de las Artes de San Luis Potosí (museum, mile 254, 1 mi from the route); Federico Silva Museum (museum, mile 255, 1 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.