Montemorelos to Ajijic is about 498 road miles (802 km): roughly 10 h 25 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Total distance | 498 mi (802 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 10 h 25 min |
| Main roads, in order | NL 32 → MEX-58 → MEX-57 → MEX-57D → MEX-70 → MEX-80 → MEX-80D → MEX-GUA 10D → MEX-23 |
| Mexican states on the route | Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Jalisco |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-57D, MEX-80D, MEX-GUA 10D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
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.
The Montemorelos–Ajijic drive in a few lines
MEX-57 (165 mi) and MEX-80D (114 mi) carry about 56% of the 498 miles. It runs through 4 states: Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Jalisco. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-57D, MEX-80D and MEX-GUA 10D. Of the 6 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Montemorelos to Ajijic
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–55 | 55 | Nuevo León |
| NL 32 | 55–60 | 5 | Nuevo León |
| MEX-58 | 60–81 | 21 | Nuevo León |
| MEX-57 | 81–155 | 74 | Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 155–164 | 9 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 164–239 | 75 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 239–260 | 21 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 260–276 | 16 | San Luis Potosí |
| local roads | 276–286 | 10 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 286–295 | 9 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-70 | 295–313 | 18 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-80 | 313–316 | 3 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-80D | 316–357 | 41 | San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Jalisco |
| MEX-80 | 357–390 | 33 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 390–463 | 73 | Jalisco |
| MEX-GUA 10D | 463–480 | 17 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 480–482 | 2 | Jalisco |
| MEX-23 | 482–498 | 16 | Jalisco |
- Mile 144 of this route: Nuevo León → San Luis Potosí (state line)
- Mile 322 of this route: San Luis Potosí → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 333 of this route: Guanajuato → Jalisco (state line)
What to see on the way from Montemorelos to Ajijic
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (mile 367), Teatro José Rosas Moreno (mile 367)
- Museums and history: Matehuala Cathedral (mile 159), Museo del Ferrocarril Jesús García Corona (mile 278), Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (mile 367), Teatro José Rosas Moreno (mile 367), Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos (mile 396), Teocaltitan Archaeological Site (mile 403)
Matehuala Cathedral
Still open for worship, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral serves as the seat of the Catholic Diocese of Matehuala, a city in the state of San Luis Potosí.
Museo del Ferrocarril Jesús García Corona
Opened on August 12, 2009, in San Luis Potosí's Barrio del Montecillo, this railroad museum focuses on the steam locomotive, its parts and history, and its role in 20th-century Mexico.
Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera
The Museo Casa Agustín Rivera Altos de Jalisco is a museum you'll find in the town of Lagos de Moreno, in the state of Jalisco.
Teatro José Rosas Moreno
Lagos de Moreno's Teatro José Rosas Moreno opened its doors on May 5, 1907, some forty years after construction began in 1867. It honors a writer from Jalisco.
Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos
Pilgrims come from far and wide to San Juan de los Lagos to see the small image of the Virgin kept in this cathedral basilica, built between 1732 and 1769. Inside are Gothic-style ribbed vaults and a silver-framed Way of the Cross.
Teocaltitan Archaeological Site
Pyramids, sunken patios and a ball court spread over roughly nine hectares at Teocaltitán, close to Jalostotitlán in the Los Altos region.
More drives to Ajijic
- Calvillo to Ajijic
- Jerez, Zacatecas to Ajijic
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Ajijic
- Fresnillo to Ajijic
- El Rosario, Sinaloa to Ajijic
- Sombrerete to Ajijic
From Montemorelos to other places in Mexico
- Montemorelos to Ciudad Tula
- Montemorelos to Jerez, Zacatecas
- Montemorelos to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Montemorelos to Pabellón de Arteaga
- Montemorelos to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Montemorelos to San Juan de los Lagos
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Montemorelos to Ajijic?
About 10 h 25 min of driving without stops, over 498 miles.
What is the driving distance from Montemorelos to Ajijic?
About 498 miles (802 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 Montemorelos to Ajijic?
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 Montemorelos to Ajijic?
The U.S. State Department rates Nuevo León Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Montemorelos to Ajijic?
In order: NL 32, MEX-58, MEX-57, MEX-57D, MEX-70, MEX-80, MEX-80D, MEX-GUA 10D and MEX-23. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Montemorelos to Ajijic?
Closest to the road: Museo del Ferrocarril Jesús García Corona (museum, mile 278, 1 mi from the route); Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (museum, mile 367, 0.4 mi from the route); Teatro José Rosas Moreno (opera house, mile 367, 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 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: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place 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.