The Wayro route from Nombre de Dios to Bernal is 429 miles (691 km), about 7 h 60 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 429 mi (691 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 60 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-45 → MEX-45D → MEX-57D → QRO 4 → QRO 100 |
| Mexican states on the route | Durango (Level 3), Zacatecas (Level 4), Aguascalientes (Level 2), Jalisco (Level 3), Guanajuato (Level 3), Querétaro (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-45D, MEX-43D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.2 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 Nombre de Dios to Bernal is like
MEX-45D (221 mi) and MEX-45 (169 mi) carry about 91% of the 429 miles. MEX-45D, MEX-57D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-45 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 6 states: Durango, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Guanajuato, Querétaro. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Nombre de Dios to Bernal, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Durango |
| MEX-45 | 2–104 | 102 | Durango, Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 104–116 | 12 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 116–124 | 8 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 124–174 | 50 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 174–203 | 29 | Zacatecas, Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 203–206 | 3 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 206–236 | 30 | Aguascalientes, Jalisco |
| MEX-45D | 236–395 | 159 | Jalisco, Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 395–405 | 10 | Querétaro |
| connecting roads | 405–406 | 1 | Querétaro |
| QRO 4 | 406–425 | 19 | Querétaro |
| QRO 100 | 425–429 | 4 | Querétaro |
- Mile 26 of this route: Durango → Zacatecas (state line)
- Mile 179 of this route: Zacatecas → Aguascalientes (state line)
- Mile 233 of this route: Aguascalientes → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 281 of this route: Jalisco → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 386 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
Stops between Nombre de Dios and Bernal
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Aguascalientes Cathedral (mile 217), Teatro Aguascalientes (mile 219), Museo de la Ciudad de Querétaro (mile 393)
- Nature and outdoors: Sierra de Órganos National Park (mile 34), El Cimatario National Park (mile 398)
- Museums and history: Guadalupe regional museum (mile 152), Aguascalientes Cathedral (mile 217), Teatro Aguascalientes (mile 219), Celaya Cathedral (mile 365), Museo de la Ciudad de Querétaro (mile 393)
Sierra de Órganos National Park
Volcanic activity and erosion shaped the 20- to 60-meter rock spires of Sierra de Órganos, a national park near Sombrerete created in 2000. Western movies have been filmed here, and visitors hike marked trails, mountain bike and camp.
Historic centre of Zacatecas
Founded in 1546 after a rich silver strike, Zacatecas climbs the steep sides of a narrow valley; its UNESCO-listed center holds an 18th-century Baroque cathedral, colonial convents, the Calderón Theater and the old González Market.
Guadalupe regional museum
In Guadalupe, Zacatecas, the Museo de Guadalupe fills a former college that sent missionaries to the north and holds an important collection of 17th- to 19th-century painting, including works by Cristóbal de Villalpando, Miguel Cabrera and Juan Correa.
Aguascalientes Cathedral
The cathedral of Aguascalientes stands on the Plaza de la Patria in the city's historic center.
Teatro Aguascalientes
Teatro Aguascalientes is the city's main opera house, a modern building by architect Abraham Zabludovsky with seating for about 1,650 people.
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.
Museo de la Ciudad de Querétaro
Inside the 18th-century Baroque former Capuchin convent in Querétaro's historic center, the Museo de la Ciudad hosts contemporary visual art along with music, film and theater.
Templo y exconvento de San Francisco de Asís de Querétaro
Querétaro's San Francisco church once served as the city's cathedral. The convent was begun in 1589 and the church finished in 1640, and it keeps a Baroque lectern and upper-choir stalls by Francisco Eduardo Tresguerras.
El Cimatario National Park
El Cimatario National Park protects about 24 square kilometers of land just south of the city of Santiago de Querétaro.
More drives to Bernal
- Celaya to Bernal
- Salamanca to Bernal
- Irapuato to Bernal
- Guanajuato to Bernal
- Pénjamo to Bernal
- León to Bernal
From Nombre de Dios to other places in Mexico
- Nombre de Dios to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Nombre de Dios to Temacapulín
- Nombre de Dios to San Luis Soyatlán
- Nombre de Dios to Tócuaro
- Nombre de Dios to Cuanajo
- Nombre de Dios to Pacanda
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Nombre de Dios to Bernal?
About 7 h 60 min of driving without stops, over 429 miles.
How far is Bernal from Nombre de Dios by car?
About 429 miles (691 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 Nombre de Dios to Bernal?
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 Nombre de Dios to Bernal?
The U.S. State Department rates Durango Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel; Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Nombre de Dios to Bernal use?
In order: MEX-45, MEX-45D, MEX-57D, QRO 4 and QRO 100. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Nombre de Dios and Bernal?
Closest to the road: Aguascalientes Cathedral (church building, mile 217, 0.2 mi from the route); Teatro Aguascalientes (opera house, mile 219, 0.1 mi from the route); Museo de la Ciudad de Querétaro (museum, mile 393, 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.