The Wayro route from Pachuca to Nochistlán is 342 miles (551 km), about 5 h 57 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 342 mi (551 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 57 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-85 → MEX-M40D → MEX-57D → MEX-47D → MEX-45D → JAL 205 |
| Mexican states on the route | Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Querétaro (Level 2), Guanajuato (Level 3), Jalisco (Level 3), Zacatecas (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.7 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 Pachuca to Nochistlán is like
MEX-45D (142 mi) and MEX-47D (52 mi) carry about 57% of the 342 miles. MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-85 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 6 states: Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Zacatecas. None of the 8 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Pachuca to Nochistlán, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–6 | 6 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 6–18 | 12 | Hidalgo |
| connecting roads | 18–19 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-M40D | 19–65 | 46 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| MEX-57D | 65–101 | 36 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro |
| MEX-47D | 101–153 | 52 | Querétaro, Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 153–295 | 142 | Guanajuato, Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 295–296 | 1 | Jalisco |
| JAL 205 | 296–339 | 43 | Jalisco, Zacatecas |
| local roads | 339–342 | 3 | Zacatecas |
- Mile 23 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 37 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 66 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 99 of this route: State of Mexico → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 141 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 250 of this route: Guanajuato → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 329 of this route: Jalisco → Zacatecas (state line)
Stops between Pachuca and Nochistlán
- Nature and outdoors: El Cimatario National Park (mile 136), Cerro de las Campanas (mile 142)
- Museums and history: Teotihuacan (mile 18), Museo Arqueológico de Apaxco (mile 37), Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl (mile 54), Celaya Cathedral (mile 165)
Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque
Built by Franciscan friar Francisco de Tembleque between 1554 and 1572, this 16th-century water system runs more than 48 km between Zempoala and Otumba. Its tallest arcade at Tepeyahualco reaches almost 40 meters, and UNESCO listed it in 2015.
Teotihuacan
Built between the 1st and 7th centuries AD, this UNESCO-listed ancient city lines the Avenue of the Dead, where you can walk between the Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon and the Temple of the Feathered Serpent.
Museo Arqueológico de Apaxco
Founded in 1985, the Museo Arqueológico de Apaxco sits across from the parish church of San Francisco de Asís and beside the town hall in Apaxco, State of Mexico.
Atlantean figures
Crowning the main pyramid at the Tula archaeological zone, these basalt sculptures of Toltec warriors stand more than four meters tall in what was once the Toltec capital; the nearby Wall of Snakes shows carved serpents devouring skeletons.
Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl
The Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl is an archaeological museum located in Tula de Allende, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
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.
More drives to Nochistlán
- Tequila to Nochistlán
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Nochistlán
- Zacatecas to Nochistlán
- Fresnillo to Nochistlán
- Durango to Nochistlán
- Mexico City to Nochistlán
From Pachuca to other places in Mexico
- Pachuca to Jilotepec
- Pachuca to Metepec
- Pachuca to Atlatlahucan
- Pachuca to Malinalco
- Pachuca to Amealco
- Pachuca to Cuautla
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Pachuca to Nochistlán?
About 5 h 57 min of driving without stops, over 342 miles.
How far is Nochistlán from Pachuca by car?
About 342 miles (551 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 Pachuca to Nochistlán?
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 Pachuca to Nochistlán?
The U.S. State Department rates Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Pachuca to Nochistlán use?
In order: MEX-85, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D and JAL 205. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Pachuca and Nochistlán?
Closest to the road: Atlantean figures (atlantean figures, mile 53, 1 mi from the route); Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl (museum, mile 54, 1 mi from the route); Celaya Cathedral (church building, mile 165, 2 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.