The Wayro route from Pénjamo to Mapimí is 488 miles (786 km), about 9 h 34 min of driving without stops.
| Total distance | 488 mi (786 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 9 h 34 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-90 → MEX-45 → MEX-45D → MEX-49 → MEX-40D → MEX-30 |
| Mexican states on the route | Guanajuato, Jalisco, Aguascalientes, Zacatecas, Durango |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-45D, MEX-40D, MEX-49D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
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.
How the Pénjamo to Mapimí drive plays out
MEX-49 (151 mi) and MEX-45D (143 mi) carry about 60% of the 488 miles. It runs through 5 states: Guanajuato, Jalisco, Aguascalientes, Zacatecas, Durango. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-45D, MEX-40D and MEX-49D. Of the 7 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Pénjamo to Mapimí
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-90 | 2–30 | 28 | Guanajuato |
| local roads | 30–35 | 5 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45 | 35–38 | 3 | Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 38–39 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 39–129 | 90 | Guanajuato, Jalisco |
| MEX-45 | 129–158 | 29 | Jalisco, Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 158–162 | 4 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 162–190 | 28 | Aguascalientes, Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 190–224 | 34 | Zacatecas |
| connecting roads | 224–225 | 1 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 225–232 | 7 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 232–239 | 7 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 239–247 | 8 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 247–259 | 12 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 259–264 | 5 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-49 | 264–397 | 133 | Zacatecas, Durango |
| connecting roads | 397–398 | 1 | Durango |
| MEX-40D | 398–452 | 54 | Durango |
| MEX-49 | 452–470 | 18 | Durango |
| connecting roads | 470–473 | 3 | Durango |
| MEX-30 | 473–488 | 15 | Durango |
- Mile 84 of this route: Guanajuato → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 132 of this route: Jalisco → Aguascalientes (state line)
- Mile 185 of this route: Aguascalientes → Zacatecas (state line)
- Mile 348 of this route: Zacatecas → Durango (state line)
Stops between Pénjamo and Mapimí
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Irapuato Cathedral (mile 32), Centro de Artes Visuales (mile 146)
- Nature and outdoors: La Pona (mile 147), Parque Estatal Cañón de Fernández (mile 428)
- Museums and history: Irapuato Cathedral (mile 32), Centro de Artes Visuales (mile 146), Museo de la Insurgencia (mile 167), Guadalupe regional museum (mile 212), Historic centre of Zacatecas (mile 219)
Irapuato Cathedral
Irapuato's cathedral, dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, dates from the 18th century and has a Baroque facade. It served as the seat of the local parish until 2004, when the new Diocese of Irapuato made it a cathedral.
Centro de Artes Visuales
Run by the Instituto Cultural de Aguascalientes, the Centro de Artes Visuales is an arts education center in the city of Aguascalientes with its own exhibition space for visual art.
La Pona
Inside the city of Aguascalientes, La Pona protects a native mesquite woodland as an ecological conservation zone, with a quiet forest area for walks and a separate section with sports and recreation spaces.
Museo de la Insurgencia
A 17th-century estate has housed the Museo de la Insurgencia since 1964. Beyond the story of Mexico's fight for independence, its halls show hacienda work tools and everyday objects from earlier times.
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.
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.
Parque Estatal Cañón de Fernández
Along the Nazas River in Lerdo, Durango, Cañón de Fernández State Park protects about 17,000 hectares of desert canyon where Montezuma cypresses and cottonwoods line the water; the wetland has been a Ramsar site since 2008.
More drives to Mapimí
- San Juan de los Lagos to Mapimí
- Tepatitlán to Mapimí
- Guanajuato to Mapimí
- Salamanca to Mapimí
- Guadalajara to Mapimí
- San Miguel de Allende to Mapimí
From Pénjamo to other places in Mexico
- Pénjamo to Cotija
- Pénjamo to Amatitán
- Pénjamo to Tequila
- Pénjamo to Pinos
- Pénjamo to Pabellón de Arteaga
- Pénjamo to Pabellón de Hidalgo
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Pénjamo to Mapimí?
About 9 h 34 min of driving without stops, over 488 miles.
What is the driving distance from Pénjamo to Mapimí?
About 488 miles (786 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 Pénjamo to Mapimí?
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 Pénjamo to Mapimí?
The U.S. State Department rates Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel; Durango Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Pénjamo to Mapimí?
In order: MEX-90, MEX-45, MEX-45D, MEX-49, MEX-40D and MEX-30. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Pénjamo and Mapimí?
Closest to the road: Irapuato Cathedral (cathedral, mile 32, 0.9 mi from the route); Centro de Artes Visuales (art museum, mile 146, 0.3 mi from the route); La Pona (park, mile 147, 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 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.