The Wayro route from Pénjamo to Pinal de Amoles is 183 miles (295 km), about 4 h 1 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 183 mi (295 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 1 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-90 → MEX-45D → MEX-57D → QRO 4 → QRO 100 → MEX-120 |
| Mexican states on the route | Guanajuato (Level 3), Querétaro (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-45D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.3 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.
What the drive from Pénjamo to Pinal de Amoles is like
MEX-45D (68 mi) and MEX-90 (28 mi) carry about 52% of the 183 miles. MEX-45D, MEX-57D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-90, MEX-120 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 2 states: Guanajuato, Querétaro. Of the 7 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Pénjamo to Pinal de Amoles, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-90 | 2–30 | 28 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 30–98 | 68 | Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 98–107 | 9 | Querétaro |
| connecting roads | 107–108 | 1 | Querétaro |
| QRO 4 | 108–127 | 19 | Querétaro |
| QRO 100 | 127–137 | 10 | Querétaro |
| local roads | 137–141 | 4 | Querétaro |
| QRO 100 | 141–155 | 14 | Querétaro |
| MEX-120 | 155–183 | 28 | Querétaro |
- Mile 89 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
Stops between Pénjamo and Pinal de Amoles
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo de la Ciudad de Querétaro (mile 96)
- Nature and outdoors: El Cimatario National Park (mile 100)
- Museums and history: Irapuato Cathedral (mile 32), Celaya Cathedral (mile 68), El Cerrito (mile 93), Museo de la Ciudad de Querétaro (mile 96)
Tequila Corralejo
Tequila Corralejo is distilled in Pénjamo, Guanajuato, at the historic Hacienda de Corralejo, where the brand, established in 1996, offers guided tours and hosts social events.
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.
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.
El Cerrito
Just outside Querétaro city in Corregidora, El Cerrito is an INAH archaeological zone centered on a pyramid close to 100 feet high, later topped by a 19th-century fort, with a small site museum on the grounds.
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 Pinal de Amoles
- Celaya to Pinal de Amoles
- Irapuato to Pinal de Amoles
- Mexico City to Pinal de Amoles
- Zitácuaro to Pinal de Amoles
- Morelia to Pinal de Amoles
- Malinalco to Pinal de Amoles
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 is the drive from Pénjamo to Pinal de Amoles?
About 4 h 1 min of driving without stops, over 183 miles.
How far is Pinal de Amoles from Pénjamo by car?
About 183 miles (295 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 Pinal de Amoles?
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 Pinal de Amoles?
The U.S. State Department rates 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 Pénjamo to Pinal de Amoles use?
In order: MEX-90, MEX-45D, MEX-57D, QRO 4, QRO 100 and MEX-120. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Pénjamo and Pinal de Amoles?
Closest to the road: Tequila Corralejo (distillery, mile 7, 1 mi from the route); Museo de la Ciudad de Querétaro (museum, mile 96, 1 mi from the route); Templo y exconvento de San Francisco de Asís de Querétaro (convent, mile 96, 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.