Puebla to Guadalupe, Zacatecas Road Trip: Route, Tolls & Stops

By admin, 3 October, 2026

The Wayro route from Puebla to Guadalupe, Zacatecas is 446 miles (717 km), about 7 h 30 min of driving without stops.

U.S. State Department travel advisory: Puebla — Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala — Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution; 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; Aguascalientes — Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution; Zacatecas — Level 4, Do Not TravelAdvisory issued May 29, 2026; checked September 29, 2026. Zacatecas is the Mexican state that contains Guadalupe, Zacatecas. This route passes through a state at the advisory's highest level. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive.
CacaxtlaXochitecatlTeotihuacanTulaTula National ParkEl Cimatario National ParkAguascalientes CathedralAguascalientes MuseumMuseo de la InsurgenciaPueblaGuadalupe, Zacatecas
Route from Puebla to Guadalupe, Zacatecas with the 9 stops listed below (blue dots).
Distance446 mi (717 km)
Driving time, no stops7 h 30 min
Main roads, in orderMEX-150D → MEX-M40D → MEX-57D → MEX-47D → MEX-45D → MEX-45
Mexican states on the routePuebla (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Querétaro (Level 2), Guanajuato (Level 3), Jalisco (Level 3), Aguascalientes (Level 2), Zacatecas (Level 4)
Toll roadsMEX-150D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 17.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below9

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 insuranceRequired 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 Puebla to Guadalupe, Zacatecas is like

MEX-45D (163 mi) and MEX-M40D (107 mi) carry about 61% of the 446 miles. MEX-150D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-45 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 9 states: Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Aguascalientes, Zacatecas. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.

The route from Puebla to Guadalupe, Zacatecas, road by road

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miState
local roads0–44Puebla
MEX-150D4–2218Puebla
MEX-M40D22–129107Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico
MEX-57D129–16435Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro
MEX-47D164–21753Querétaro, Guanajuato
MEX-45D217–359142Guanajuato, Jalisco
MEX-45359–38829Jalisco, Aguascalientes
local roads388–3913Aguascalientes
MEX-45391–42029Aguascalientes, Zacatecas
MEX-45D420–44121Zacatecas
local roads441–4465Zacatecas
  • Mile 27 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
  • Mile 50 of this route: Tlaxcala → Hidalgo (state line)
  • Mile 58 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
  • Mile 70 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
  • Mile 87 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
  • Mile 101 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
  • Mile 130 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
  • Mile 163 of this route: State of Mexico → Querétaro (state line)
  • Mile 205 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
  • Mile 314 of this route: Guanajuato → Jalisco (state line)
  • Mile 362 of this route: Jalisco → Aguascalientes (state line)
  • Mile 416 of this route: Aguascalientes → Zacatecas (state line)

Stops between Puebla and Guadalupe, Zacatecas

  • Right off the route (under 1 mile): Aguascalientes Cathedral (mile 377), Aguascalientes Museum (mile 377)
  • Nature and outdoors: Tula National Park (mile 117), El Cimatario National Park (mile 200)
  • Museums and history: Cacaxtla (mile 17), Xochitecatl (mile 18), Teotihuacan (mile 69), Tula (mile 117), Aguascalientes Cathedral (mile 377), Aguascalientes Museum (mile 377), Museo de la Insurgencia (mile 397)

Cacaxtla

Mile 17 · Archaeological site · 2 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Built on a hill rising above the Tlaxcala-Puebla valley, Cacaxtla is known for its pre-Hispanic murals on the Gran Basamento, a large platform now sheltered under a roof. INAH manages it together with nearby Xochitécatl.

Xochitecatl

Mile 18 · Archaeological site · 2 mi from the route

Xochitécatl is a pre-Hispanic archaeological site in the state of Tlaxcala. INAH runs it together with nearby Cacaxtla as a single zone, and the Xochitécatl site museum displays finds from the area.

Teotihuacan

Mile 69 · Historic site · 13 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

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.

Tula

Mile 117 · Archaeological site · 1 mi from the route

Once the Toltec capital, the Tula archaeological zone is best known for its Atlantes, basalt warrior figures over four meters (13 feet) tall crowning the main pyramid. Visitors also see a ball court, the Burnt Palace and the Coatepantli wall, carved with snakes devouring skeletons.

Tula National Park

Mile 117 · National Park of Mexico · 1 mi from the route

This park protects the ruins of Tula, ancient capital of the Toltecs. Walk up to the main pyramid to stand beside the Atlantes, basalt warrior figures more than four meters tall, and look for the Coatepantli wall's reliefs of snakes devouring skeletons.

El Cimatario National Park

Mile 200 · National Park of Mexico · 9 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

El Cimatario National Park protects about 24 square kilometers of land just south of the city of Santiago de Querétaro.

Aguascalientes Cathedral

Mile 377 · Church building · 0.1 mi from the route

The cathedral of Aguascalientes stands on the Plaza de la Patria in the city's historic center.

Aguascalientes Museum

Mile 377 · Art museum · 0.4 mi from the route

Located in the state capital, the Aguascalientes Museum is the city's art museum, set in the city of Aguascalientes, Mexico.

Museo de la Insurgencia

Mile 397 · Museum · 3 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Set in a 17th-century estate, the Museo de la Insurgencia opened in 1964 to tell the story of Mexico's independence movement. One hall shows farm, mining and textile tools from hacienda work; another displays everyday objects from past eras.

When you get to Guadalupe, Zacatecas

Museo Toma de Zacatecas

Museum · in Guadalupe, Zacatecas

On the Cerro de la Bufa, this museum explains the military and social story behind the Taking of Zacatecas during the Mexican Revolution, along with glimpses of daily life in the city at the time.

Cathedral Basilica of Zacatecas

Minor basilica · in Guadalupe, Zacatecas

Dedicated to the Virgin of the Assumption, the Cathedral of Zacatecas is the main church of the Diocese of Zacatecas.

Teatro Fernando Calderón

Theatre building · in Guadalupe, Zacatecas

Built between 1891 and 1897 to plans by architect George Edward King, Zacatecas' Teatro Calderón honors playwright Fernando Calderón and witnessed violent events during the Toma de Zacatecas.

More drives to Guadalupe, Zacatecas

From Puebla to other places in Mexico

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from Puebla to Guadalupe, Zacatecas?

About 7 h 30 min of driving without stops, over 446 miles.

How far is Guadalupe, Zacatecas from Puebla by car?

About 446 miles (717 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 Puebla to Guadalupe, Zacatecas?

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 Puebla to Guadalupe, Zacatecas?

The U.S. State Department rates Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; 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; Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.

What roads does the drive from Puebla to Guadalupe, Zacatecas use?

In order: MEX-150D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D and MEX-45. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.

What are good stops between Puebla and Guadalupe, Zacatecas?

Closest to the road: Tula (archaeological site, mile 117, 1 mi from the route); Aguascalientes Cathedral (church building, mile 377, 0.1 mi from the route); Aguascalientes Museum (art museum, mile 377, 0.4 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.