Puebla to Jerez, Zacatecas Road Trip: Distance, Time & Stops

By admin, 3 October, 2026

The Wayro route from Puebla to Jerez, Zacatecas is 483 miles (777 km), about 8 h 22 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 Jerez, Zacatecas. This route passes through a state at the advisory's highest level. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive.
CacaxtlaChurch and former convent of Todos los SantosAtlantean figuresCerro de las CampanasCelaya CathedralTeatro AguascalientesHistoric centre of AguascalientesMuseo Toma de ZacatecasPueblaJerez, Zacatecas
Route from Puebla to Jerez, Zacatecas with the 8 stops listed below (blue dots).
Distance483 mi (777 km)
Driving time, no stops8 h 22 min
Main roads, in orderMEX-150D → MEX-M40D → MEX-57D → MEX-47D → MEX-45D → MEX-45 → MEX-54 → MEX-23
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 19.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below8

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 Jerez, Zacatecas is like

MEX-45D (163 mi) and MEX-M40D (107 mi) carry about 56% of the 483 miles. MEX-150D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-45, MEX-54, MEX-23 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 9 states: Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Aguascalientes, Zacatecas. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.

The route from Puebla to Jerez, 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
MEX-45441–45312Zacatecas
MEX-54453–46714Zacatecas
connecting roads467–4681Zacatecas
MEX-23468–48315Zacatecas
  • 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 Jerez, Zacatecas

  • Right off the route (under 1 mile): Teatro Aguascalientes (mile 375), Historic centre of Aguascalientes (mile 377), Museo Toma de Zacatecas (mile 449)
  • Nature and outdoors: Cerro de las Campanas (mile 206)
  • Museums and history: Cacaxtla (mile 17), Celaya Cathedral (mile 229), Teatro Aguascalientes (mile 375), Historic centre of Aguascalientes (mile 377), Museo Toma de Zacatecas (mile 449)

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.

Church and former convent of Todos los Santos

Mile 71 · Convent · 5 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Franciscan friars built this fortress-style convent in Zempoala, and the complex still keeps the classic layout of atrium, church, open chapel and cloister. It pairs well with a drive through the area's old pulque haciendas.

Atlantean figures

Mile 117 · Atlantean figures · 1 mi from the route

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.

Cerro de las Campanas

Mile 206 · National Park of Mexico · 12 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Rising within Querétaro City, the Cerro de las Campanas is a hill that is protected as a Mexican national park.

Celaya Cathedral

Mile 229 · Church building · 2 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

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.

Teatro Aguascalientes

Mile 375 · Opera house · 0.2 mi from the route

Teatro Aguascalientes is the city's main opera house, a modern building by architect Abraham Zabludovsky with seating for about 1,650 people.

Historic centre of Aguascalientes

Mile 377 · Historic district · 0.0 mi from the route

The historic center of Aguascalientes is the city's zone of historic monuments, which INAH has declared part of the nation's heritage.

Museo Toma de Zacatecas

Mile 449 · Museum · 0.7 mi from the route

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.

When you get to Jerez, Zacatecas

Jerez de García Salinas lies in a valley about 35 miles (57 km) from the city of Zacatecas, and in 2007 it became the state's first Pueblo Mágico. The town is the birthplace of poet Ramón López Velarde and is closely tied to tamborazo music, filigree jewelry and leatherwork.

  • Teatro Hinojosa: Built between 1872 and 1890, the theater keeps its hand-carved wooden seating and balconies. source
  • Casa Museo Ramón López Velarde: The poet's birthplace now displays his manuscripts and recordings of his work. source
  • Santuario de la Soledad: This neoclassical sanctuary has twin towers and an unusual lobed arch at its entrance. source

More drives to Jerez, Zacatecas

From Puebla to other places in Mexico

Coming to Jerez, Zacatecas from the United States? Border crossings, permits and routes from U.S. cities: Driving to Jerez, Zacatecas, Mexico from the U.S.

Frequently asked questions

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

About 8 h 22 min of driving without stops, over 483 miles.

How far is Jerez, Zacatecas from Puebla by car?

About 483 miles (777 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 Jerez, 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 Jerez, 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 Jerez, Zacatecas use?

In order: MEX-150D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D, MEX-45, MEX-54 and MEX-23. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.

What are good stops between Puebla and Jerez, Zacatecas?

Closest to the road: Teatro Aguascalientes (opera house, mile 375, 0.2 mi from the route); Historic centre of Aguascalientes (historic district, mile 377, 0.0 mi from the route); Museo Toma de Zacatecas (museum, mile 449, 0.7 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.