The Wayro route from Salamanca to Mapimí is 469 miles (754 km), about 9 h 5 min of driving without stops.
| Distance by road | 469 mi (754 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 9 h 5 min |
| Main roads, in order | 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 18.7 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.
Driving Salamanca to Mapimí: the shape of the trip
MEX-49 (151 mi) and MEX-45D (144 mi) carry about 63% of the 469 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 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Salamanca to Mapimí, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45 | 4–18 | 14 | Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 18–19 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 19–109 | 90 | Guanajuato, Jalisco |
| MEX-45 | 109–139 | 30 | Jalisco, Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 139–142 | 3 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 142–170 | 28 | Aguascalientes, Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 170–205 | 35 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 205–212 | 7 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 212–219 | 7 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 219–227 | 8 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 227–239 | 12 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 239–244 | 5 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-49 | 244–377 | 133 | Zacatecas, Durango |
| connecting roads | 377–378 | 1 | Durango |
| MEX-40D | 378–432 | 54 | Durango |
| MEX-49 | 432–450 | 18 | Durango |
| connecting roads | 450–454 | 4 | Durango |
| MEX-30 | 454–469 | 15 | Durango |
- Mile 65 of this route: Guanajuato → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 112 of this route: Jalisco → Aguascalientes (state line)
- Mile 166 of this route: Aguascalientes → Zacatecas (state line)
- Mile 328 of this route: Zacatecas → Durango (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Mapimí
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Irapuato Cathedral (mile 13), Parque Rodolfo Landeros (mile 125), Museo Espacio, Aguascalientes (mile 128)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Rodolfo Landeros (mile 125), La Pona (mile 129), Parque Estatal Cañón de Fernández (mile 409)
- Museums and history: Irapuato Cathedral (mile 13), Museo Espacio, Aguascalientes (mile 128), Museo de la Insurgencia (mile 147), Guadalupe regional museum (mile 192), Historic centre of Zacatecas (mile 199)
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.
Parque Rodolfo Landeros
Also called Parque Héroes, this environmental and recreation park on Avenida José María Chávez in Aguascalientes has an artificial lake, bike rentals and several other attractions.
Museo Espacio, Aguascalientes
Inside the Tres Centurias complex at Aguascalientes' old train station, Museo Espacio is a contemporary art museum, so a visit pairs current work with a look at the city's railroad buildings.
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
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.
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
Zacatecas' UNESCO-listed center packs in an 18th-century Baroque cathedral, colonial convents, the Calderón Theater and the old González Market, all set on the steep sides of a narrow valley.
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
- Guadalajara to Mapimí
- Pénjamo to Mapimí
- San Miguel de Allende to Mapimí
From Salamanca to other places in Mexico
- Salamanca to Zamora
- Salamanca to Cotija
- Salamanca to Temacapulín
- Salamanca to Pabellón de Arteaga
- Salamanca to Pinos
- Salamanca to Pabellón de Hidalgo
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Salamanca to Mapimí?
About 9 h 5 min of driving without stops, over 469 miles.
How far is Mapimí from Salamanca by car?
About 469 miles (754 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 Salamanca 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 Salamanca 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 Salamanca to Mapimí?
In order: 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 Salamanca and Mapimí?
Closest to the road: Irapuato Cathedral (cathedral, mile 13, 0.7 mi from the route); Parque Rodolfo Landeros (park, mile 125, 0.1 mi from the route); Museo Espacio, Aguascalientes (art museum, mile 128, 0.9 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.