The Wayro route from Salamanca to Pinos is 146 miles (235 km), about 3 h 32 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 146 mi (235 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 32 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-45 → GTO 77 → MEX-51 → ZAC 144 |
| Mexican states on the route | Guanajuato (Level 3), Jalisco (Level 3), Zacatecas (Level 4) |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 5.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
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 Salamanca to Pinos is like
GTO 77 (40 mi) and MEX-51 (38 mi) carry about 53% of the 146 miles. The route stays on free federal roads (libre): MEX-45, MEX-51. It runs through 3 states: Guanajuato, Jalisco, Zacatecas. Of the 3 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Salamanca to Pinos, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45 | 4–35 | 31 | Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 35–36 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| GTO 77 | 36–76 | 40 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-51 | 76–114 | 38 | Guanajuato, Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 114–117 | 3 | Jalisco |
| ZAC 144 | 117–144 | 27 | Zacatecas |
| local roads | 144–146 | 2 | Zacatecas |
- Mile 110 of this route: Guanajuato → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 117 of this route: Jalisco → Zacatecas (state line)
Stops between Salamanca and Pinos
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Irapuato Cathedral (mile 13), Casa de Miguel Hidalgo (mile 76)
- Museums and history: Irapuato Cathedral (mile 13), Cristo Rey (mile 40), Casa de Miguel Hidalgo (mile 76)
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.
Cristo Rey
Atop Cerro del Cubilete near Silao, at about 2,600 meters, a 20-meter statue of Christ the King stands on a concrete dome, with a sanctuary and a Cristero museum nearby.
Casa de Miguel Hidalgo
The Museo Histórico Casa de Hidalgo, also called La Francia Chiquita, is a museum in the town of San Felipe, in the Mexican state of Guanajuato.
More drives to Pinos
- Calvillo to Pinos
- El Rosario, Sinaloa to Pinos
- Amatitán to Pinos
- Tequila to Pinos
- Paracho to Pinos
- Pátzcuaro to Pinos
From Salamanca to other places in Mexico
- Salamanca to Zamora
- Salamanca to Cotija
- Salamanca to Temacapulín
- Salamanca to Pabellón de Arteaga
- Salamanca to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Salamanca to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Salamanca to Pinos?
About 3 h 32 min of driving without stops, over 146 miles.
How far is Pinos from Salamanca by car?
About 146 miles (235 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 Pinos?
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 Pinos?
The U.S. State Department rates Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Salamanca to Pinos use?
In order: MEX-45, GTO 77, MEX-51 and ZAC 144. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Salamanca and Pinos?
Closest to the road: Irapuato Cathedral (cathedral, mile 13, 0.7 mi from the route); Cristo Rey (monument, mile 40, 3 mi from the route); Casa de Miguel Hidalgo (museum, mile 76, 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.