The Wayro route from Salamanca to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes is 155 miles (249 km), about 2 h 59 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 155 mi (249 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 2 h 59 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-45 → MEX-45D → AGS 19 |
| Mexican states on the route | Guanajuato (Level 3), Jalisco (Level 3), Aguascalientes (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-45D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 6.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
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 San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes is like
MEX-45D (90 mi) and MEX-45 (47 mi) carry about 88% of the 155 miles. MEX-45D is a toll highway (cuota); MEX-45 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 3 states: Guanajuato, Jalisco, Aguascalientes. Of the 4 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Salamanca to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes, 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 | 142–145 | 3 | Aguascalientes |
| connecting roads | 145–146 | 1 | Aguascalientes |
| AGS 19 | 146–154 | 8 | Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 154–155 | 1 | Aguascalientes |
- Mile 65 of this route: Guanajuato → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 112 of this route: Jalisco → Aguascalientes (state line)
Stops between Salamanca and San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Irapuato Cathedral (mile 13), Parque Rodolfo Landeros (mile 125), Centro de Artes Visuales (mile 127)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Rodolfo Landeros (mile 125), La Pona (mile 129)
- Museums and history: Irapuato Cathedral (mile 13), Centro de Artes Visuales (mile 127)
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.
Centro de Artes Visuales
Run by the Instituto Cultural de Aguascalientes, the Centro de Artes Visuales is an arts education center in the city of Aguascalientes with its own exhibition space for visual art.
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.
When you get to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
Santuario del Cristo Roto, San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
A 28-meter broken Christ, the Cristo Roto, stands on an island in the Presidente Calles dam at San José de Gracia, reachable only by boat. Sculptors Erasmo Aguilar and Miguel Romo Santino made it to recall what the town lost when the dam was built.
More drives to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Jerez, Zacatecas to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- El Rosario, Sinaloa to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Tepatitlán to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Amatitán to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Ajijic to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Tequila to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
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 San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
About 2 h 59 min of driving without stops, over 155 miles.
How far is San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes from Salamanca by car?
About 155 miles (249 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 San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
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 San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
The U.S. State Department rates Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Salamanca to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes use?
In order: MEX-45, MEX-45D and AGS 19. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Salamanca and San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
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); Centro de Artes Visuales (art museum, mile 127, 0.2 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.