The Wayro route from Salamanca to Zacatlán is 260 miles (419 km), about 4 h 22 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 260 mi (419 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 22 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-45D → MEX-47D → MEX-57D → MEX-M40D → MEX-132 → MEX-132D → MEX-119D → MEX-119 |
| Mexican states on the route | Guanajuato (Level 3), Querétaro (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D, MEX-M40D, MEX-132D, MEX-119D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
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 Zacatlán is like
MEX-M40D (61 mi) and MEX-47D (52 mi) carry about 43% of the 260 miles. MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D, MEX-M40D, MEX-132D, MEX-119D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-132, MEX-119 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 5 states: Guanajuato, Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Puebla. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Salamanca to Zacatlán, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 2–39 | 37 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-47D | 39–91 | 52 | Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 91–127 | 36 | Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| MEX-M40D | 127–188 | 61 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| MEX-132 | 188–211 | 23 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-132D | 211–236 | 25 | Hidalgo |
| connecting roads | 236–238 | 2 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-119D | 238–250 | 12 | Hidalgo, Puebla |
| connecting roads | 250–251 | 1 | Puebla |
| MEX-119 | 251–260 | 9 | Puebla |
- Mile 52 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 93 of this route: Querétaro → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 126 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 156 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 170 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 242 of this route: Hidalgo → Puebla (state line)
Stops between Salamanca and Zacatlán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Tula National Park (mile 139), Huapalcalco (mile 219)
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro de las Campanas (mile 50), El Cimatario National Park (mile 56), Tula National Park (mile 139)
- Museums and history: Celaya Cathedral (mile 27), Teotihuacan (mile 188), Museo de Datos Históricos (mile 217), Huapalcalco (mile 219)
Celaya Cathedral
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.
Cerro de las Campanas
Rising within Querétaro City, the Cerro de las Campanas is a hill that is protected as a Mexican national park.
El Cimatario National Park
El Cimatario National Park protects about 24 square kilometers of land just south of the city of Santiago de Querétaro.
Atlantean figures
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.
Tula National Park
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.
Teotihuacan
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.
Church and former convent of Todos los Santos
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.
Museo de Datos Históricos
Tulancingo's first station of the Hidalgo and Northeast Railroad, built in 1893, now houses the Museo de Datos Históricos, with regional archaeological pieces such as the Huapalcalco feline, traditional clothing from Santa Ana Hueytlalpan and a historical photo archive.
Huapalcalco
About 5 kilometers north of Tulancingo, the pre-Columbian site of Huapalcalco sits on the western slope of a hill called Tecolote.
More drives to Zacatlán
- Chiautempan to Zacatlán
- Zacatelco to Zacatlán
- Pachuca to Zacatlán
- Cholula to Zacatlán
- Atlixco to Zacatlán
- Mexico City to Zacatlán
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 Zacatlán?
About 4 h 22 min of driving without stops, over 260 miles.
How far is Zacatlán from Salamanca by car?
About 260 miles (419 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 Zacatlán?
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 Zacatlán?
The U.S. State Department rates Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla 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 Zacatlán use?
In order: MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D, MEX-M40D, MEX-132, MEX-132D, MEX-119D and MEX-119. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Salamanca and Zacatlán?
Closest to the road: Tula National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 139, 1 mi from the route); Atlantean figures (atlantean figures, mile 139, 1 mi from the route); Huapalcalco (archaeological site, mile 219, 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.