The Wayro route from San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes to Santa Fe de la Laguna is 247 miles (397 km), about 4 h 22 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 247 mi (397 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 22 min |
| Main roads, in order | AGS 19 → MEX-45 → MEX-45D → MEX-43D → MEX-15D → MEX-37D → MEX-15 |
| Mexican states on the route | Aguascalientes (Level 2), Jalisco (Level 3), Guanajuato (Level 3), Michoacán (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-45D, MEX-43D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.9 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 San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes to Santa Fe de la Laguna is like
MEX-45D (107 mi) and MEX-43D (52 mi) carry about 64% of the 247 miles. MEX-45D, MEX-43D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-45, MEX-15 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Guanajuato, Michoacán. Of the 3 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes to Santa Fe de la Laguna, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Aguascalientes |
| AGS 19 | 1–9 | 8 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 9–12 | 3 | Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 12–17 | 5 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 17–46 | 29 | Aguascalientes, Jalisco |
| MEX-45D | 46–153 | 107 | Jalisco, Guanajuato |
| MEX-43D | 153–205 | 52 | Guanajuato, Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 205–206 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 206–209 | 3 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 209–231 | 22 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 231–246 | 15 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 246–247 | 1 | Michoacán |
- Mile 43 of this route: Aguascalientes → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 91 of this route: Jalisco → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 191 of this route: Guanajuato → Michoacán (state line)
Stops between San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes and Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Nacional de la Muerte (mile 27), José Guadalupe Posada Museum (mile 28)
- Museums and history: Museo Nacional de la Muerte (mile 27), José Guadalupe Posada Museum (mile 28)
Museo Nacional de la Muerte
Run by the Autonomous University of Aguascalientes, the Museo Nacional de la Muerte displays objects about death in Mexican culture, drawn from a collection donated by printmaker Octavio Bajonero Gil.
José Guadalupe Posada Museum
Aguascalientes is the birthplace of printmaker José Guadalupe Posada, and this museum shows the original signed printing plates he used to create his graphic images.
Historic Centre of Morelia
Morelia's old core, founded in the 16th century as Valladolid, keeps more than 200 historic buildings in the region's pink stone around its cathedral and checkerboard streets. UNESCO added it to the World Heritage List in 1991.
When you get to Santa Fe de la Laguna
Tzintzuntzan
Once the political and economic capital of the Purépecha empire, governed by a hereditary line of uacúsecha, or 'eagle lords,' Tzintzuntzan preserves its yácatas, temple bases that combine rectangular and semicircular platforms around ritual plazas.
More drives to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Pedro Escobedo to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Amatitán to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Cadereyta to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Tequila to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Zimapán to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Zacatecas to Santa Fe de la Laguna
From San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes to other places in Mexico
- San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes to Temacapulín
- San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes to San Luis Soyatlán
- San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes to Tócuaro
- San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes to Zirahuén
- San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes to Bernal
- San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes to Omitlán
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes to Santa Fe de la Laguna?
About 4 h 22 min of driving without stops, over 247 miles.
How far is Santa Fe de la Laguna from San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes by car?
About 247 miles (397 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 San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes to Santa Fe de la Laguna?
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 San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes to Santa Fe de la Laguna?
The U.S. State Department rates Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes to Santa Fe de la Laguna use?
In order: AGS 19, MEX-45, MEX-45D, MEX-43D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D and MEX-15. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes and Santa Fe de la Laguna?
Closest to the road: Museo Nacional de la Muerte (art museum, mile 27, 0.1 mi from the route); José Guadalupe Posada Museum (museum, mile 28, 0.1 mi from the route); Historic Centre of Morelia (urban area, mile 222, 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 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.