The Wayro route from San Juan del Río to Pénjamo is 127 miles (205 km), about 2 h 15 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 127 mi (205 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 2 h 15 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-57D → MEX-45D → MEX-90 |
| Mexican states on the route | Querétaro (Level 2), Guanajuato (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-57D, MEX-45D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 5.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
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 Juan del Río to Pénjamo is like
MEX-45D (65 mi) and MEX-57D (30 mi) carry about 75% of the 127 miles. MEX-57D, MEX-45D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-90 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 2 states: Querétaro, Guanajuato. None of the 6 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from San Juan del Río to Pénjamo, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 2–32 | 30 | Querétaro |
| MEX-45D | 32–97 | 65 | Querétaro, Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 97–98 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-90 | 98–126 | 28 | Guanajuato |
| local roads | 126–127 | 1 | Guanajuato |
- Mile 39 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
Stops between San Juan del Río and Pénjamo
- Nature and outdoors: El Cimatario National Park (mile 27)
- Museums and history: Queretaro Art Museum (mile 31), El Cerrito (mile 35), Celaya Cathedral (mile 59), Irapuato Cathedral (mile 95)
El Cimatario National Park
El Cimatario National Park protects about 24 square kilometers of land just south of the city of Santiago de Querétaro.
Queretaro Art Museum
Set in the cloister of the former San Agustín convent, the Museo de Arte de Querétaro opened in 1988 and shows paintings and sculpture across fifteen galleries.
El Cerrito
Just outside Querétaro city in Corregidora, El Cerrito is an INAH archaeological zone centered on a pyramid close to 100 feet high, later topped by a 19th-century fort, with a small site museum on the grounds.
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.
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.
Tequila Corralejo
Tequila Corralejo is distilled in Pénjamo, Guanajuato, at the historic Hacienda de Corralejo, where the brand, established in 1996, offers guided tours and hosts social events.
More drives to Pénjamo
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Pénjamo
- Zacatecas to Pénjamo
- Jerez, Zacatecas to Pénjamo
- Fresnillo to Pénjamo
- Durango to Pénjamo
- Mazatlán to Pénjamo
From San Juan del Río to other places in Mexico
- San Juan del Río to San Miguel de Allende
- San Juan del Río to Mineral de Pozos
- San Juan del Río to Salvatierra
- San Juan del Río to Moroleón
- San Juan del Río to Guanajuato
- San Juan del Río to Tzintzuntzan
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from San Juan del Río to Pénjamo?
About 2 h 15 min of driving without stops, over 127 miles.
How far is Pénjamo from San Juan del Río by car?
About 127 miles (205 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 Juan del Río to Pénjamo?
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 Juan del Río to Pénjamo?
The U.S. State Department rates Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from San Juan del Río to Pénjamo use?
In order: MEX-57D, MEX-45D and MEX-90. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between San Juan del Río and Pénjamo?
Closest to the road: Queretaro Art Museum (art museum, mile 31, 1 mi from the route); El Cerrito (archaeological site, mile 35, 2 mi from the route); Tequila Corralejo (distillery, mile 120, 1 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.