By road, San Miguel, Morelos and General Zaragoza are about 503 miles (810 km) apart, or roughly 10 h 59 min of driving.
| Total distance | 503 mi (810 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 59 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-115 → MEX-57D → MEX-57 → SLP 29 → NL 3 |
| Mexican states on the route | Morelos, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, Nuevo León |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.1 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.
The San Miguel, Morelos–General Zaragoza drive in a few lines
MEX-57 (173 mi) and MEX-57D (157 mi) carry about 66% of the 503 miles. It runs through 7 states: Morelos, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, Nuevo León. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-57D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
San Miguel, Morelos to General Zaragoza: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–22 | 22 | Morelos, State of Mexico |
| MEX-115 | 22–42 | 20 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 42–43 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 43–98 | 55 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-57D | 98–206 | 108 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Querétaro |
| MEX-57 | 206–304 | 98 | Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 304–346 | 42 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 346–421 | 75 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 421–428 | 7 | San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 29 | 428–456 | 28 | San Luis Potosí, Nuevo León |
| NL 3 | 456–462 | 6 | Nuevo León |
| local roads | 462–503 | 41 | Nuevo León |
- Mile 14 of this route: Morelos → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 101 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 121 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 153 of this route: State of Mexico → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 213 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 267 of this route: Guanajuato → San Luis Potosí (state line)
- Mile 436 of this route: San Luis Potosí → Nuevo León (state line)
Where to stop on the way to General Zaragoza
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo del Centro Cultural Mexiquense Bicentenario (mile 55), Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral, Ecatepec (mile 76)
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro de la Estrella National Park (mile 63), Tula National Park (mile 116)
- Museums and history: Museo del Centro Cultural Mexiquense Bicentenario (mile 55), Luis Barragán House and Studio (mile 66), Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral, Ecatepec (mile 76), Former hacienda of Chichimequillas (mile 198), San Luis Potosí Cathedral (mile 313), Matehuala Cathedral (mile 427)
Museo del Centro Cultural Mexiquense Bicentenario
The museum at the Centro Cultural Mexiquense Bicentenario opened in 2011 with a permanent exhibit, Encuentro con Nuestras Raíces, a hall of art from the State of Mexico and three temporary galleries.
Cerro de la Estrella National Park
Rising in eastern Mexico City's Iztapalapa borough, Cerro de la Estrella is where the Mexica lit the New Fire every 52 years; trails lead up to a pyramid-shaped site museum near the summit and to caves with traces of pre-Hispanic use.
Historic center of Mexico City
Built by the Spanish in the 16th century on the ruins of Tenochtitlan, Mexico City's Centro Histórico holds the Metropolitan Cathedral, the excavated Aztec Templo Mayor and the Palacio de Bellas Artes. UNESCO added it to the World Heritage List in 1987.
Luis Barragán House and Studio
Luis Barragán built his own house and studio in Mexico City in 1948, blending modern design with Mexican vernacular touches. The concrete house and its private garden joined UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2004.
Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral, Ecatepec
The Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral, also called Ecatepec Cathedral, is the main Catholic church and seat of the Diocese of Ecatepec in Mexico, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
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.
Former hacienda of Chichimequillas
Discalced Carmelite friars founded this hacienda around 1690 to shelter travelers on the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro and to farm. Its two-story stone and lime main house, finished in 1813, wraps around a central courtyard beside a chapel.
San Luis Potosí Cathedral
A parish church from 1609 once stood where San Luis Potosí's cathedral rose between 1701 and 1728. Today the Baroque building serves as the seat of the archdiocese.
Matehuala Cathedral
In Matehuala, San Luis Potosí, the Diocese of Matehuala has its seat at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, a Catholic church that remains open to worshippers.
More drives to General Zaragoza
- Jerez, Zacatecas to General Zaragoza
- Pabellón de Hidalgo to General Zaragoza
- Celaya to General Zaragoza
- Salvatierra to General Zaragoza
- Tlalpujahua to General Zaragoza
- Angangueo to General Zaragoza
From San Miguel, Morelos to other places in Mexico
- San Miguel, Morelos to Omitlán
- San Miguel, Morelos to Tetela de Ocampo
- San Miguel, Morelos to Huasca de Ocampo
- San Miguel, Morelos to El Oro
- San Miguel, Morelos to Metztitlán
- San Miguel, Morelos to Bernal
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from San Miguel, Morelos to General Zaragoza?
About 10 h 59 min of driving without stops, over 503 miles.
How far is General Zaragoza from San Miguel, Morelos by car?
About 503 miles (810 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 Miguel, Morelos to General Zaragoza?
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 Miguel, Morelos to General Zaragoza?
The U.S. State Department rates Morelos Level 3: Reconsider Travel; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Nuevo León Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from San Miguel, Morelos to General Zaragoza use?
In order: MEX-115, MEX-57D, MEX-57, SLP 29 and NL 3. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between San Miguel, Morelos and General Zaragoza?
Closest to the road: Museo del Centro Cultural Mexiquense Bicentenario (museum, mile 55, 0.2 mi from the route); Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral, Ecatepec (cathedral, mile 76, 0.7 mi from the route); Matehuala Cathedral (cathedral, mile 427, 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 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: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place 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.