The Wayro route from Santa Clara del Cobre to Aquismón is 346 miles (557 km), about 8 h 4 min of driving without stops.
| Total distance | 346 mi (557 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 4 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-120 → MEX-14D → MEX-37D → MEX-15D → MEX-43D → MEX-45D → MEX-57D → QRO 4 → QRO 100 → MEX-85 |
| Mexican states on the route | Michoacán, Guanajuato, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-14D, MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-43D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
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.
On the road from Santa Clara del Cobre to Aquismón
MEX-120 (122 mi) and MEX-43D (51 mi) carry about 50% of the 346 miles. It runs through 4 states: Michoacán, Guanajuato, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-14D, MEX-37D and MEX-15D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Santa Clara del Cobre to Aquismón
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-120 | 1–10 | 9 | Michoacán |
| MEX-14D | 10–14 | 4 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 14–52 | 38 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 52–56 | 4 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 56–57 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-43D | 57–108 | 51 | Michoacán, Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 108–109 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 109–159 | 50 | Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 159–170 | 11 | Querétaro |
| QRO 4 | 170–189 | 19 | Querétaro |
| QRO 100 | 189–198 | 9 | Querétaro |
| local roads | 198–203 | 5 | Querétaro |
| QRO 100 | 203–217 | 14 | Querétaro |
| MEX-120 | 217–330 | 113 | Querétaro, San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-85 | 330–341 | 11 | San Luis Potosí |
| local roads | 341–346 | 5 | San Luis Potosí |
- Mile 72 of this route: Michoacán → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 150 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 306 of this route: Querétaro → San Luis Potosí (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Santa Clara del Cobre and Aquismón
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Santiago de Jalpan mission (mile 271), Tancama (mile 277), Las Pozas (mile 322)
- Nature and outdoors: El Cimatario National Park (mile 162), Las Pozas (mile 322)
- Museums and history: Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro (mile 10), Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares (mile 10), Querétaro Cathedral (mile 158), Queretaro Art Museum (mile 158), Santiago de Jalpan mission (mile 271), Tancama (mile 277)
Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro
Pátzcuaro's basilica (Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Salud) rises on pre-Hispanic platforms beside its own plaza. Bishop Vasco de Quiroga planned it as a five-nave cathedral, only one nave was finished, and his remains rest inside.
Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares
Housed in an 18th-century building adapted from the Colegio de San Nicolás, which Vasco de Quiroga founded in the 16th century, this INAH museum in Pátzcuaro shows Purépecha pottery, textiles, woodwork and lacquerware.
Querétaro Cathedral
Querétaro's cathedral, dedicated to St. Philip Neri, is a Catholic church built by the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri in 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 Cimatario National Park
El Cimatario National Park protects about 24 square kilometers of land just south of the city of Santiago de Querétaro.
Santiago de Jalpan mission
Built between 1751 and 1758 under Franciscan friar Junípero Serra, the Misión de Santiago de Jalpan is one of five Franciscan missions raised in Querétaro's Sierra Gorda.
Tancama
Tancama is an archaeological site in Querétaro whose Huastec name means 'hill of fire,' a key place for understanding the Huastec culture.
Las Pozas
Created by Edward James in the Sierra Gorda, Las Pozas is a surrealist sculpture garden where concrete structures stand among waterfalls and pools in subtropical forest.
More drives to Aquismón
- Otumba to Aquismón
- Calpulalpan to Aquismón
- Celaya to Aquismón
- Tepotzotlán to Aquismón
- Salvatierra to Aquismón
- Salamanca to Aquismón
From Santa Clara del Cobre to other places in Mexico
- Santa Clara del Cobre to Amatitán
- Santa Clara del Cobre to Real de Asientos
- Santa Clara del Cobre to Nombre de Dios
- Santa Clara del Cobre to San Ignacio, Sinaloa
- Santa Clara del Cobre to Mineral de Pozos
- Santa Clara del Cobre to Bernal
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Santa Clara del Cobre to Aquismón?
About 8 h 4 min of driving without stops, over 346 miles.
How far is Aquismón from Santa Clara del Cobre by car?
About 346 miles (557 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 Santa Clara del Cobre to Aquismón?
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 Santa Clara del Cobre to Aquismón?
The U.S. State Department rates Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Santa Clara del Cobre to Aquismón use?
In order: MEX-120, MEX-14D, MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-43D, MEX-45D, MEX-57D, QRO 4, QRO 100 and MEX-85. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Santa Clara del Cobre to Aquismón?
Closest to the road: Santiago de Jalpan mission (mission, mile 271, 0.7 mi from the route); Tancama (archaeological site, mile 277, 0.6 mi from the route); Las Pozas (sculpture garden, mile 322, 0.7 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.