The Wayro route from Santa Clara del Cobre to Bernal is 193 miles (311 km), about 3 h 25 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 193 mi (311 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 25 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-120 → MEX-14D → MEX-37D → MEX-15D → MEX-43D → MEX-45D → MEX-57D → QRO 4 → QRO 100 |
| Mexican states on the route | Michoacán (Level 4), Guanajuato (Level 3), Querétaro (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-14D, MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-43D, MEX-45D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.7 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.
What the drive from Santa Clara del Cobre to Bernal is like
MEX-43D (51 mi) and MEX-45D (50 mi) carry about 52% of the 193 miles. MEX-14D, MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-43D, MEX-45D, MEX-57D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-120 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 3 states: Michoacán, Guanajuato, Querétaro. None of the 8 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Santa Clara del Cobre to Bernal, road by road
| 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 | 189–193 | 4 | Querétaro |
- Mile 72 of this route: Michoacán → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 150 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
Stops between Santa Clara del Cobre and Bernal
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro de las Campanas (mile 157), El Cimatario National Park (mile 162)
- Museums and history: Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro (mile 10), Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares (mile 10), Celaya Cathedral (mile 130), El Cerrito (mile 154), Querétaro Cathedral (mile 158)
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.
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.
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.
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.
Cerro de las Campanas
Rising within Querétaro City, the Cerro de las Campanas is a hill that is protected as a Mexican national park.
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.
El Cimatario National Park
El Cimatario National Park protects about 24 square kilometers of land just south of the city of Santiago de Querétaro.
More drives to Bernal
- Celaya to Bernal
- Salamanca to Bernal
- Irapuato to Bernal
- Guanajuato to Bernal
- Pénjamo to Bernal
- León to Bernal
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 Pedro Escobedo
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Santa Clara del Cobre to Bernal?
About 3 h 25 min of driving without stops, over 193 miles.
How far is Bernal from Santa Clara del Cobre by car?
About 193 miles (311 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 Bernal?
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 Bernal?
The U.S. State Department rates Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Querétaro 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 Bernal use?
In order: MEX-120, MEX-14D, MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-43D, MEX-45D, MEX-57D, QRO 4 and QRO 100. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Santa Clara del Cobre and Bernal?
Closest to the road: Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares (museum, mile 10, 1 mi from the route); Cerro de las Campanas (National Park of Mexico, mile 157, 1 mi from the route); Querétaro Cathedral (catholic cathedral, mile 158, 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.