The Wayro route from Santa Clara del Cobre to Real de Asientos is 271 miles (436 km), about 4 h 58 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 271 mi (436 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 58 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-120 → MEX-14D → MEX-37D → MEX-15D → MEX-43D → MEX-45D → MEX-45 → MEX-71 → AGS 9 → MEX-39 |
| Mexican states on the route | Michoacán (Level 4), Guanajuato (Level 3), Jalisco (Level 3), Aguascalientes (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-14D, MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-43D, MEX-45D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
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 Real de Asientos is like
MEX-45D (108 mi) and MEX-43D (51 mi) carry about 59% of the 271 miles. MEX-14D, MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-43D, MEX-45D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-120, MEX-45, MEX-71, MEX-39 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: Michoacán, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Aguascalientes. Of the 7 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Santa Clara del Cobre to Real de Asientos, 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 |
| MEX-45D | 108–216 | 108 | Guanajuato, Jalisco |
| MEX-45 | 216–245 | 29 | Jalisco, Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 245–249 | 4 | Aguascalientes |
| connecting roads | 249–250 | 1 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-71 | 250–257 | 7 | Aguascalientes |
| AGS 9 | 257–262 | 5 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-39 | 262–270 | 8 | Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 270–271 | 1 | Aguascalientes |
- Mile 72 of this route: Michoacán → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 171 of this route: Guanajuato → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 220 of this route: Jalisco → Aguascalientes (state line)
Stops between Santa Clara del Cobre and Real de Asientos
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Rodolfo Landeros (mile 232), Historic centre of Aguascalientes (mile 234)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Rodolfo Landeros (mile 232), La Pona (mile 235)
- Museums and history: Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro (mile 10), Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares (mile 10), Historic centre of Aguascalientes (mile 234), Museo de la Insurgencia (mile 253)
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.
Parque Rodolfo Landeros
Also called Parque Héroes, this environmental and recreation park on Avenida José María Chávez in Aguascalientes has an artificial lake, bike rentals and several other attractions.
Historic centre of Aguascalientes
The historic center of Aguascalientes is the city's zone of historic monuments, which INAH has declared part of the nation's heritage.
La Pona
Inside the city of Aguascalientes, La Pona protects a native mesquite woodland as an ecological conservation zone, with a quiet forest area for walks and a separate section with sports and recreation spaces.
Museo de la Insurgencia
Set in a 17th-century estate, the Museo de la Insurgencia opened in 1964 to tell the story of Mexico's independence movement. One hall shows farm, mining and textile tools from hacienda work; another displays everyday objects from past eras.
More drives to Real de Asientos
- El Rosario, Sinaloa to Real de Asientos
- Tepatitlán to Real de Asientos
- Guadalajara to Real de Asientos
- Amatitán to Real de Asientos
- Ajijic to Real de Asientos
- Tequila to Real de Asientos
From Santa Clara del Cobre to other places in Mexico
- Santa Clara del Cobre to Amatitán
- 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
- Santa Clara del Cobre to Pedro Escobedo
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Santa Clara del Cobre to Real de Asientos?
About 4 h 58 min of driving without stops, over 271 miles.
How far is Real de Asientos from Santa Clara del Cobre by car?
About 271 miles (436 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 Real de Asientos?
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 Real de Asientos?
The U.S. State Department rates Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Aguascalientes 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 Real de Asientos use?
In order: MEX-120, MEX-14D, MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-43D, MEX-45D, MEX-45, MEX-71, AGS 9 and MEX-39. 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 Real de Asientos?
Closest to the road: Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares (museum, mile 10, 1 mi from the route); Parque Rodolfo Landeros (park, mile 232, 0.3 mi from the route); Historic centre of Aguascalientes (historic district, mile 234, 0.1 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.