The Wayro route from Sombrerete to Huasca de Ocampo is 505 miles (812 km), about 9 h 2 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 505 mi (812 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 2 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-45 → MEX-45D → MEX-47D → MEX-57D → MEX-M40D → MEX-85 → MEX-105 |
| Mexican states on the route | Zacatecas (Level 4), Aguascalientes (Level 2), Jalisco (Level 3), Guanajuato (Level 3), Querétaro (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-45D, MEX-43D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.2 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.
What the drive from Sombrerete to Huasca de Ocampo is like
MEX-45D (202 mi) and MEX-45 (127 mi) carry about 65% of the 505 miles. MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D, MEX-M40D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-45, MEX-85, MEX-105 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 7 states: Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Guanajuato, Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Sombrerete to Huasca de Ocampo, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 1–60 | 59 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 60–72 | 12 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 72–81 | 9 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 81–130 | 49 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 130–159 | 29 | Zacatecas, Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 159–163 | 4 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 163–193 | 30 | Aguascalientes, Jalisco |
| MEX-45D | 193–334 | 141 | Jalisco, Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 334–335 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-47D | 335–387 | 52 | Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 387–423 | 36 | Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| MEX-M40D | 423–469 | 46 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 469–470 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 470–481 | 11 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 481–489 | 8 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 489–499 | 10 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 499–505 | 6 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 135 of this route: Zacatecas → Aguascalientes (state line)
- Mile 190 of this route: Aguascalientes → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 238 of this route: Jalisco → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 347 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 389 of this route: Querétaro → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 422 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 452 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 465 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
Stops between Sombrerete and Huasca de Ocampo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Aguascalientes Museum (mile 174)
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro de las Campanas (mile 345), El Chico National Park (mile 494)
- Museums and history: Museo de la Insurgencia (mile 153), Aguascalientes Museum (mile 174), Celaya Cathedral (mile 322), Tula (mile 434), Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (mile 489), Museo de Mineralogía de la UAEH (mile 490)
Historic centre of Zacatecas
Founded in 1546 after a rich silver strike, Zacatecas climbs the steep sides of a narrow valley; its UNESCO-listed center holds an 18th-century Baroque cathedral, colonial convents, the Calderón Theater and the old González Market.
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.
Aguascalientes Museum
Located in the state capital, the Aguascalientes Museum is the city's art museum, set in the city of Aguascalientes, Mexico.
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.
Cerro de las Campanas
Rising within Querétaro City, the Cerro de las Campanas is a hill that is protected as a Mexican national park.
Tula
Once the Toltec capital, the Tula archaeological zone is best known for its Atlantes, basalt warrior figures over four meters (13 feet) tall crowning the main pyramid. Visitors also see a ball court, the Burnt Palace and the Coatepantli wall, carved with snakes devouring skeletons.
Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
Known locally as La Villita, the Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe is a Catholic basilica dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe in Pachuca.
Museo de Mineralogía de la UAEH
Inside the central building of the state university in downtown Pachuca, the UAEH Mineralogy Museum displays minerals and rocks and is one of the longest-running museums of its kind in Mexico.
El Chico National Park
In Hidalgo, El Chico National Park is known for towering cliffs such as Las Ventanas and Peña del Cuervo, popular with climbers, and forest wildlife including gray foxes, ringtails, armadillos, hawks, falcons and woodpeckers.
When you get to Huasca de Ocampo
Basaltic Prisms of Santa María Regla
Basalt columns more than 40 meters tall line a ravine near Huasca de Ocampo, formed when lava cooled quickly on contact with water. Alexander von Humboldt described the Basaltic Prisms (Prismas Basálticos) after his visit in 1803.
More drives to Huasca de Ocampo
- Actopan to Huasca de Ocampo
- Otumba to Huasca de Ocampo
- Tepotzotlán to Huasca de Ocampo
- Mexico City to Huasca de Ocampo
- Jilotepec to Huasca de Ocampo
- Zimapán to Huasca de Ocampo
From Sombrerete to other places in Mexico
- Sombrerete to Cosalá
- Sombrerete to Temacapulín
- Sombrerete to Amatitán
- Sombrerete to Ajijic
- Sombrerete to San Luis Soyatlán
- Sombrerete to Mazamitla
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Sombrerete to Huasca de Ocampo?
About 9 h 2 min of driving without stops, over 505 miles.
How far is Huasca de Ocampo from Sombrerete by car?
About 505 miles (812 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 Sombrerete to Huasca de Ocampo?
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 Sombrerete to Huasca de Ocampo?
The U.S. State Department rates Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel; Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Sombrerete to Huasca de Ocampo use?
In order: MEX-45, MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D, MEX-M40D, MEX-85 and MEX-105. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Sombrerete and Huasca de Ocampo?
Closest to the road: Aguascalientes Museum (art museum, mile 174, 0.3 mi from the route); Tula (archaeological site, mile 434, 1 mi from the route); Museo de Mineralogía de la UAEH (mineralogical museum, mile 490, 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 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.