The Wayro route from Sombrerete to Tlaxco is 536 miles (862 km), about 9 h 38 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 536 mi (862 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 38 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-45 → MEX-45D → MEX-47D → MEX-57D → MEX-M40D |
| 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), Tlaxcala (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-45D, MEX-43D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.4 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 Sombrerete to Tlaxco is like
MEX-45D (202 mi) and MEX-45 (127 mi) carry about 61% of the 536 miles. MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D, MEX-M40D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-45 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 8 states: Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Guanajuato, Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Sombrerete to Tlaxco, 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 | 423–501 | 78 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| local roads | 501–536 | 35 | Hidalgo, Tlaxcala |
- 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)
- Mile 482 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 495 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 522 of this route: Hidalgo → Tlaxcala (state line)
Stops between Sombrerete and Tlaxco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): José Guadalupe Posada Museum (mile 175), Atlantean figures (mile 434), Museo del Ferrocarril de Apan (mile 511)
- Nature and outdoors: El Cimatario National Park (mile 352)
- Museums and history: Guadalupe regional museum (mile 109), José Guadalupe Posada Museum (mile 175), Teotihuacan (mile 483), Museo del Ferrocarril de Apan (mile 511)
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.
Guadalupe regional museum
In Guadalupe, Zacatecas, the Museo de Guadalupe fills a former college that sent missionaries to the north and holds an important collection of 17th- to 19th-century painting, including works by Cristóbal de Villalpando, Miguel Cabrera and Juan Correa.
José Guadalupe Posada Museum
Aguascalientes is the birthplace of printmaker José Guadalupe Posada, and this museum shows the original signed printing plates he used to create his graphic images.
El Cimatario National Park
El Cimatario National Park protects about 24 square kilometers of land just south of the city of Santiago de Querétaro.
Atlantean figures
Crowning the main pyramid at the Tula archaeological zone, these basalt sculptures of Toltec warriors stand more than four meters tall in what was once the Toltec capital; the nearby Wall of Snakes shows carved serpents devouring skeletons.
Teotihuacan
Built between the 1st and 7th centuries AD, this UNESCO-listed ancient city lines the Avenue of the Dead, where you can walk between the Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon and the Temple of the Feathered Serpent.
Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque
Built by Franciscan friar Francisco de Tembleque between 1554 and 1572, this 16th-century water system runs more than 48 km between Zempoala and Otumba. Its tallest arcade at Tepeyahualco reaches almost 40 meters, and UNESCO listed it in 2015.
Museo del Ferrocarril de Apan
Set in Apan's old train station on the former Mexico City–Veracruz line, this railroad museum preserves the town's history.
More drives to Tlaxco
- Puebla to Tlaxco
- Cholula to Tlaxco
- Huejotzingo to Tlaxco
- Pachuca to Tlaxco
- Mexico City to Tlaxco
- Actopan to Tlaxco
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 Tlaxco?
About 9 h 38 min of driving without stops, over 536 miles.
How far is Tlaxco from Sombrerete by car?
About 536 miles (862 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 Tlaxco?
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 Tlaxco?
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; Tlaxcala 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 Tlaxco use?
In order: MEX-45, MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D and MEX-M40D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Sombrerete and Tlaxco?
Closest to the road: José Guadalupe Posada Museum (museum, mile 175, 0.1 mi from the route); Atlantean figures (atlantean figures, mile 434, 1 mi from the route); Museo del Ferrocarril de Apan (museum, mile 511, 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.