The Wayro route from Toluca to Celaya is 147 miles (236 km), about 2 h 46 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 147 mi (236 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 2 h 46 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-55 → MEX-55D → MEX-M40D → MEX-47D → MEX-45D → MEX-45 |
| Mexican states on the route | State of Mexico (Level 2), Querétaro (Level 2), Guanajuato (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-55D, MEX-M40D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 5.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
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 Toluca to Celaya is like
MEX-47D (52 mi) and MEX-55 (39 mi) carry about 62% of the 147 miles. MEX-55D, MEX-M40D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-55, MEX-45 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato. Of the 3 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Toluca to Celaya, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 1–10 | 9 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 10–39 | 29 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 39–42 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-M40D | 42–50 | 8 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 50–51 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 51–81 | 30 | State of Mexico, Querétaro |
| MEX-47D | 81–133 | 52 | Querétaro, Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 133–137 | 4 | Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 137–138 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45 | 138–145 | 7 | Guanajuato |
| local roads | 145–147 | 2 | Guanajuato |
- Mile 79 of this route: State of Mexico → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 121 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
Stops between Toluca and Celaya
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 40)
- Nature and outdoors: El Cimatario National Park (mile 116), Cerro de las Campanas (mile 121)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 40)
Cathedral of Atlacomulco
Atlacomulco's cathedral, the Catedral de la Divina Providencia, is the seat of the Diocese of Atlacomulco and is dedicated to Divine Providence, making it the town's principal Catholic church.
El Cimatario National Park
El Cimatario National Park protects about 24 square kilometers of land just south of the city of Santiago de Querétaro.
Cerro de las Campanas
Rising within Querétaro City, the Cerro de las Campanas is a hill that is protected as a Mexican national park.
When you get to Celaya
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.
More drives to Celaya
- Durango to Celaya
- Mazatlán to Celaya
- Mexico City to Celaya
- Puebla to Celaya
- Xalapa to Celaya
- San Luis Potosí to Celaya
From Toluca to other places in Mexico
- Toluca to Salvatierra
- Toluca to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Toluca to Tócuaro
- Toluca to Pénjamo
- Toluca to Cotija
- Toluca to Pabellón de Arteaga
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Toluca to Celaya?
About 2 h 46 min of driving without stops, over 147 miles.
How far is Celaya from Toluca by car?
About 147 miles (236 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 Toluca to Celaya?
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 Toluca to Celaya?
The U.S. State Department rates State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Toluca to Celaya use?
In order: MEX-55, MEX-55D, MEX-M40D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D and MEX-45. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Toluca and Celaya?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Atlacomulco (catholic cathedral, mile 40, 0.2 mi from the route); El Cimatario National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 116, 9 mi from the route); Cerro de las Campanas (National Park of Mexico, mile 121, 12 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.