The Wayro route from Toluca to Zacatecas is 365 miles (588 km), about 6 h 38 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 365 mi (588 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 38 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), Jalisco (Level 3), Aguascalientes (Level 2), Zacatecas (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-55D, MEX-M40D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.6 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 Toluca to Zacatecas is like
MEX-45D (161 mi) and MEX-45 (67 mi) carry about 62% of the 365 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 6 states: State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Aguascalientes, Zacatecas. Of the 7 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Toluca to Zacatecas, 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 | 133–274 | 141 | Guanajuato, Jalisco |
| MEX-45 | 274–304 | 30 | Jalisco, Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 304–307 | 3 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 307–336 | 29 | Aguascalientes, Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 336–356 | 20 | Zacatecas |
| connecting roads | 356–357 | 1 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 357–365 | 8 | Zacatecas |
- Mile 79 of this route: State of Mexico → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 121 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 229 of this route: Guanajuato → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 278 of this route: Jalisco → Aguascalientes (state line)
- Mile 331 of this route: Aguascalientes → Zacatecas (state line)
Stops between Toluca and Zacatecas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 40), Historic centre of Aguascalientes (mile 292), Aguascalientes Museum (mile 293)
- Nature and outdoors: El Cimatario National Park (mile 116), Cerro de las Campanas (mile 121)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 40), Celaya Cathedral (mile 145), Historic centre of Aguascalientes (mile 292), Aguascalientes Museum (mile 293), Museo de la Insurgencia (mile 313)
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.
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.
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.
Aguascalientes Museum
Located in the state capital, the Aguascalientes Museum is the city's art museum, set in the city of Aguascalientes, Mexico.
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.
When you get to Zacatecas
Zacatecas climbs the steep slopes of a narrow valley between the Bufa and Grillo hills in north-central Mexico. Founded in 1546 after the discovery of a rich silver lode, its historic center has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993, and the city is also part of the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, the colonial silver route listed by UNESCO in 2010.
- Zacatecas Cathedral: Built between 1730 and 1760, the cathedral dominates downtown with Baroque façades that mix European and Indigenous decorative elements. source
- Teatro Calderón: The downtown theater dates from 1834 and is one of the civic landmarks UNESCO highlights in the historic center. source
- Mercado González Ortega: The iron-framed market building from 1886 stands in the historic center near the cathedral. source
Teatro Fernando Calderón
Built between 1891 and 1897 to plans by architect George Edward King, Zacatecas' Teatro Calderón honors playwright Fernando Calderón and witnessed violent events during the Toma de Zacatecas.
Museo Toma de Zacatecas
On the Cerro de la Bufa, this museum explains the military and social story behind the Taking of Zacatecas during the Mexican Revolution, along with glimpses of daily life in the city at the time.
Cathedral Basilica of Zacatecas
Dedicated to the Virgin of the Assumption, the Cathedral of Zacatecas is the main church of the Diocese of Zacatecas.
More drives to Zacatecas
- Del Rio, TX to Zacatecas
- South Padre Island, TX to Zacatecas
- McAllen, TX to Zacatecas
- Laredo, TX to Zacatecas
- Corpus Christi, TX to Zacatecas
- Brownsville, TX to Zacatecas
From Toluca to other places in Mexico
- Toluca to Salvatierra
- Toluca to Celaya
- Toluca to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Toluca to Tócuaro
- Toluca to Pénjamo
- Toluca to Cotija
Coming to Zacatecas from the United States? Border crossings, permits and routes from U.S. cities: Driving to Zacatecas, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Toluca to Zacatecas?
About 6 h 38 min of driving without stops, over 365 miles.
How far is Zacatecas from Toluca by car?
About 365 miles (588 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 Zacatecas?
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 Zacatecas?
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; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Toluca to Zacatecas 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 Zacatecas?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Atlacomulco (catholic cathedral, mile 40, 0.2 mi from the route); Historic centre of Aguascalientes (historic district, mile 292, 0.1 mi from the route); Aguascalientes Museum (art museum, mile 293, 0.4 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.