The Wayro route from Tonatico to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes is 362 miles (582 km), about 6 h 35 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 362 mi (582 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 35 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-55D → MEX-55 → MEX-M40D → MEX-47D → MEX-45D → MEX-45 → AGS 19 |
| Mexican states on the route | State of Mexico (Level 2), Querétaro (Level 2), Guanajuato (Level 3), Jalisco (Level 3), Aguascalientes (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-55D, MEX-M40D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.5 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 Tonatico to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes is like
MEX-45D (141 mi) and MEX-55D (53 mi) carry about 54% of the 362 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 5 states: State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Aguascalientes. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Tonatico to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 4–28 | 24 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 28–30 | 2 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 30–41 | 11 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 41–52 | 11 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 52–81 | 29 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 81–83 | 2 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-M40D | 83–92 | 9 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 92–93 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 93–122 | 29 | State of Mexico, Querétaro |
| MEX-47D | 122–175 | 53 | Querétaro, Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 175–316 | 141 | Guanajuato, Jalisco |
| MEX-45 | 316–345 | 29 | Jalisco, Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 345–349 | 4 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 349–352 | 3 | Aguascalientes |
| connecting roads | 352–353 | 1 | Aguascalientes |
| AGS 19 | 353–361 | 8 | Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 361–362 | 1 | Aguascalientes |
- Mile 121 of this route: State of Mexico → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 162 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 271 of this route: Guanajuato → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 319 of this route: Jalisco → Aguascalientes (state line)
Stops between Tonatico and San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque de la Ciencia Fundadores (mile 43), Historic centre of Aguascalientes (mile 334)
- Nature and outdoors: Desierto del Carmen National Park (mile 8), Nevado de Toluca National Park (mile 24), Cerro de las Campanas (mile 163), La Pona (mile 335)
- Museums and history: Toluca Cathedral (mile 42), Parque de la Ciencia Fundadores (mile 43), Calixtlahuaca (mile 47), Celaya Cathedral (mile 186), Historic centre of Aguascalientes (mile 334)
Desierto del Carmen National Park
Declared a national park on October 10, 1942, Desierto del Carmen is a protected area in the municipality of Tenancingo, in the State of Mexico.
Nevado de Toluca National Park
The Nevado de Toluca volcano was declared a flora and fauna protection area in 2013, a protected zone spanning ten municipalities of the State of Mexico, including Toluca, Zinacantepec and Temascaltepec.
Toluca Cathedral
Begun in 1867 and finished only in 1978, Toluca's Cathedral of Saint Joseph has a neoclassical facade and a bronze statue of the saint on its dome. It also preserves the 18th-century baroque front of the former San Elzeario church.
Parque de la Ciencia Fundadores
Opened in 2021 in downtown Toluca on the site of the former Plaza Ángel María Garibay, this science park adds green space, children's play areas and a planetarium with a 360-degree screen.
Calixtlahuaca
Spread over the slopes of Cerro Tenismó near Toluca, this site's standout is the round Temple of Ehécatl-Quetzalcóatl, rebuilt in four phases. Nearby, a Mexica-era skull rack displays stone skulls set into cross-shaped walls.
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.
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.
When you get to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
Santuario del Cristo Roto, San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
A 28-meter broken Christ, the Cristo Roto, stands on an island in the Presidente Calles dam at San José de Gracia, reachable only by boat. Sculptors Erasmo Aguilar and Miguel Romo Santino made it to recall what the town lost when the dam was built.
More drives to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Jerez, Zacatecas to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- El Rosario, Sinaloa to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Tepatitlán to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Amatitán to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Ajijic to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Tequila to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
From Tonatico to other places in Mexico
- Tonatico to El Oro
- Tonatico to Bernal
- Tonatico to Mineral de Pozos
- Tonatico to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Tonatico to Cuanajo
- Tonatico to Tócuaro
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tonatico to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
About 6 h 35 min of driving without stops, over 362 miles.
How far is San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes from Tonatico by car?
About 362 miles (582 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 Tonatico to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
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 Tonatico to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
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 (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Tonatico to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes use?
In order: MEX-55D, MEX-55, MEX-M40D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D, MEX-45 and AGS 19. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Tonatico and San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
Closest to the road: Toluca Cathedral (catholic cathedral, mile 42, 1 mi from the route); Parque de la Ciencia Fundadores (museum, mile 43, 0.9 mi from the route); Historic centre of Aguascalientes (historic district, mile 334, 0.2 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.