The Wayro route from Tzintzuntzan to Mineral de Pozos is 196 miles (316 km), about 3 h 42 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 196 mi (316 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 42 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-120 → MEX-15 → MEX-37D → MEX-15D → MEX-43D → MEX-45D → MEX-57 → GTO 100 |
| Mexican states on the route | Michoacán (Level 4), Guanajuato (Level 3), Querétaro (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-43D, MEX-45D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
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 Tzintzuntzan to Mineral de Pozos is like
MEX-43D (51 mi) and MEX-45D (49 mi) carry about 51% of the 196 miles. MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-43D, MEX-45D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-120, MEX-15, MEX-57 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Michoacán, Guanajuato, Querétaro. None of the 6 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Tzintzuntzan to Mineral de Pozos, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-120 | 0–5 | 5 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 5–19 | 14 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 19–40 | 21 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 40–43 | 3 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 43–45 | 2 | Michoacán |
| MEX-43D | 45–96 | 51 | Michoacán, Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 96–145 | 49 | Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| MEX-57 | 145–183 | 38 | Querétaro, Guanajuato |
| local roads | 183–188 | 5 | Guanajuato |
| GTO 100 | 188–196 | 8 | Guanajuato |
- Mile 60 of this route: Michoacán → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 139 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 170 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
Stops between Tzintzuntzan and Mineral de Pozos
Historic Centre of Morelia
Morelia's old core, founded in the 16th century as Valladolid, keeps more than 200 historic buildings in the region's pink stone around its cathedral and checkerboard streets. UNESCO added it to the World Heritage List in 1991.
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.
El Cerrito
Just outside Querétaro city in Corregidora, El Cerrito is an INAH archaeological zone centered on a pyramid close to 100 feet high, later topped by a 19th-century fort, with a small site museum on the grounds.
Historic Monuments Zone of Querétaro
Querétaro's historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996, pairs the Spaniards' grid of streets with the winding lanes of the old Indigenous quarters. Walk it for Baroque churches and mansions of the 17th and 18th centuries and the city's landmark aqueduct.
Templo de Santa Clara de Asís
Founded in the 17th century, the church and convent of Santa Clara de Asís stands in Querétaro's historic center and was a major convent for women in New Spain.
Former hacienda of Chichimequillas
Discalced Carmelite friars founded this hacienda around 1690 to shelter travelers on the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro and to farm. Its two-story stone and lime main house, finished in 1813, wraps around a central courtyard beside a chapel.
More drives to Mineral de Pozos
- Celaya to Mineral de Pozos
- Salvatierra to Mineral de Pozos
- León to Mineral de Pozos
- Salamanca to Mineral de Pozos
- Irapuato to Mineral de Pozos
- Moroleón to Mineral de Pozos
From Tzintzuntzan to other places in Mexico
- Tzintzuntzan to Amatitán
- Tzintzuntzan to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Tzintzuntzan to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Tzintzuntzan to Real de Asientos
- Tzintzuntzan to Nombre de Dios
- Tzintzuntzan to San Ignacio, Sinaloa
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tzintzuntzan to Mineral de Pozos?
About 3 h 42 min of driving without stops, over 196 miles.
How far is Mineral de Pozos from Tzintzuntzan by car?
About 196 miles (316 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 Tzintzuntzan to Mineral de Pozos?
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 Tzintzuntzan to Mineral de Pozos?
The U.S. State Department rates Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Tzintzuntzan to Mineral de Pozos use?
In order: MEX-120, MEX-15, MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-43D, MEX-45D, MEX-57 and GTO 100. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Tzintzuntzan and Mineral de Pozos?
Closest to the road: Celaya Cathedral (church building, mile 117, 2 mi from the route); El Cerrito (archaeological site, mile 142, 2 mi from the route); Templo de Santa Clara de Asís (convent, mile 145, 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.