The Wayro route from Zacatecas to Cadereyta is 293 miles (472 km), about 5 h 29 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 293 mi (472 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 29 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-45 → MEX-45D → MEX-57D → QRO 4 → QRO 5 |
| Mexican states on the route | Zacatecas (Level 4), Aguascalientes (Level 2), Jalisco (Level 3), Guanajuato (Level 3), Querétaro (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-45D, MEX-43D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.7 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 Zacatecas to Cadereyta is like
MEX-45D (181 mi) and MEX-45 (65 mi) carry about 84% of the 293 miles. MEX-45D, MEX-57D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-45 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 5 states: Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Guanajuato, Querétaro. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Zacatecas to Cadereyta, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 1–9 | 8 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 9–30 | 21 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 30–58 | 28 | Zacatecas, Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 58–62 | 4 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 62–91 | 29 | Aguascalientes, Jalisco |
| MEX-45D | 91–251 | 160 | Jalisco, Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 251–261 | 10 | Querétaro |
| QRO 4 | 261–280 | 19 | Querétaro |
| QRO 5 | 280–285 | 5 | Querétaro |
| local roads | 285–293 | 8 | Querétaro |
- Mile 35 of this route: Zacatecas → Aguascalientes (state line)
- Mile 88 of this route: Aguascalientes → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 137 of this route: Jalisco → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 242 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
Stops between Zacatecas and Cadereyta
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Espacio, Aguascalientes (mile 72), José Guadalupe Posada Museum (mile 73)
- Nature and outdoors: El Cimatario National Park (mile 254)
- Museums and history: Museo de la Insurgencia (mile 52), Museo Espacio, Aguascalientes (mile 72), José Guadalupe Posada Museum (mile 73), Celaya Cathedral (mile 222), El Cerrito (mile 246)
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.
Museo Espacio, Aguascalientes
Inside the Tres Centurias complex at Aguascalientes' old train station, Museo Espacio is a contemporary art museum, so a visit pairs current work with a look at the city's railroad buildings.
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.
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.
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.
College of Santa Cruz de Querétaro
Querétaro's College of Santa Cruz was a Franciscan missionary college in New Spain, the second Catholic college in the Americas set up to train missionaries.
El Cimatario National Park
El Cimatario National Park protects about 24 square kilometers of land just south of the city of Santiago de Querétaro.
More drives to Cadereyta
- Celaya to Cadereyta
- Guanajuato to Cadereyta
- Pénjamo to Cadereyta
- San Juan de los Lagos to Cadereyta
- Santa Clara del Cobre to Cadereyta
- Uruapan to Cadereyta
From Zacatecas to other places in Mexico
- Zacatecas to San Juan de los Lagos
- Zacatecas to Temacapulín
- Zacatecas to Tepatitlán
- Zacatecas to Amatitán
- Zacatecas to Tequila
- Zacatecas to San Luis Soyatlán
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Zacatecas to Cadereyta?
About 5 h 29 min of driving without stops, over 293 miles.
How far is Cadereyta from Zacatecas by car?
About 293 miles (472 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 Zacatecas to Cadereyta?
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 Zacatecas to Cadereyta?
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 (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Zacatecas to Cadereyta use?
In order: MEX-45, MEX-45D, MEX-57D, QRO 4 and QRO 5. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Zacatecas and Cadereyta?
Closest to the road: Museo Espacio, Aguascalientes (art museum, mile 72, 0.7 mi from the route); José Guadalupe Posada Museum (museum, mile 73, 0.2 mi from the route); College of Santa Cruz de Querétaro (catholic seminary, mile 250, 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.