The Wayro route from Zacatecas to Santa Clara del Cobre is 306 miles (493 km), about 5 h 24 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 306 mi (493 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 24 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-45 → MEX-45D → MEX-43D → MEX-15D → MEX-37D → MEX-120 |
| Mexican states on the route | Zacatecas (Level 4), Aguascalientes (Level 2), Jalisco (Level 3), Guanajuato (Level 3), Michoacán (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-45D, MEX-43D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D, MEX-14D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.3 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 Zacatecas to Santa Clara del Cobre is like
MEX-45D (129 mi) and MEX-45 (65 mi) carry about 63% of the 306 miles. MEX-45D, MEX-43D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-45, MEX-120 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 5 states: Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Guanajuato, Michoacán. Of the 6 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Zacatecas to Santa Clara del Cobre, 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 | 91–199 | 108 | Jalisco, Guanajuato |
| MEX-43D | 199–250 | 51 | Guanajuato, Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 250–251 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 251–255 | 4 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 255–293 | 38 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 293–296 | 3 | Michoacán |
| MEX-120 | 296–306 | 10 | Michoacán |
- 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 236 of this route: Guanajuato → Michoacán (state line)
Stops between Zacatecas and Santa Clara del Cobre
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Espacio, Aguascalientes (mile 72), José Guadalupe Posada Museum (mile 73)
- Museums and history: Museo de la Insurgencia (mile 52), Museo Espacio, Aguascalientes (mile 72), José Guadalupe Posada Museum (mile 73), Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro (mile 296), Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares (mile 296)
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.
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.
Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro
Pátzcuaro's basilica (Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Salud) rises on pre-Hispanic platforms beside its own plaza. Bishop Vasco de Quiroga planned it as a five-nave cathedral, only one nave was finished, and his remains rest inside.
Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares
Housed in an 18th-century building adapted from the Colegio de San Nicolás, which Vasco de Quiroga founded in the 16th century, this INAH museum in Pátzcuaro shows Purépecha pottery, textiles, woodwork and lacquerware.
More drives to Santa Clara del Cobre
- Tepatitlán to Santa Clara del Cobre
- Tequila to Santa Clara del Cobre
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Santa Clara del Cobre
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Santa Clara del Cobre
- Jerez, Zacatecas to Santa Clara del Cobre
- Fresnillo to Santa Clara del Cobre
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 Santa Clara del Cobre?
About 5 h 24 min of driving without stops, over 306 miles.
How far is Santa Clara del Cobre from Zacatecas by car?
About 306 miles (493 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 Santa Clara del Cobre?
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 Santa Clara del Cobre?
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; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Zacatecas to Santa Clara del Cobre use?
In order: MEX-45, MEX-45D, MEX-43D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D and MEX-120. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Zacatecas and Santa Clara del Cobre?
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); Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares (museum, mile 296, 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.