The Wayro route from Zacatelco to Real de Asientos is 409 miles (658 km), about 6 h 60 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 409 mi (658 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 60 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-119 → MEX-117D → MEX-M40D → MEX-57D → MEX-47D → MEX-45D → MEX-45 → MEX-71 → AGS 9 → MEX-39 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Querétaro (Level 2), Guanajuato (Level 3), Jalisco (Level 3), Aguascalientes (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-117D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.4 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 Zacatelco to Real de Asientos is like
MEX-45D (141 mi) and MEX-M40D (103 mi) carry about 60% of the 409 miles. MEX-117D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-119, MEX-45, MEX-71, MEX-39 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 8 states: Tlaxcala, Puebla, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Aguascalientes. Of the 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Zacatelco to Real de Asientos, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-119 | 0–6 | 6 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-117D | 6–21 | 15 | Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| MEX-M40D | 21–124 | 103 | Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 124–125 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-57D | 125–160 | 35 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro |
| MEX-47D | 160–213 | 53 | Querétaro, Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 213–354 | 141 | Guanajuato, Jalisco |
| MEX-45 | 354–384 | 30 | Jalisco, Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 384–387 | 3 | Aguascalientes |
| connecting roads | 387–388 | 1 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-71 | 388–395 | 7 | Aguascalientes |
| AGS 9 | 395–401 | 6 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-39 | 401–408 | 7 | Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 408–409 | 1 | Aguascalientes |
- Mile 19 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 23 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 45 of this route: Tlaxcala → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 53 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 66 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 83 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 96 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 126 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 158 of this route: State of Mexico → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 201 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 309 of this route: Guanajuato → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 358 of this route: Jalisco → Aguascalientes (state line)
Stops between Zacatelco and Real de Asientos
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Aguascalientes Cathedral (mile 372)
- Nature and outdoors: El Cimatario National Park (mile 196), Cerro de las Campanas (mile 201)
- Museums and history: Basílica de Ocotlán (mile 9), Museo de Sitio de Ocotelulco (mile 9), Tula (mile 113), Jorge R. Acosta Museum (mile 113), Aguascalientes Cathedral (mile 372)
Basílica de Ocotlán
On Cerro de San Lorenzo near the city of Tlaxcala, the Basílica de Ocotlán is a standout of Mexican Churrigueresque Baroque, begun in 1670 and home to an ocote-wood image of the Virgin tied to a 1541 legend.
Museo de Sitio de Ocotelulco
Ocotelulco was the principal Tlaxcalan lordship in 1519; its site museum displays about 750 excavated objects beside temple remains painted with Tezcatlipoca and the fire serpent, and an ethnobotanical garden surrounds the building.
Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque
Built by Franciscan friar Francisco de Tembleque between 1554 and 1572, this 16th-century water system runs more than 48 km between Zempoala and Otumba. Its tallest arcade at Tepeyahualco reaches almost 40 meters, and UNESCO listed it in 2015.
Tula
Once the Toltec capital, the Tula archaeological zone is best known for its Atlantes, basalt warrior figures over four meters (13 feet) tall crowning the main pyramid. Visitors also see a ball court, the Burnt Palace and the Coatepantli wall, carved with snakes devouring skeletons.
Jorge R. Acosta Museum
Next to the Tula ruins, the Museo de Sitio Jorge R. Acosta traces the rise and decline of the Toltecs and their city, Tollan Xicocotitlan. It moved into new facilities in 1982 and covers nearly 20 years of digs led by archaeologist Jorge R. Acosta.
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.
Aguascalientes Cathedral
The cathedral of Aguascalientes stands on the Plaza de la Patria in the city's historic center.
More drives to Real de Asientos
- El Rosario, Sinaloa to Real de Asientos
- Tepatitlán to Real de Asientos
- Guadalajara to Real de Asientos
- Amatitán to Real de Asientos
- Ajijic to Real de Asientos
- Tequila to Real de Asientos
From Zacatelco to other places in Mexico
- Zacatelco to Tlaxco
- Zacatelco to Calpulalpan
- Zacatelco to Otumba
- Zacatelco to Atlatlahucan
- Zacatelco to Omitlán
- Zacatelco to Huasca de Ocampo
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Zacatelco to Real de Asientos?
About 6 h 60 min of driving without stops, over 409 miles.
How far is Real de Asientos from Zacatelco by car?
About 409 miles (658 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 Zacatelco to Real de Asientos?
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 Zacatelco to Real de Asientos?
The U.S. State Department rates Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; 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 Zacatelco to Real de Asientos use?
In order: MEX-119, MEX-117D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D, MEX-45, MEX-71, AGS 9 and MEX-39. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Zacatelco and Real de Asientos?
Closest to the road: Tula (archaeological site, mile 113, 1 mi from the route); Jorge R. Acosta Museum (museum, mile 113, 1 mi from the route); Aguascalientes Cathedral (church building, mile 372, 0.0 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.