The Wayro route from Zimapán to Pinos is 269 miles (433 km), about 6 h 31 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 269 mi (433 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 31 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-120 → QRO 5 → QRO 4 → MEX-57D → MEX-57 → MEX-49 → ZAC 291 |
| Mexican states on the route | Hidalgo (Level 2), Querétaro (Level 2), Guanajuato (Level 3), San Luis Potosí (Level 2), Zacatecas (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.8 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 Zimapán to Pinos is like
MEX-57 (107 mi) and MEX-49 (43 mi) carry about 56% of the 269 miles. MEX-57D is a toll highway (cuota); MEX-120, MEX-57, MEX-49 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 5 states: Hidalgo, Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, Zacatecas. Of the 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Zimapán to Pinos, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–35 | 35 | Hidalgo, Querétaro |
| MEX-120 | 35–48 | 13 | Querétaro |
| local roads | 48–52 | 4 | Querétaro |
| QRO 5 | 52–56 | 4 | Querétaro |
| QRO 4 | 56–75 | 19 | Querétaro |
| connecting roads | 75–76 | 1 | Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 76–98 | 22 | Querétaro |
| connecting roads | 98–99 | 1 | Querétaro |
| MEX-57 | 99–206 | 107 | Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| connecting roads | 206–209 | 3 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-49 | 209–252 | 43 | San Luis Potosí, Zacatecas |
| connecting roads | 252–253 | 1 | Zacatecas |
| ZAC 291 | 253–267 | 14 | Zacatecas |
| local roads | 267–269 | 2 | Zacatecas |
- Mile 17 of this route: Hidalgo → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 106 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 160 of this route: Guanajuato → San Luis Potosí (state line)
- Mile 240 of this route: San Luis Potosí → Zacatecas (state line)
Stops between Zimapán and Pinos
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo del Ferrocarril Jesús García Corona (mile 207)
- Nature and outdoors: El Cimatario National Park (mile 79), Cerro de las Campanas (mile 86), El Gogorrón National Park (mile 186)
- Museums and history: Former hacienda of Chichimequillas (mile 91), San Luis Potosí Cathedral (mile 207), Museo del Ferrocarril Jesús García Corona (mile 207)
El Cimatario National Park
El Cimatario National Park protects about 24 square kilometers of land just south of the city of Santiago de Querétaro.
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.
Casa de la Corregidora
Completed in 1770 as Querétaro's royal houses and town hall, the Casa de la Corregidora is where Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez, held there in 1810, sent word of danger to Miguel Hidalgo. After independence it became the state government palace.
Cerro de las Campanas
Rising within Querétaro City, the Cerro de las Campanas is a hill that is protected as a Mexican national park.
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.
El Gogorrón National Park
Straddling San Luis Potosí and Guanajuato near Villa de Reyes, this national park offers rugged rock formations, mountain scenery and thermal springs, with camping, hiking and mountain biking.
San Luis Potosí Cathedral
San Luis Potosí's cathedral anchors the city's historic center, which UNESCO lists as a component of the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro World Heritage Site.
Museo del Ferrocarril Jesús García Corona
Opened on August 12, 2009, in San Luis Potosí's Barrio del Montecillo, this railroad museum focuses on the steam locomotive, its parts and history, and its role in 20th-century Mexico.
More drives to Pinos
- Calvillo to Pinos
- El Rosario, Sinaloa to Pinos
- Amatitán to Pinos
- Tequila to Pinos
- Paracho to Pinos
- Pátzcuaro to Pinos
From Zimapán to other places in Mexico
- Zimapán to El Oro
- Zimapán to Ihuatzio
- Zimapán to Cuanajo
- Zimapán to Tócuaro
- Zimapán to Pacanda
- Zimapán to Zirahuén
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Zimapán to Pinos?
About 6 h 31 min of driving without stops, over 269 miles.
How far is Pinos from Zimapán by car?
About 269 miles (433 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 Zimapán to Pinos?
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 Zimapán to Pinos?
The U.S. State Department rates Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Zimapán to Pinos use?
In order: MEX-120, QRO 5, QRO 4, MEX-57D, MEX-57, MEX-49 and ZAC 291. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Zimapán and Pinos?
Closest to the road: Former hacienda of Chichimequillas (historic site, mile 91, 3 mi from the route); Museo del Ferrocarril Jesús García Corona (museum, mile 207, 0.9 mi from the route); San Luis Potosí Cathedral (catholic cathedral, mile 207, 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.