Plan on about 8 h 0 min of driving for the 349-mile (561 km) trip from Zirahuén to Aquismón, before any stops.
| Total distance | 349 mi (561 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 0 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-14D → MEX-37D → MEX-15D → MEX-43D → MEX-45D → MEX-57D → QRO 4 → QRO 100 → MEX-120 → MEX-85 |
| Mexican states on the route | Michoacán, Guanajuato, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-14D, MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-43D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.9 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 Zirahuén to Aquismón is like
MEX-120 (113 mi) and MEX-43D (51 mi) carry about 47% of the 349 miles. It runs through 4 states: Michoacán, Guanajuato, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-14D, MEX-37D and MEX-15D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Zirahuén and Aquismón
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Michoacán |
| MEX-14D | 4–16 | 12 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 16–54 | 38 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 54–55 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 55–58 | 3 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 58–60 | 2 | Michoacán |
| MEX-43D | 60–111 | 51 | Michoacán, Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 111–162 | 51 | Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 162–172 | 10 | Querétaro |
| QRO 4 | 172–191 | 19 | Querétaro |
| QRO 100 | 191–201 | 10 | Querétaro |
| local roads | 201–205 | 4 | Querétaro |
| QRO 100 | 205–219 | 14 | Querétaro |
| MEX-120 | 219–332 | 113 | Querétaro, San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-85 | 332–344 | 12 | San Luis Potosí |
| local roads | 344–349 | 5 | San Luis Potosí |
- Mile 75 of this route: Michoacán → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 153 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 308 of this route: Querétaro → San Luis Potosí (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Aquismón
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Santa María del Agua de Landa mission (mile 285), Las Pozas (mile 325)
- Nature and outdoors: El Cimatario National Park (mile 165), Las Pozas (mile 325)
- Museums and history: Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro (mile 12), Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares (mile 12), Museo Regional de Querétaro (mile 160), Santa María del Agua de Landa mission (mile 285), San Francisco del Valle de Tilaco mission (mile 302)
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.
Museo Regional de Querétaro
The state's regional museum occupies the former Great Convent of San Francisco in central Santiago de Querétaro, a building dating from the 1540s and 1550s.
Claustro de San Felipe Neri - Palacio Conin
The Cloister of San Felipe Neri in central Querétaro was part of the Oratorian convent and stands beside the Templo de San Felipe Neri, now the city's cathedral.
El Cimatario National Park
El Cimatario National Park protects about 24 square kilometers of land just south of the city of Santiago de Querétaro.
Santa María del Agua de Landa mission
Built by Franciscans in the 18th century, the Mission of Santa María del Agua de Landa in Landa de Matamoros is an architectural complex in the churrigueresque style.
San Francisco del Valle de Tilaco mission
In Landa de Matamoros, the Misión de San Francisco de Asís del Valle de Tilaco has a Baroque facade, one of the last works in that style built in New Spain, and is a key monument of the Sierra Gorda.
Las Pozas
Created by Edward James in the Sierra Gorda, Las Pozas is a surrealist sculpture garden where concrete structures stand among waterfalls and pools in subtropical forest.
More drives to Aquismón
- Otumba to Aquismón
- Calpulalpan to Aquismón
- Celaya to Aquismón
- Tepotzotlán to Aquismón
- Salvatierra to Aquismón
- Salamanca to Aquismón
From Zirahuén to other places in Mexico
- Zirahuén to Mineral de Pozos
- Zirahuén to Omitlán
- Zirahuén to Huasca de Ocampo
- Zirahuén to Chacala
- Zirahuén to San Francisco
- Zirahuén to Mismaloya
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Zirahuén to Aquismón?
About 8 h 0 min of driving without stops, over 349 miles.
What is the driving distance from Zirahuén to Aquismón?
About 349 miles (561 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 Zirahuén to Aquismón?
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 Zirahuén to Aquismón?
The U.S. State Department rates Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Zirahuén to Aquismón use?
In order: MEX-14D, MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-43D, MEX-45D, MEX-57D, QRO 4, QRO 100, MEX-120 and MEX-85. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Zirahuén and Aquismón?
Closest to the road: Claustro de San Felipe Neri - Palacio Conin (convent, mile 160, 1 mi from the route); Santa María del Agua de Landa mission (mission, mile 285, 1 mi from the route); Las Pozas (sculpture garden, mile 325, 0.7 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 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: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place 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.