The Wayro route from Zitácuaro to Bernal is 152 miles (244 km), about 3 h 34 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 152 mi (244 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 34 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15 → MICH 122 → MEX-126 → GTO 37 → GTO 47 → MEX-47D → MEX-45D → MEX-57D → QRO 4 → QRO 100 |
| Mexican states on the route | Michoacán (Level 4), Guanajuato (Level 3), Querétaro (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-47D, MEX-45D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 6.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
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 Zitácuaro to Bernal is like
GTO 37 (37 mi) and MEX-15 (26 mi) carry about 41% of the 152 miles. MEX-47D, MEX-45D, MEX-57D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-15, MEX-126 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Michoacán, Guanajuato, Querétaro. Of the 5 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Zitácuaro to Bernal, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 1–27 | 26 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 27–28 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MICH 122 | 28–44 | 16 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 44–45 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-126 | 45–54 | 9 | Michoacán, Guanajuato |
| GTO 37 | 54–91 | 37 | Guanajuato |
| GTO 47 | 91–94 | 3 | Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 94–97 | 3 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-47D | 97–100 | 3 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 100–117 | 17 | Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 117–127 | 10 | Querétaro |
| QRO 4 | 127–147 | 20 | Querétaro |
| QRO 100 | 147–151 | 4 | Querétaro |
| local roads | 151–152 | 1 | Querétaro |
- Mile 51 of this route: Michoacán → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 109 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
Stops between Zitácuaro and Bernal
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 45)
- Nature and outdoors: El Cimatario National Park (mile 120)
- Museums and history: Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 45), El Cerrito (mile 112), Queretaro Art Museum (mile 116)
Teatro Morelos de Maravatío
Maravatío's Teatro Morelos is a late-19th-century theater in a French-influenced neoclassical style, designed by architect Rafael Guerrero Torres. It opened on January 11, 1879, with a performance by opera singer Ángela Peralta.
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.
Queretaro Art Museum
Set in the cloister of the former San Agustín convent, the Museo de Arte de Querétaro opened in 1988 and shows paintings and sculpture across fifteen galleries.
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.
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 Bernal
- Celaya to Bernal
- Salamanca to Bernal
- Irapuato to Bernal
- Guanajuato to Bernal
- Pénjamo to Bernal
- León to Bernal
From Zitácuaro to other places in Mexico
- Zitácuaro to Amealco
- Zitácuaro to Cuanajo
- Zitácuaro to Ezequiel Montes
- Zitácuaro to Mineral de Pozos
- Zitácuaro to Pabellón de Arteaga
- Zitácuaro to Pabellón de Hidalgo
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Zitácuaro to Bernal?
About 3 h 34 min of driving without stops, over 152 miles.
How far is Bernal from Zitácuaro by car?
About 152 miles (244 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 Zitácuaro to Bernal?
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 Zitácuaro to Bernal?
The U.S. State Department rates Michoacán Level 4: Do Not 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 Zitácuaro to Bernal use?
In order: MEX-15, MICH 122, MEX-126, GTO 37, GTO 47, MEX-47D, MEX-45D, MEX-57D, QRO 4 and QRO 100. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Zitácuaro and Bernal?
Closest to the road: Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (opera house, mile 45, 0.1 mi from the route); Queretaro Art Museum (art museum, mile 116, 1 mi from the route); Casa de la Corregidora (building, mile 116, 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.