How to Get From Mexico City to Guanajuato Safely [2024]
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Trying to figure out how to get from Mexico City to Guanajuato? In this article, I’ll cover the main transportation options to get between the two cities to help you decide which transportation method is best for you.
Guanajuato is one of the most beloved cities in Mexico due to its friendly and safe atmosphere, vibrant arts scene, and beautiful setting. While at first glance, it may not appear to be particularly close, Guanajuato is really easy to get to from Mexico City, and it’s well worth the trip.
It’s a popular tourist destination for Mexican travelers, but it’s still a little bit under the radar for foreign travelers.
I’ve visited Guanajuato several times (by bus and on a road trip), and it is one of my favorite cities in Mexico!
Whether you’re looking for a quick side trip from Mexico City or you want to devote your entire vacation to experiencing a new city, you’re sure to find tons of things to do in Guanajuato.
But first, you’ve gotta get there.
Where is Guanajuato, Mexico?
Guanajuato is a state located northwest of Mexico City in a region of central Mexico known as El Bajío. Guanajuato City sits near the center of the state.
How far is Guanajuato from Mexico City?
The distance from Mexico City to Guanajuato City is 358km or 222 miles. It takes about four and a half hours to drive from the center of Mexico City to Guanajuato City. The travel time is about 5 hours by bus from Mexico City’s Central de Autobuses del Norte bus station (Central Norte).
Keep in mind that trip times will vary depending on traffic. Mexico City is known for heavy traffic, so it’s best to travel outside of peak hours.
Mexico City to Guanajuato Buses
One of the most popular ways to travel between Mexico City and Guanajuato is by bus. Buses in Mexico are safe, affordable, and reasonably priced. And, once you understand how to catch them, they’re an easy and efficient way to travel.
To catch the bus from Mexico City to Guanajuato, you will leave from Mexico City’s northern bus terminal, called Central Norte.
The best way to get to Central Norte from within Mexico City is with Uber. If you’re headed to Central Norte from the Mexico City airport, I estimate that it will cost you less than 200 pesos (or $12 USD) and take about 30 minutes, but this will vary depending on the time of day and the traffic situation.
Many different bus companies depart from Central Norte to destinations throughout Mexico. You will want to look for the Primera Plus, ETN, or Futura bus lines. Each of these companies offers direct service to Guanajuato City.
The price range for bus tickets is between $600 – $900 MXN, or $30-$45 USD.
You can purchase bus tickets in person at the bus station or book them online in advance using the Busbud website. Busbud is a search aggregator that will show you bus departures from multiple different companies.
You can choose the option that works best for you. The website is in English, and they accept GooglePay and all major credit cards.
- ETN buses are the most luxurious and, therefore, come with the highest price tag, about $835 MXN, which is approximately $43 USD.
- Primera Plus is the middle-of-the-road option. The buses are still very comfortable, but not quite as deluxe as ETN. A Primera Plus ticket typically runs about $600 MXN or $30 USD.
- Futura buses also tend to cost about $600 MXN for this route, but in my experience, they aren’t as nice as the other two bus lines. I’ll take Futura if there’s no other option, but it definitely isn’t my first choice.
Note: When searching for bus schedules on these websites it can be tricky to nail the nomenclature for Central de Norte. Try inputting Central Norte or Mexico Norte and the site should autosuggest the correct option.
Safety Tip: While buses are generally a very safe way to travel within Mexico, I avoid taking night buses, especially for this region.
The city of Guanajuato is very safe, but the route the bus takes passes through a couple of towns that are known to be dangerous. With this in mind, it’s best to avoid traveling at night when the bus could be more vulnerable.
Keep yourself entertained during the bus trip with these vacation travel quotes. They’ll have you ready to hit the ground running in Guanajuato!
Traveling soon? Don’t forget to buy travel insurance for Mexico. Insurance gives you peace of mind, knowing you can get the help you need if anything goes wrong. SafetyWing is the provider that I recommend.
Driving from Mexico City to Guanajuato
Driving is a great way to explore Mexico as you have the opportunity to stop off in all kinds of places you probably wouldn’t visit otherwise. This region of Mexico is full of beautiful towns that would make perfect day trips or side trips on your way to Guanajuato.
Some stops you may be interested in include:
- Queretaro City
- Tequisquiapan, Queretaro
- San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato
The route from Mexico City to Guanajuato is pretty straightforward. It’s best to stick to the toll roads (called cuotas) as they are patrolled and in better repair than the free highways (libres).
I’ve included a map of the route below for your reference.
My favorite tool for finding great deals on rental cars is Discover Car Hire. It pulls rates from a selection of different rental car companies so you can find the best option for your trip.
Click here to check rental car rates!
Flights from Mexico City to Guanajuato
Depending on your travel plans and preferences, you may wish to fly into Guanajuato.
My favorite tool for finding affordable flights is SkyScanner.
Use their flexible date searches to compare fares across a variety of different airlines and see which days are the most reasonable to travel. This makes it easy to find the best combination of short travel times and affordable prices.
Click here to find the cheapest flights from Mexico City to Guanajuato.
If you fly to Guanajuato, you’ll land at the Guanajuato International Airport (BJX), which is in the town of Silao, Guanajuato, just outside of León.
Silao is located about 30 km from Guanajuato City and it typically takes 30 minutes driving to reach the city from the airport.
The easiest and safest way to reach Guanajuato City from the airport is by arranging an airport transfer in advance. They cost between $50 and $150 USD, depending on the size of the vehicle and the number of passengers.
Click here to book your airport transfer.
Guanajuato travel FAQs
Is Guanajuato safe?
Yes! Guanajuato State has been experiencing some unrest related to cartels over the past few years, but generally, Guanajuato City is safe for travelers. Though, I would not recommend traveling the highways outside the city at night.
Is there an airport in Guanajuato?
Guanajuato City does not have its own airport, but there is an airport in Guanajuato State called Bajío International Airport (BJX). It’s located in the town of Silao (a suburb of León), which is about 30 minutes from Guanajuato City.
How many days should I spend in Guanajuato City?
Guanajuato is a small city, so you can see a lot in a short time. At a minimum, I’d spend a weekend there, but it would be preferable to stay longer. There are tons of fun things to do, from hiking and sightseeing to visiting local museums restaurants, and attending cultural events. There are also tons of day trips from the city. You could easily fill a week there. On my last visit, I stayed two weeks and didn’t see everything I had hoped to!
How far is Queretaro from Guanajuato?
Queretaro is about 93 miles from Guanajuato City, or a 2-hour drive.
A Final Word
I hope this guide has helped you figure out how to get from Mexico City to Guanajuato. I promise it’s worth the trip!
Don’t forget to check out my Guanajuato travel guide for tips on what to do while you’re there!
Mexico Travel Planning Resources
🌡️ Do I need travel insurance?
Yes! Healthcare in Mexico is affordable for minor ailments, but travel insurance will give you peace of mind if an emergency arises. Plus, you can add coverage for trip interruption, theft, etc. Get a quote from SafetyWing.
🏨 What’s the best way to find accommodation in Mexico?
I use a mix of Booking, Airbnb, and Hostelworld.
Booking.com is awesome for booking hotels and resorts, Hostelworld is great for hostels, and Airbnb specializes in apartment rentals, making it a great place to find long-term stays.
💸 How should I exchange money in Mexico?
Use local ATMS to withdraw cash. US travelers should open a Charles Schwab bank account because they’ll refund ATM fees at the end of the month.
Travelers from outside the US should open a Wise account to secure the best currency exchange rates.
📱 Where can I buy a local SIM card in Mexico?
Pick up a Telcel SIM card at any convenience store. Or, buy an Airalo eSIM online so you’re connected as soon as you land.
🗣️ Do I need to speak Spanish in Mexico?
No, but it definitely helps you feel more confident and connected.
RocketSpanish is my favorite program for learning the foundations of the language. If you’re more focused on improving your conversation skills, hire a tutor through iTalki to prep for your trip.
✈️ What’s the best way to find affordable flights?
I use Skyscanner because it makes it easy to compare rates across different travel days.
🚖 How do I find a safe airport transfer?
I recommend GetTransfer for airport transfers anywhere in Mexico.
🚗 What’s the best way to find rental cars in Mexico?
I recommend Discover Cars because they aggregate prices across rental car companies, making it easy to find competitive rates.
🚐 How do I book bus tickets online in Mexico?
Plan your routes with Rome2Rio, and book your tickets with Busbud — the site is in English and takes foreign credit cards. (Read more here)
🤿 How do I find cool activities and tours in Mexico?
I recommend Viator and Get Your Guide. Viator usually has more options, but it’s worth comparing offerings across both platforms.
🇲🇽 How can I experience Mexico like a local?
Solo female travelers can hire a local female guide through Greether. Greeters will tailor tours based on your interests— it’s basically like experiencing a destination with a local bestie!
🧳 What’s the best luggage for Mexico?
Unless you’re staying at a resort, a travel pack is recommended. I’ve used this one from Osprey for the last 8+ years.
👯♀️ How do I connect with fellow travelers in Mexico?
Join my Female Travelers in Mexico Facebook group, a supportive community of fellow Mexico travel enthusiasts, where you can find answers to all your travel questions!
Thanks for sharing some good information, but in the end, you haven’t really said which method of transportation you preferred, bus or train? (not just taking into account the total time it takes but also how pleasant one is over the other)
Hey Mike! Thanks for your comment. I think both bus and rental car are great ways to travel through Mexico. The best choice really depends on your personal preference. Personally, I think the bus is a really comfortable (and affordable) way to travel along this route, but if you want to stop off in small towns along the way, a rental car will offer more flexibility.
Hola,
IMO, If you are on a budget and traveling alone… walk, use collectivos, the metro and buses.
Unfortunately, Mexico does not have a passenger train (other than the metro/subway) in CDMX(Mexico City). If Mexico ever partnered with China and built a high speed train network, Mexico would benefit tremendously.
When you are 2 or more people, then renting a car is a good option economically, but make sure the insurance will cover damage or theft. Driving over an unmarked/unseen speed bump is one of the more common causes of damage to rental cars in Mexico. I only rented a car a couple times when I have been alone in Mexico, but will frequently use a car when with others.
Traveling “long”distances in Mexico is arduous and time consuming because of their UBIQUITOUS use of speed bumps. Many of the State/Federal roads go through small town after small town and they use these to force traffic to slow down when entering or exiting each “village”.
If you have limited time, flying could be the best option. As an example, I was in Oaxaca City and wanted to get to Puerto Escondido and didn’t want to sit in a bus for 8 hours making the grueling ride down the mountain, so I paid the $100USD to fly. (Would have been less expensive if I had booked in advance)
I try to break a trip into 3-4 hour maximum bus trips, but will occasionally take a night bus instead if I want to travel 10-12 hours and be done with it (When there aren’t Good stops along the way)
There really is No pleasant way to travel long distances on the roads in Mexico. You just have to take a deep breath and plan for it to take 1 hour for every 20 miles traveled
Saludos,
David
Thanks so much for this comprehensive comment, David. I totally agree with your insights. You’re right, there really is no way to comfortably travel long distances on Mexico’s roads!