The essential guide to traveling from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende by bus, self-drive, taxis, and more
This comprehensive Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende transportation guide has insider tips on taking the quickest routes, affordable options, and the most convenient and scenic ways get to SMA.
San Miguel de Allende is located in the central part of Mexico, in the state of Guanajuato. Known for its well-preserved colonial architecture, vibrant arts scene, and cobblestone streets, it has become a hub for both international and domestic tourism.
The town’s history dates back to the 16th century, and it played a significant role in Mexico’s War of Independence. It is surrounded by rolling hills and is situated in the country’s Bajío region, an area known for its rich agricultural land and temperate climate.
The distance between Mexico City and San Miguel de Allende is approximately 270 kilometers (about 168 miles). The actual distance can differ depending on the specific starting and ending points in each city.
In this guide, we will discuss all the ways to get from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende including bus prices, rental cars, private car hire, and day trips.
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🛣️ How to get from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende
San Miguel de Allende is approximately 270 kilometers (about 168 miles) away from Mexico City. The actual distance can vary depending on the specific starting and ending points within each city.
The two cities are connected by road, and the most common way to travel between them is by car or bus, typically taking around 3 to 4 hours depending on traffic and road conditions.
The most direct route usually involves taking the Carretera Federal 57D (Federal Highway 57D), also known as the Autopista Querétaro – Irapuato.
There are also buses that run regularly between Mexico City and San Miguel de Allende, providing a comfortable and relatively affordable means of travel.
🗺️ Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende Map
✈️ Flights from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende
The closest airport to San Miguel de Allende is Queretaro Intercontinental Airport (QRO). From there, you can take a taxi or opt to stay in Queretaro for a few days.
Flight prices start at $142 USD and Aeromexico operates this flight every 2 hours. Their flight starts as early as 6:49 AM with last flights out at 4:25 PM.
Queretaro and San Miguel de Allende are popular destinations to combine (together with Mexico City) but if you don’t have the time and only plan to go to SMA, flying is not the most convenient.
Alternatively, you may also fly to Bajio International Airport (BJX) if you plan to combine Guanajuato and San Miguel de Allende in one trip.
🚘 Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende private car
For those who don’t want to drive, take the bus, and drive comfortably, you can get a private car from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende that already includes a professional driver, all toll fees, and all gas fees.
All you have to do is to sit down and relax during the drive. You can choose from a Sedan (3 pax) or a van (9 pax max) for this service. Prices start from $450 – $699 USD depending on the car type.
This mode of transport is ideal for families traveling with kids or big groups.
🥳 Use the code INSIDER10 upon checkout to get a 10% discount on this private car service
🚌 Bus from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende
Busses are one of the most popular travel methods from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende.
Most tourists are afraid to take busses in Mexico but the country’s bus system is really modern, safe, and convenient. These are not the chicken busses you see on TV!
Busses in Mexico have Wi-Fi on-board, USB cable plugs, entertainment, and restrooms. You can even choose different classes for the busses for extra amenities.
The easiest option for getting from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende is via México Central del Norte Bus Station. You can take an Uber to the station but remember to pre-book your bus tickets in advance.
Below is the information for bus companies, prices, and frequency of trips to San Miguel de Allende:
| Bus Company | Frequency | Price |
| Estrella Blanca Futura | once a day | $32 USD |
| Primera Plus | 3 times a day | $34 USD |
| ETN | 10 times a day | $37 USD |
| Futura | once a day | $29 USD |
| Anahuac | once a day | $30 USD |
The average price of the bus from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende is around $32 USD and the trip takes 4 hours and 15 minutes.
🚕 Taxi from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende
You can book a taxi from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende for those looking for a private ride. Prices range from $95 – $250 USD per ride.
These prices are estimates as taxis doing this route have different car options like Sedan, Esplanade, and vans. This is a more convenient way to get to Queretaro if you are with a group or traveling with kids.
As for an Uber trip from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende, drivers don’t accept this ride (compared to Queretaro where Uber drivers sometimes agree to drive inter-state).
🚎 Shuttle from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende
For those coming from Mexico CIty Airport, you can take the shuttle to San Miguel de Allende which stops in Queretaro and Tepotzotlan.
This route is operated by ETN or Conecta GFA with hourly departures. The ride takes about 4 hours and costs around $40 USD.
The bus station can be found at Terminal 1, between gates 7 and 8. You can buy your tickets directly at the station. This bus runs hourly from 1-11 PM daily. Tickets start at 400 pesos ($25 USD).
🚘 Driving from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende
As I live in Mexico and have my own car, I’ve driven from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende a lot. Since Mexico City is a large city, expect traffic getting out of the city to the highway and you may also encounter crazy city drivers along the way.
I do not recommend driving within Mexico City if you are not confident in driving in another country. Once you are out of the city, the highways are very modern and developed so no issue at all.
The only issue is the long lines at the toll gates. This is a very busy road and there are a lot of trucks and big vehicles that travel this route.
Once in San Miguel de Allende, the challenges of driving are the small and narrow streets, the uphills, and of course, parking.
I always visit San Miguel de Allende with Queretaro and Guanajuato so driving makes more sense in terms of comfort, flexibility, and affordability.
But if you are not doing a road trip, it’s a lot of work to drive. But hey, if you love driving, go for it! Car rentals from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende are as low as $45 USD per day.
If you are renting the car in Mexico City and returning it to San Miguel de Allende, there is a drop-off fee that varies by day. Expect to pay between $65-$150 USD when returning the car to a different destination.
🧭 Day trips from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende
Now, if you are only looking to visit San Miguel de Allende for a day, that’s also possible but remember, the back and forth drive is already 8 hours (2-way) so this will already take most of your day.
Below are the best day trips to take from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende without worrying about transportation. It’s all-inclusive!
- San Miguel de Allende tour from Mexico City (11 hours, from $77 USD)
- Private tour to Queretaro and San Miguel de Allende (12 hours, $450 USD per group)
