Nearby Vacation Destinations from San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Here is a list of some of our favorite easy nearby vacation spots. If you need any help or recommendations on hotels or vacation rentals in these areas, please let us know how we can help.
By Car in Under 4 Hours:
1. Mexico City is about a 3.5-hour drive from San Miguel de Allende. If you are looking for a metropolitan city with world-class restaurants, incredible nightlife and entertainment, and great museums, visit Mexico City.
2. Peña de Bernal is about a 1.5-hour drive from San Miguel de Allende. This town attracts tourists and climbers from all around the world. It is home to the third largest monolith in the world that was formed about 65 million years ago.
3. Queretaro is about a 1-hour drive from San Miguel de Allende. It is a large city that contains your big box stores such as Home Depot, Walmart, Best Buy, Costco, etc. and is also home to Antea Mall, one of the largest malls in all of Mexico. Queretaro also has a beautiful Historic Centro area with great restaurants, entertainment, and shopping.
4. Guanajuato is about a 1.5-hour drive from San Miguel de Allende. It is a beautiful colorful colonial town with mining history. This city also has great energy generated by the students who attend the nearby university.
5. San Luis Potosi is about a 2-hour drive from San Miguel de Allende and also has a history in gold and silver mining. This vibrant city has many tourist attractions, restaurants, and bars.
Closest Beach Destinations:
1. Zihuatanejo is a nice quiet beach town about a 6.5-hour drive from San Miguel de Allende and about a 1-hour flight from Leon or Queretaro airport.
2. Acapulco is a beautiful beach destination about an 8-hour drive from San Miguel de Allende and about a 1-hour flight from Leon or Queretaro airport. Acapulco maintains its old Hollywood glamour feel even decades after its glory days. You definitely have to try Zibu Restaurant by Eduardo Palazuelos when you visit!
3. Puerto Vallarta is a lovely beach city about a 9-hour drive from San Miguel de Allende and about a 1-hour flight from Leon or Queretaro airport. Puerto Vallarta also has a large expat community, great restaurants, and fun nightlife, and entertainment.
4. Riviera Maya (Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum): Quintana Roo Airport is about a 2.5-hour flight from Leon or Queretaro airports. A bit too far to drive unless you wanted a solid road trip experience. Keep in mind you will need to factor in an additional 1-1.5 hour drive to Playa del Carmen or Tulum. These mesmerizing beaches are off of the Caribbean and have the most beautiful blue ocean and white sandy beaches in the world. We holiday here every year!