San Juan del Río sits on Highway 57, the main corridor between Mexico City and the north. By car it is roughly 150 km from Mexico City (about 1.5 hours) and 50 km from Querétaro city (about 45 minutes). The drive from Mexico City on the toll highway is straightforward.
Regular bus service connects San Juan del Río to Mexico City's Terminal Norte and to Querétaro. Several bus lines serve the route, with departures every 30 to 60 minutes throughout the day. The bus station is a few kilometres from the historic centre; taxis are available.