The Wayro route from Actopan to Ixtenco is 119 miles (191 km), about 2 h 29 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 119 mi (191 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 2 h 29 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-85 → MEX-88 → MEX-132 → MEX-M40D → MEX-136 |
| Mexican states on the route | Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 4.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
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 Actopan to Ixtenco is like
MEX-136 (49 mi) and MEX-M40D (28 mi) carry about 65% of the 119 miles. MEX-M40D is a toll highway (cuota); MEX-85, MEX-88, MEX-132, MEX-136 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Tlaxcala. Of the 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Actopan to Ixtenco, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 2–16 | 14 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 16–23 | 7 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-88 | 23–38 | 15 | Hidalgo |
| connecting roads | 38–39 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-132 | 39–42 | 3 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-M40D | 42–70 | 28 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala |
| MEX-136 | 70–119 | 49 | Tlaxcala |
- Mile 42 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 54 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 62 of this route: Hidalgo → Tlaxcala (state line)
Stops between Actopan and Ixtenco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Church and former convent of Todos los Santos (mile 35)
- Nature and outdoors: El Chico National Park (mile 19), Parque nacional Xicoténcatl (mile 93)
- Museums and history: Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (mile 21), Teotihuacan (mile 42), Museo Casa de Piedra (mile 97), Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Apizaco (mile 98)
El Chico National Park
In Hidalgo, El Chico National Park is known for towering cliffs such as Las Ventanas and Peña del Cuervo, popular with climbers, and forest wildlife including gray foxes, ringtails, armadillos, hawks, falcons and woodpeckers.
Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
Known locally as La Villita, the Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe is a Catholic basilica dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe in Pachuca.
Church and former convent of Todos los Santos
Franciscan friars built this fortress-style convent in Zempoala, and the complex still keeps the classic layout of atrium, church, open chapel and cloister. It pairs well with a drive through the area's old pulque haciendas.
Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque
Built by Franciscan friar Francisco de Tembleque between 1554 and 1572, this 16th-century water system runs more than 48 km between Zempoala and Otumba. Its tallest arcade at Tepeyahualco reaches almost 40 meters, and UNESCO listed it in 2015.
Teotihuacan
Built between the 1st and 7th centuries AD, this UNESCO-listed ancient city lines the Avenue of the Dead, where you can walk between the Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon and the Temple of the Feathered Serpent.
Parque nacional Xicoténcatl
Covering roughly 600 hectares in central Tlaxcala, Xicohténcatl National Park takes in the historic center of Tlaxcala city plus Quiahuixtlán, Ocotelulco and Tepeticpac, which correspond to three of the old Tlaxcalan lordships.
Museo Casa de Piedra
Apizaco's old railroad station, dating from 1916, now houses the Museo Casa de Piedra. Inside, photographs and documents trace the town's history, especially its long ties to the railroads.
Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Apizaco
In the city of Apizaco, this Catholic basilica (Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Misericordia) was begun in the third decade of the 20th century and completed in 1961.
When you get to Ixtenco
Museo Nacional del Títere
On the main square of Huamantla, the National Puppet Museum (Museo Nacional del Títere) fills eight galleries with puppets from Mexico and abroad, including pieces tied to the Rosete Aranda family, whose company toured Mexico for generations.
More drives to Ixtenco
- Huejotzingo to Ixtenco
- Otumba to Ixtenco
- Pachuca to Ixtenco
- Mexico City to Ixtenco
- Tepotzotlán to Ixtenco
- Cuernavaca to Ixtenco
From Actopan to other places in Mexico
- Actopan to Otumba
- Actopan to Cadereyta
- Actopan to Ezequiel Montes
- Actopan to Amealco
- Actopan to Pedro Escobedo
- Actopan to El Oro
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Actopan to Ixtenco?
About 2 h 29 min of driving without stops, over 119 miles.
How far is Ixtenco from Actopan by car?
About 119 miles (191 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 Actopan to Ixtenco?
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 Actopan to Ixtenco?
The U.S. State Department rates Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Actopan to Ixtenco use?
In order: MEX-85, MEX-88, MEX-132, MEX-M40D and MEX-136. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Actopan and Ixtenco?
Closest to the road: Church and former convent of Todos los Santos (convent, mile 35, 0.6 mi from the route); Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque (aqueduct, mile 40, 2 mi from the route); Museo Casa de Piedra (railway museum, mile 97, 2 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.