The Wayro route from Actopan to Tlaxco is 83 miles (134 km), about 2 h 15 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 83 mi (134 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 2 h 15 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-85 → MEX-88 |
| Mexican states on the route | Hidalgo (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2) |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 3.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
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 Tlaxco is like
MEX-88 (22 mi) and MEX-85 (14 mi) carry about 43% of the 83 miles. The route stays on free federal roads (libre): MEX-85, MEX-88. It runs through 2 states: Hidalgo, Tlaxcala. Of the 7 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Actopan to Tlaxco, 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 | 23–45 | 22 | Hidalgo |
| connecting roads | 45–46 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 46–83 | 37 | Hidalgo, Tlaxcala |
- Mile 70 of this route: Hidalgo → Tlaxcala (state line)
Stops between Actopan and Tlaxco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Church and former convent of Todos los Santos (mile 35), San Francisco Convent in Tepeapulco, Hidalgo (mile 49), Museo del Ferrocarril de Apan (mile 58)
- Nature and outdoors: El Chico National Park (mile 19)
- Museums and history: Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (mile 21), Teotihuacan (mile 40), Museo del Ferrocarril de Apan (mile 58)
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.
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.
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.
San Francisco Convent in Tepeapulco, Hidalgo
Tepeapulco's church and former convent of San Francisco (Templo y Exconvento de San Francisco) belongs to the group of mendicant buildings raised by Franciscan friars in Hidalgo in the 16th century.
Museo del Ferrocarril de Apan
Set in Apan's old train station on the former Mexico City–Veracruz line, this railroad museum preserves the town's history.
More drives to Tlaxco
- Puebla to Tlaxco
- Cholula to Tlaxco
- Huejotzingo to Tlaxco
- Pachuca to Tlaxco
- Mexico City to Tlaxco
- Tepotzotlán to Tlaxco
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 Tlaxco?
About 2 h 15 min of driving without stops, over 83 miles.
How far is Tlaxco from Actopan by car?
About 83 miles (134 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 Tlaxco?
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 Tlaxco?
The U.S. State Department rates Hidalgo 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 Tlaxco use?
In order: MEX-85 and MEX-88. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Actopan and Tlaxco?
Closest to the road: Church and former convent of Todos los Santos (convent, mile 35, 0.6 mi from the route); San Francisco Convent in Tepeapulco, Hidalgo (convent, mile 49, 0.1 mi from the route); Museo del Ferrocarril de Apan (museum, mile 58, 0.6 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.