The Wayro route from Apizaco to Chipilo is 34 miles (54 km), about 51 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 34 mi (54 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 51 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-117D → MEX-121 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-117D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 1.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
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 Apizaco to Chipilo is like
MEX-121 (22 mi) and MEX-117D (4 mi) carry about 76% of the 34 miles. MEX-117D is a toll highway (cuota); MEX-121 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 2 states: Tlaxcala, Puebla. None of the 4 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Apizaco to Chipilo, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-117D | 3–7 | 4 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-121 | 7–29 | 22 | Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| local roads | 29–34 | 5 | Puebla |
- Mile 25 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
Stops between Apizaco and Chipilo
- Nature and outdoors: La Malinche National Park (mile 21)
- Museums and history: Tlaxcala Cathedral (mile 9), Museo Miguel N. Lira (mile 9), La Constancia Mexicana (mile 27)
Tlaxcala Cathedral
Part of a 16th-century Franciscan complex among the earliest in the Americas, Tlaxcala's cathedral is famous for its carved Mudéjar-style wooden ceiling. Look for the freestanding bell tower and the stone font where Tlaxcalan lords were baptized.
Museo Miguel N. Lira
Downtown Tlaxcala's Museo Miguel N. Lira fills the old State Printing Office, linked to the writer and poet. Visitors see his manuscripts, family photos and personal belongings, plus the original linotype machines and the press that printed his work.
La Malinche National Park
Tlaxcala's La Malinche National Park surrounds the inactive Matlalcuéyetl volcano, with pine, oak and fir forests on its slopes, hiking trails, birdwatching, and stone cabins and campsites at the Malintzi Vacation Center.
La Constancia Mexicana
A textile factory founded in 1835 in Puebla now houses the La Constancia museum complex, with a children's museum, a puppet house, a Mexican music museum, an automobile museum and a park of miniature world monuments.
When you get to Chipilo
Puebla Cathedral
Consecrated in 1649, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception is the seat of the Archdiocese of Puebla and one of the key buildings in the city's UNESCO-listed historic center.
Museo Amparo
Opened in 1991 in Puebla's historic center, Museo Amparo was sponsored by the Amparo Foundation, created in 1979 by Manuel Espinosa Yglesias in honor of his wife.
Convent Church of San Francisco, Puebla
The Convent Church of San Francisco is a historic church that you'll find in the city of Puebla, in the Mexican state of Puebla.
More drives to Chipilo
- Calpulalpan to Chipilo
- Pachuca to Chipilo
- Cuernavaca to Chipilo
- Tepotzotlán to Chipilo
- Actopan to Chipilo
- Metepec to Chipilo
From Apizaco to other places in Mexico
- Apizaco to Omitlán
- Apizaco to Huasca de Ocampo
- Apizaco to Atlatlahucan
- Apizaco to Metepec
- Apizaco to Jilotepec
- Apizaco to Malinalco
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Apizaco to Chipilo?
About 51 min of driving without stops, over 34 miles.
How far is Chipilo from Apizaco by car?
About 34 miles (54 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 Apizaco to Chipilo?
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 Apizaco to Chipilo?
The U.S. State Department rates Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Apizaco to Chipilo use?
In order: MEX-117D and MEX-121. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Apizaco and Chipilo?
Closest to the road: Tlaxcala Cathedral (catholic cathedral, mile 9, 2 mi from the route); Museo Miguel N. Lira (museum, mile 9, 2 mi from the route); La Constancia Mexicana (museum, mile 27, 3 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.