Plan on about 9 h 26 min of driving for the 474-mile (763 km) trip from Atlixco to Real de Catorce, before any stops.
| Distance by road | 474 mi (763 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 9 h 26 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-190D → MEX-190 → MEX-150D → MEX-M40D → MEX-57D → MEX-57 → MEX-49 → MEX-63 → SLP 43 |
| Mexican states on the route | Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-190D, MEX-150D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.0 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.
The Atlixco–Real de Catorce drive in a few lines
MEX-57 (108 mi) and MEX-M40D (106 mi) carry about 45% of the 474 miles. It runs through 7 states: Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-190D, MEX-150D and MEX-M40D. Of the 7 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Atlixco to Real de Catorce: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Puebla |
| MEX-190D | 3–16 | 13 | Puebla |
| MEX-190 | 16–25 | 9 | Puebla |
| connecting roads | 25–26 | 1 | Puebla |
| MEX-150D | 26–39 | 13 | Puebla |
| MEX-M40D | 39–145 | 106 | Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 145–146 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-57D | 146–232 | 86 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro |
| connecting roads | 232–233 | 1 | Querétaro |
| MEX-57 | 233–341 | 108 | Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| connecting roads | 341–344 | 3 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-49 | 344–360 | 16 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-63 | 360–434 | 74 | San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 43 | 434–467 | 33 | San Luis Potosí |
| local roads | 467–474 | 7 | San Luis Potosí |
- Mile 43 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 66 of this route: Tlaxcala → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 74 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 87 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 104 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 117 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 147 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 179 of this route: State of Mexico → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 240 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 293 of this route: Guanajuato → San Luis Potosí (state line)
What to see on the way from Atlixco to Real de Catorce
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo del Ferrocarril Jesús García Corona (mile 341)
- Museums and history: Museo de Historia y Antropología de Cholula (mile 21), Cacaxtla (mile 34), Xochitecatl (mile 34), Teotihuacan (mile 86), Jorge R. Acosta Museum (mile 134), Casa de la Corregidora (mile 217), Museo del Ferrocarril Jesús García Corona (mile 341)
Museo de Historia y Antropología de Cholula
Run by INAH, the Museo de Historia y Antropología de Cholula is the site museum for Cholula's archaeological zone. Don't confuse it with the Museo Regional de Cholula, two blocks away.
Cacaxtla
Built on a hill rising above the Tlaxcala-Puebla valley, Cacaxtla is known for its pre-Hispanic murals on the Gran Basamento, a large platform now sheltered under a roof. INAH manages it together with nearby Xochitécatl.
Xochitecatl
Xochitécatl is a pre-Hispanic archaeological site in the state of Tlaxcala. INAH runs it together with nearby Cacaxtla as a single zone, and the Xochitécatl site museum displays finds from the area.
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.
Jorge R. Acosta Museum
Next to the Tula ruins, the Museo de Sitio Jorge R. Acosta traces the rise and decline of the Toltecs and their city, Tollan Xicocotitlan. It moved into new facilities in 1982 and covers nearly 20 years of digs led by archaeologist Jorge R. Acosta.
Casa de la Corregidora
Completed in 1770 as Querétaro's royal houses and town hall, the Casa de la Corregidora is where Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez, held there in 1810, sent word of danger to Miguel Hidalgo. After independence it became the state government palace.
Museo del Ferrocarril Jesús García Corona
Opened on August 12, 2009, in San Luis Potosí's Barrio del Montecillo, this railroad museum focuses on the steam locomotive, its parts and history, and its role in 20th-century Mexico.
In Real de Catorce itself
High in the mountains of northern San Luis Potosí Real de Catorce is a former silver-mining town whose most prosperous era began in 1778. It joined the Pueblos Mágicos program in 2001, and its identity grew out of both its mining past and the culture of the Huichol (Wixárika) people.
- Túnel de Ogarrio: The Túnel de Ogarrio, the town's famous tunnel, is one of the landmarks SECTUR highlights for visitors to Real de Catorce. source
- Parroquia de la Purísima Concepción: The Parroquia de la Purísima Concepción is the parish church at the center of town life, and the feast of St. Francis of Assisi on October 4 is its biggest celebration. source
- Museo Parroquial Padre José Robledo: The Museo Parroquial Padre José Robledo preserves pieces of the town's religious history. source
More drives to Real de Catorce
- Comfort, TX to Real de Catorce
- San Antonio, TX to Real de Catorce
- Boerne, TX to Real de Catorce
- San Marcos, TX to Real de Catorce
- McAllen, TX to Real de Catorce
- Bandera, TX to Real de Catorce
From Atlixco to other places in Mexico
- Atlixco to Zacatelco
- Atlixco to Tlaxcala
- Atlixco to Apizaco
- Atlixco to Ixtenco
- Atlixco to Tlaxco
- Atlixco to Calpulalpan
Coming to Real de Catorce from the United States? Border crossings, permits and routes from U.S. cities: Driving to Real de Catorce, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Atlixco to Real de Catorce?
About 9 h 26 min of driving without stops, over 474 miles.
How far is Real de Catorce from Atlixco by car?
About 474 miles (763 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 Atlixco to Real de Catorce?
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 Atlixco to Real de Catorce?
The U.S. State Department rates Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Atlixco to Real de Catorce?
In order: MEX-190D, MEX-190, MEX-150D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-57, MEX-49, MEX-63 and SLP 43. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Atlixco and Real de Catorce?
Closest to the road: Museo de Historia y Antropología de Cholula (museum, mile 21, 1 mi from the route); Jorge R. Acosta Museum (museum, mile 134, 1 mi from the route); Museo del Ferrocarril Jesús García Corona (museum, mile 341, 1 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 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: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place 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.