The Wayro route from Atlixco to Tapalpa is 498 miles (802 km), about 8 h 35 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 498 mi (802 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 35 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-190D → MEX-190 → MEX-150D → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → JAL 122 → MEX-35 → MEX-GUA 10D → MEX-54D → MEX-54 → JAL 436 |
| Mexican states on the route | Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-190D, MEX-150D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
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.
Driving Atlixco to Tapalpa: the shape of the trip
MEX-15D (203 mi) and MEX-M40D (139 mi) carry about 69% of the 498 miles. It runs through 6 states: Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-190D, MEX-150D and MEX-M40D. None of the 9 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Atlixco to Tapalpa, road by road
| 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 | 39–178 | 139 | Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 178–179 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 179–382 | 203 | State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco |
| JAL 122 | 382–387 | 5 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 387–388 | 1 | Jalisco |
| MEX-35 | 388–418 | 30 | Jalisco |
| MEX-GUA 10D | 418–441 | 23 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 441–442 | 1 | Jalisco |
| MEX-54D | 442–465 | 23 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 465–468 | 3 | Jalisco |
| MEX-54 | 468–478 | 10 | Jalisco |
| JAL 436 | 478–497 | 19 | Jalisco |
| local roads | 497–498 | 1 | Jalisco |
- 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 148 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 197 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 365 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Tapalpa
- Nature and outdoors: Parque nacional Xicoténcatl (mile 32), Tula National Park (mile 134)
- Museums and history: International Museum of the Baroque (mile 16), Historic centre of Puebla (mile 17), Casa del Caballero Águila (mile 21), Tula (mile 134), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 180)
International Museum of the Baroque
Designed by Japanese architect Toyo Ito and opened in 2016, Puebla's baroque museum wraps its galleries in curving white concrete walls beside a reflecting pond. Exhibits cover baroque painting, sculpture, architecture, music, theater and literature.
Historic centre of Puebla
Laid out from scratch in 1531, Puebla's UNESCO-listed core is a grid of tile-covered houses, colonial churches and the 16th–17th-century cathedral, with the old archbishop's palace that houses the Palafox Library, established in 1646.
Great Pyramid of Cholula
Under a hilltop church dedicated to the Virgin of los Remedios lies Tlachihualtepetl, a pyramid built in superimposed stages with a base about 400 meters per side. Excavations have opened roughly 8 km of tunnels inside the mound.
Casa del Caballero Águila
Facing the old pre-Hispanic plaza of San Pedro Cholula, the Casa del Caballero Águila is a colonial house built in the late 16th century.
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.
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.
Tula
Basalt warrior figures over four meters (13 feet) tall, the Atlantes, crown the main pyramid at Tula. Visitors can also explore a ball court, the Burnt Palace and the Coatepantli wall.
Tula National Park
This park protects the ruins of Tula, ancient capital of the Toltecs. Walk up to the main pyramid to stand beside the Atlantes, basalt warrior figures more than four meters tall, and look for the Coatepantli wall's reliefs of snakes devouring skeletons.
Cathedral of Atlacomulco
Dedicated to Divine Providence, the cathedral in Atlacomulco is the principal Catholic church in town and the seat of the local diocese.
More drives to Tapalpa
- Tepatitlán to Tapalpa
- Nochistlán to Tapalpa
- Lagos de Moreno to Tapalpa
- León to Tapalpa
- Aguascalientes to Tapalpa
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Tapalpa
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
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Atlixco to Tapalpa?
About 8 h 35 min of driving without stops, over 498 miles.
What is the driving distance from Atlixco to Tapalpa?
About 498 miles (802 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 Tapalpa?
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 Tapalpa?
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; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Atlixco to Tapalpa use?
In order: MEX-190D, MEX-190, MEX-150D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, JAL 122, MEX-35, MEX-GUA 10D, MEX-54D, MEX-54 and JAL 436. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Atlixco to Tapalpa?
Closest to the road: International Museum of the Baroque (art museum, mile 16, 1 mi from the route); Tula (archaeological site, mile 134, 1 mi from the route); Tula National Park (national park, mile 134, 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.