Plan on about 8 h 6 min of driving for the 452-mile (727 km) trip from Bernal to Capulalpam de Méndez, before any stops.
| Total distance | 452 mi (727 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 6 min |
| Main roads, in order | QRO 5 → MEX-120 → MEX-57D → MEX-M40D → MEX-150D → MEX-135D → MEX-190 → MEX-175 |
| Mexican states on the route | Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala, Puebla, Oaxaca |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-57D, MEX-M40D, MEX-150D, MEX-135D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.1 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.
How the Bernal to Capulalpam de Méndez drive plays out
MEX-135D (151 mi) and MEX-M40D (106 mi) carry about 57% of the 452 miles. It runs through 6 states: Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala, Puebla, Oaxaca. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-57D, MEX-M40D and MEX-150D. Of the 7 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Bernal to Capulalpam de Méndez
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Querétaro |
| QRO 5 | 4–8 | 4 | Querétaro |
| connecting roads | 8–9 | 1 | Querétaro |
| MEX-120 | 9–30 | 21 | Querétaro |
| connecting roads | 30–31 | 1 | Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 31–74 | 43 | Querétaro, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 74–75 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-M40D | 75–181 | 106 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| MEX-150D | 181–250 | 69 | Puebla |
| MEX-135D | 250–401 | 151 | Puebla, Oaxaca |
| MEX-190 | 401–412 | 11 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-175 | 412–446 | 34 | Oaxaca |
| local roads | 446–452 | 6 | Oaxaca |
- Mile 41 of this route: Querétaro → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 74 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 103 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 117 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 134 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 147 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 154 of this route: Hidalgo → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 177 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 303 of this route: Puebla → Oaxaca (state line)
Stops between Bernal and Capulalpam de Méndez
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Galería Libertad (mile 19), Tula National Park (mile 86), Church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán (mile 409)
- Nature and outdoors: Tula National Park (mile 86), Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve (mile 293), Benito Juárez National Park (mile 401)
- Museums and history: Galería Libertad (mile 19), Museo del Ejercito, Puebla (mile 201), Church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán (mile 409)
Galería Libertad
Run by Querétaro's state culture department, Galería Libertad is a public gallery in the historic center of Santiago de Querétaro devoted to exhibiting, promoting and teaching the visual arts.
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.
Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque
At Tepeyahualco, the tallest arcade of this 16th-century water system rises almost 40 meters. Franciscan friar Francisco de Tembleque built it between 1554 and 1572.
Museo del Ejercito, Puebla
On 4 Poniente in Puebla's historic center, beside the old Belén hospital church, this museum and library honors General Ignacio Zaragoza, the Battle of Puebla and the history of the Mexican Army.
Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve
Cactus diversity reaches one of its peaks in the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley, a dry landscape shared by Puebla and Oaxaca. Ancient canals, wells, terraces and dams show how people managed its scarce water.
Benito Juárez National Park
Hikers heading just north of Oaxaca City reach Benito Juárez National Park, where trails cross roughly 2,737 hectares of pine and oak. La Coronilla, a moderate loop, runs about 5 km.
Church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán
An example of New Spanish Baroque architecture, the Church and Convent of Santo Domingo de Guzmán in Oaxaca de Juárez traces back to 1551, when the city council granted 24 lots to the Dominican Order for a convent.
More drives to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Tehuacán to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Orizaba to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Huamantla to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Ixtenco to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Puebla to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Chipilo to Capulalpam de Méndez
From Bernal to other places in Mexico
- Bernal to Ihuatzio
- Bernal to Tócuaro
- Bernal to Pacanda
- Bernal to Zirahuén
- Bernal to Temacapulín
- Bernal to San Luis Soyatlán
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Bernal to Capulalpam de Méndez?
About 8 h 6 min of driving without stops, over 452 miles.
How far is Capulalpam de Méndez from Bernal by car?
About 452 miles (727 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 Bernal to Capulalpam de Méndez?
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 Bernal to Capulalpam de Méndez?
The U.S. State Department rates Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Oaxaca Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Bernal to Capulalpam de Méndez use?
In order: QRO 5, MEX-120, MEX-57D, MEX-M40D, MEX-150D, MEX-135D, MEX-190 and MEX-175. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Bernal and Capulalpam de Méndez?
Closest to the road: Galería Libertad (art museum, mile 19, 0.4 mi from the route); Tula National Park (national park, mile 86, 1 mi from the route); Church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán (church, mile 409, 0.5 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.