Plan on about 5 h 19 min of driving for the 203-mile (326 km) trip from Calpulalpan to Xilitla, before any stops.
| Distance by road | 203 mi (326 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 5 h 19 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-M40D → MEX-132 → MEX-88 → MEX-105 → MEX-102 → MEX-85 → MEX-120 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, San Luis Potosí |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.1 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.
On the road from Calpulalpan to Xilitla
MEX-105 (93 mi) and MEX-85 (22 mi) carry about 57% of the 203 miles. It runs through 4 states: Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, San Luis Potosí. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-M40D. Of the 7 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Calpulalpan to Xilitla
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-M40D | 4–22 | 18 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| MEX-132 | 22–25 | 3 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| connecting roads | 25–26 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-88 | 26–42 | 16 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 42–45 | 3 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 45–60 | 15 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 60–65 | 5 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 65–143 | 78 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 143–168 | 25 | Hidalgo, San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-102 | 168–172 | 4 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-85 | 172–194 | 22 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-120 | 194–202 | 8 | San Luis Potosí |
| local roads | 202–203 | 1 | San Luis Potosí |
- Mile 4 of this route: Tlaxcala → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 11 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 23 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 165 of this route: Hidalgo → San Luis Potosí (state line)
What to see on the way from Calpulalpan to Xilitla
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Church and former convent of Todos los Santos (mile 29), Parque Ecológico Cubitos (mile 42), El Hiloche (mile 50), Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 80), Museo Regional de la Sierra Alta (mile 101)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Ecológico Cubitos (mile 42), El Hiloche (mile 50), Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 80)
- Museums and history: Monumental Clock of Pachuca (mile 45), Museo Regional de la Sierra Alta (mile 101)
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.
Parque Ecológico Cubitos
Between Pachuca de Soto and Mineral de la Reforma, Parque Ecológico Cubitos is a 90-hectare protected natural area whose public section has a botanical garden, an arboretum, a herpetarium, a farm, a maze, a zip line and a bike path.
Monumental Clock of Pachuca
Rising over Plaza Independencia in Pachuca's historic center, the Monumental Clock tower was built between 1904 and 1910 to mark the centennial of Mexico's War of Independence.
El Hiloche
Bosque El Hiloche is a state park of about 100 hectares of forest in Mineral del Monte, Hidalgo, and one of the geosites of the Comarca Minera Geopark.
Barranca de Metztitlán
Barranca de Metztitlán is a biosphere reserve in Hidalgo, protected for its steep cliffs, deep winding canyons and distinctive plants and wildlife.
Antiguo Convento Franciscano
Dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi, the Antiguo Convento Franciscano in Zacatlán was founded by the Franciscans in 1562 and finished in 1567, and it still holds Catholic services.
Museo Regional de la Sierra Alta
Museo Regional de la Sierra Alta is a regional museum in the town of Zacualtipán, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
Once you reach Xilitla
Las Pozas
Created by Edward James in the Sierra Gorda, Las Pozas is a surrealist sculpture garden where concrete structures stand among waterfalls and pools in subtropical forest.
More drives to Xilitla
- Pedro Escobedo to Xilitla
- Tulancingo to Xilitla
- Actopan to Xilitla
- Otumba to Xilitla
- Celaya to Xilitla
- San Miguel de Allende to Xilitla
From Calpulalpan to other places in Mexico
- Calpulalpan to Omitlán
- Calpulalpan to Huasca de Ocampo
- Calpulalpan to Actopan
- Calpulalpan to Atlatlahucan
- Calpulalpan to Metepec
- Calpulalpan to Jilotepec
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Calpulalpan to Xilitla?
About 5 h 19 min of driving without stops, over 203 miles.
How far is Xilitla from Calpulalpan by car?
About 203 miles (326 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 Calpulalpan to Xilitla?
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 Calpulalpan to Xilitla?
The U.S. State Department rates Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Calpulalpan to Xilitla use?
In order: MEX-M40D, MEX-132, MEX-88, MEX-105, MEX-102, MEX-85 and MEX-120. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Calpulalpan to Xilitla?
Closest to the road: El Hiloche (state park, mile 50, 0.3 mi from the route); Barranca de Metztitlán (canyon, mile 80, 0.2 mi from the route); Museo Regional de la Sierra Alta (museum, mile 101, 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.