Chiautempan to General Zaragoza is about 506 road miles (815 km): roughly 10 h 15 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance by road | 506 mi (815 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 15 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-117D → MEX-M40D → MEX-57D → MEX-57 → SLP 29 → NL 3 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala, Puebla, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, Nuevo León |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-117D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
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 Chiautempan to General Zaragoza is like
MEX-57 (172 mi) and MEX-57D (135 mi) carry about 61% of the 506 miles. It runs through 8 states: Tlaxcala, Puebla, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, Nuevo León. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-117D, MEX-M40D and MEX-57D. None of the 8 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Roads you'll take from Chiautempan to General Zaragoza
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-117D | 4–18 | 14 | Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| connecting roads | 18–19 | 1 | Puebla |
| MEX-M40D | 19–122 | 103 | Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| MEX-57D | 122–209 | 87 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro |
| connecting roads | 209–210 | 1 | Querétaro |
| MEX-57 | 210–307 | 97 | Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| connecting roads | 307–308 | 1 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 308–349 | 41 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 349–424 | 75 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 424–431 | 7 | San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 29 | 431–459 | 28 | San Luis Potosí, Nuevo León |
| NL 3 | 459–465 | 6 | Nuevo León |
| local roads | 465–506 | 41 | Nuevo León |
- Mile 17 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 21 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 43 of this route: Tlaxcala → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 51 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 63 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 80 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 94 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 124 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 157 of this route: State of Mexico → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 216 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 270 of this route: Guanajuato → San Luis Potosí (state line)
- Mile 439 of this route: San Luis Potosí → Nuevo León (state line)
What to see on the way from Chiautempan to General Zaragoza
Exconvent of Santa María Magdalena
The former convent of Santa María Magdalena (Exconvento de Santa María Magdalena) is a 17th-century Baroque church built by the Dieguino friars, still in use as a Catholic temple of the Archdiocese of Puebla.
Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque
Built by Franciscan friar Francisco de Tembleque between 1554 and 1572, this 16th-century water system runs more than 48 km between Zempoala and Otumba. Its tallest arcade at Tepeyahualco reaches almost 40 meters, and UNESCO listed it in 2015.
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.
Historic Monuments Zone of Querétaro
Baroque churches and mansions from the 17th and 18th centuries line the streets of Querétaro's historic center, along with the city's landmark aqueduct.
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.
Former hacienda of Chichimequillas
Discalced Carmelite friars founded this hacienda around 1690 to shelter travelers on the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro and to farm. Its two-story stone and lime main house, finished in 1813, wraps around a central courtyard beside a chapel.
San Luis Potosí Cathedral
San Luis Potosí's cathedral anchors the city's historic center, which UNESCO lists as a component of the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro World Heritage Site.
Matehuala Cathedral
In Matehuala, San Luis Potosí, the Diocese of Matehuala has its seat at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, a Catholic church that remains open to worshippers.
More drives to General Zaragoza
- Jerez, Zacatecas to General Zaragoza
- Pabellón de Hidalgo to General Zaragoza
- Celaya to General Zaragoza
- Salvatierra to General Zaragoza
- Tlalpujahua to General Zaragoza
- Angangueo to General Zaragoza
From Chiautempan to other places in Mexico
- Chiautempan to Omitlán
- Chiautempan to Atlatlahucan
- Chiautempan to Huasca de Ocampo
- Chiautempan to Metepec
- Chiautempan to Malinalco
- Chiautempan to Taxco
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Chiautempan to General Zaragoza?
About 10 h 15 min of driving without stops, over 506 miles.
What is the driving distance from Chiautempan to General Zaragoza?
About 506 miles (815 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 Chiautempan to General Zaragoza?
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 Chiautempan to General Zaragoza?
The U.S. State Department rates Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla 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; Nuevo León Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Chiautempan to General Zaragoza use?
In order: MEX-117D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-57, SLP 29 and NL 3. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Chiautempan to General Zaragoza?
Closest to the road: Exconvent of Santa María Magdalena (convent, mile 19, 2 mi from the route); Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque (aqueduct, mile 60, 2 mi from the route); Jorge R. Acosta Museum (museum, mile 111, 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.