The Wayro route from Chiautempan to Real de Catorce is 451 miles (726 km), about 9 h 1 min of driving without stops.
| Total distance | 451 mi (726 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 9 h 1 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-117D → MEX-M40D → MEX-57D → MEX-57 → MEX-49 → MEX-63 → SLP 43 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala, Puebla, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-117D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.0 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.
On the road from Chiautempan to Real de Catorce
MEX-57 (108 mi) and MEX-M40D (103 mi) carry about 47% of the 451 miles. It runs through 7 states: Tlaxcala, Puebla, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-117D, MEX-M40D and MEX-57D. None of the 9 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Road-by-road breakdown: Chiautempan to Real de Catorce
| 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 | 210–318 | 108 | Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| connecting roads | 318–321 | 3 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-49 | 321–337 | 16 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-63 | 337–411 | 74 | San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 43 | 411–444 | 33 | San Luis Potosí |
| local roads | 444–451 | 7 | San Luis Potosí |
- 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)
Places worth a stop between Chiautempan and Real de Catorce
- Nature and outdoors: El Gogorrón National Park (mile 296)
- Museums and history: Tula (mile 111), Casa de la Corregidora (mile 194), Former hacienda of Chichimequillas (mile 201), Catedral Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, San Luis Potosí (mile 318), Casa Museo Manuel José Othón (mile 318)
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.
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.
Historic Monuments Zone of Querétaro
UNESCO listed Querétaro's historic center in 1996. Here, the Spanish grid of streets meets the winding lanes of the old Indigenous quarters, with Baroque churches and mansions throughout.
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.
El Gogorrón National Park
Straddling San Luis Potosí and Guanajuato near Villa de Reyes, this national park offers rugged rock formations, mountain scenery and thermal springs, with camping, hiking and mountain biking.
Catedral Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, San Luis Potosí
The Basilica Sanctuary of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a Catholic church on the Calzada de Guadalupe in the historic center of San Luis Potosí.
Casa Museo Manuel José Othón
Near Plaza del Carmen in San Luis Potosí, poet Manuel José Othón's birthplace opened as a museum on November 28, 1966, covering his life and work.
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 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
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 is the drive from Chiautempan to Real de Catorce?
About 9 h 1 min of driving without stops, over 451 miles.
How far is Real de Catorce from Chiautempan by car?
About 451 miles (726 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 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 Chiautempan to Real de Catorce?
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 (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Chiautempan to Real de Catorce?
In order: MEX-117D, 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 Chiautempan and Real de Catorce?
Closest to the road: Tula (archaeological site, mile 111, 1 mi from the route); Casa Museo Manuel José Othón (museum, mile 318, 1 mi from the route); Catedral Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, San Luis Potosí (cathedral, mile 318, 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.