Chiautempan to Zacatlán Road Trip: Stops, Tolls & Drive Time

By admin, 3 October, 2026

The Wayro route from Chiautempan to Zacatlán is 55 miles (88 km), about 1 h 15 min of driving without stops.

U.S. State Department travel advisory: Tlaxcala — Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla — Level 2, Exercise Increased CautionAdvisory issued May 29, 2026; checked September 29, 2026. Puebla is the Mexican state that contains Zacatlán. See the full advisory for current details.
Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, ApizacoMuseo Casa de PiedraSantuario de Nuestro Padre Jesús de AquixtlaChiautempanZacatlán
Route from Chiautempan to Zacatlán with the 3 stops listed below (blue dots).
Distance55 mi (88 km)
Driving time, no stops1 h 15 min
Main roads, in orderMEX-117D → MEX-119
Mexican states on the routeTlaxcala (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2)
Toll roadsMEX-117D
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 2.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below3

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 insuranceRequired 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 Zacatlán is like

MEX-119 (45 mi) and MEX-117D (3 mi) carry about 87% of the 55 miles. MEX-117D is a toll highway (cuota); MEX-119 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 2 states: Tlaxcala, Puebla. Of the 3 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.

The route from Chiautempan to Zacatlán, road by road

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miState
local roads0–44Tlaxcala
MEX-117D4–73Tlaxcala
connecting roads7–103Tlaxcala
MEX-11910–5545Tlaxcala, Puebla
  • Mile 30 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)

Stops between Chiautempan and Zacatlán

  • Right off the route (under 1 mile): Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Apizaco (mile 10), Museo Casa de Piedra (mile 10)
  • Museums and history: Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Apizaco (mile 10), Museo Casa de Piedra (mile 10)

Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Apizaco

Mile 10 · Basilica · 0.4 mi from the route

In the city of Apizaco, this Catholic basilica (Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Misericordia) was begun in the third decade of the 20th century and completed in 1961.

Museo Casa de Piedra

Mile 10 · Railway museum · 0.9 mi from the route

Apizaco's old railroad station, dating from 1916, now houses the Museo Casa de Piedra. Inside, photographs and documents trace the town's history, especially its long ties to the railroads.

Santuario de Nuestro Padre Jesús de Aquixtla

Mile 42 · Sanctuary · 1 mi from the route

In the Sierra Norte de Puebla, the sanctuary of Nuestro Padre Jesús in Aquixtla draws thousands of pilgrims during the year who come to give thanks for favors received.

More drives to Zacatlán

From Chiautempan to other places in Mexico

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from Chiautempan to Zacatlán?

About 1 h 15 min of driving without stops, over 55 miles.

How far is Zacatlán from Chiautempan by car?

About 55 miles (88 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 Zacatlán?

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 Zacatlán?

The U.S. State Department rates Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla 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 Zacatlán use?

In order: MEX-117D and MEX-119. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.

What are good stops between Chiautempan and Zacatlán?

Closest to the road: Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Apizaco (basilica, mile 10, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo Casa de Piedra (railway museum, mile 10, 0.9 mi from the route); Santuario de Nuestro Padre Jesús de Aquixtla (sanctuary, mile 42, 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 mile 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 (roughly 2 to 7 miles depending on the type, farther for World Heritage sites): at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, with no more than five of one type, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place and city 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.