The Wayro route from Ciudad Tula to Tonatico is 393 miles (632 km), about 7 h 31 min of driving without stops.
| Total distance | 393 mi (632 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 31 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-101 → SLP 80D → SLP 75D → MEX-57D → MEX-57 → MEX-55 → MEX-55D |
| Mexican states on the route | Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Querétaro, State of Mexico |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-57D, MEX-55D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.7 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.
Driving Ciudad Tula to Tonatico: the shape of the trip
MEX-57 (97 mi) and MEX-57D (93 mi) carry about 48% of the 393 miles. It runs through 5 states: Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Querétaro, State of Mexico. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-57D and MEX-55D. None of the 8 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Which roads connect Ciudad Tula and Tonatico
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Tamaulipas |
| MEX-101 | 2–25 | 23 | Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 80D | 25–57 | 32 | San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 75D | 57–77 | 20 | San Luis Potosí |
| connecting roads | 77–79 | 2 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 79–121 | 42 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 121–218 | 97 | San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| connecting roads | 218–219 | 1 | Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 219–270 | 51 | Querétaro |
| MEX-55 | 270–310 | 40 | Querétaro, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 310–311 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 311–345 | 34 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 345–350 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 350–363 | 13 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 363–364 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 364–388 | 24 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 388–393 | 5 | State of Mexico |
- Mile 23 of this route: Tamaulipas → San Luis Potosí (state line)
- Mile 158 of this route: San Luis Potosí → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 212 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 272 of this route: Querétaro → State of Mexico (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Ciudad Tula and Tonatico
- Nature and outdoors: El Gogorrón National Park (mile 132), Museo de Ciencias Naturales del Estado de México (mile 351), Nevado de Toluca National Park (mile 368), Desierto del Carmen National Park (mile 385)
- Museums and history: San Luis Potosí Cathedral (mile 112), Calixtlahuaca (mile 345), Museo de Ciencias Naturales del Estado de México (mile 351)
San Luis Potosí Cathedral
Look closely at the two towers of San Luis Potosí's cathedral: one is built of mortar, the other of quarried cantera stone. The Baroque church is the seat of the archdiocese.
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.
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.
Calixtlahuaca
Spread over the slopes of Cerro Tenismó near Toluca, this site's standout is the round Temple of Ehécatl-Quetzalcóatl, rebuilt in four phases. Nearby, a Mexica-era skull rack displays stone skulls set into cross-shaped walls.
Teatro Morelos
In Toluca's historic center, just west of the State of Mexico's Palace of Justice, Teatro Morelos stages plays along with other shows and cultural events.
Museo de Ciencias Naturales del Estado de México
Set in the Parque de los Matlatzincas on Cerro del Calvario, the Natural Sciences Museum of the State of Mexico explores biology, geology and the preservation of natural resources.
Nevado de Toluca National Park
The Nevado de Toluca volcano was declared a flora and fauna protection area in 2013, a protected zone spanning ten municipalities of the State of Mexico, including Toluca, Zinacantepec and Temascaltepec.
Desierto del Carmen National Park
Declared a national park on October 10, 1942, Desierto del Carmen is a protected area in the municipality of Tenancingo, in the State of Mexico.
More drives to Tonatico
- Valle de Bravo to Tonatico
- Zitácuaro to Tonatico
- Tlalpujahua to Tonatico
- Amealco to Tonatico
- San Juan del Río to Tonatico
- Tequisquiapan to Tonatico
From Ciudad Tula to other places in Mexico
- Ciudad Tula to Mineral de Pozos
- Ciudad Tula to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Ciudad Tula to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Ciudad Tula to Jalpa de Cánovas
- Ciudad Tula to Temacapulín
- Ciudad Tula to Angangueo
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Ciudad Tula to Tonatico?
About 7 h 31 min of driving without stops, over 393 miles.
How far is Tonatico from Ciudad Tula by car?
About 393 miles (632 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 Ciudad Tula to Tonatico?
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 Ciudad Tula to Tonatico?
The U.S. State Department rates Tamaulipas Level 4: Do Not Travel; San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Ciudad Tula to Tonatico?
In order: MEX-101, SLP 80D, SLP 75D, MEX-57D, MEX-57, MEX-55 and MEX-55D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Ciudad Tula and Tonatico?
Closest to the road: Calixtlahuaca (archaeological site, mile 345, 1 mi from the route); Teatro Morelos (theater, mile 350, 1 mi from the route); Museo de Ciencias Naturales del Estado de México (museum, mile 351, 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.