Plan on about 6 h 60 min of driving for the 290-mile (466 km) trip from Ciudad Valles to Chipilo, before any stops.
| Distance | 290 mi (466 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 6 h 60 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-85 → MEX-102 → MEX-105 → MEX-88 → MEX-132 → MEX-M40D → MEX-150D |
| Mexican states on the route | San Luis Potosí, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-M40D, MEX-150D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.6 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.
The Ciudad Valles–Chipilo drive in a few lines
MEX-105 (94 mi) and MEX-85 (65 mi) carry about 55% of the 290 miles. It runs through 5 states: San Luis Potosí, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Tlaxcala, Puebla. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-M40D and MEX-150D. Of the 7 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Ciudad Valles to Chipilo
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-85 | 2–67 | 65 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-102 | 67–71 | 4 | San Luis Potosí |
| local roads | 71–96 | 25 | San Luis Potosí, Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 96–175 | 79 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 175–179 | 4 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 179–194 | 15 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 194–198 | 4 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-88 | 198–213 | 15 | Hidalgo |
| connecting roads | 213–214 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-132 | 214–217 | 3 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| MEX-M40D | 217–263 | 46 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| MEX-150D | 263–282 | 19 | Puebla |
| connecting roads | 282–285 | 3 | Puebla |
| local roads | 285–290 | 5 | Puebla |
- Mile 75 of this route: San Luis Potosí → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 216 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 229 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 236 of this route: Hidalgo → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 259 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
Stops between Ciudad Valles and Chipilo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Regional de la Sierra Alta (mile 139), La Dificultad Mine Museum (mile 188), Parque Ecológico Cubitos (mile 198), Church and former convent of Todos los Santos (mile 211), La Constancia Mexicana (mile 281)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Ecológico Cubitos (mile 198)
- Museums and history: Museo Regional de la Sierra Alta (mile 139), La Dificultad Mine Museum (mile 188), Monumental Clock of Pachuca (mile 193), La Constancia Mexicana (mile 281)
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.
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.
La Dificultad Mine Museum
At the La Dificultad mine in Mineral del Monte, a site museum and interpretation center tells the area's mining and hospital history, showing how the mines moved from steam power to electricity.
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.
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.
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.
La Constancia Mexicana
A textile factory founded in 1835 in Puebla now houses the La Constancia museum complex, with a children's museum, a puppet house, a Mexican music museum, an automobile museum and a park of miniature world monuments.
Once you reach Chipilo
Convent Church of Nuestra Señora del Carmen, Puebla
An early 17th-century example of Puebla Baroque, the Church of the Virgin of Carmen has two richly decorated chapels and a neoclassical altarpiece holding an image of the Virgin by sculptor José Antonio Villegas Cora.
Museo Amparo
Opened in 1991 in Puebla's historic center, Museo Amparo was sponsored by the Amparo Foundation, created in 1979 by Manuel Espinosa Yglesias in honor of his wife.
Convent Church of San Francisco, Puebla
The Convent Church of San Francisco is a historic church that you'll find in the city of Puebla, in the Mexican state of Puebla.
More drives to Chipilo
- Apizaco to Chipilo
- Calpulalpan to Chipilo
- Pachuca to Chipilo
- Cuernavaca to Chipilo
- Tepotzotlán to Chipilo
- Actopan to Chipilo
From Ciudad Valles to other places in Mexico
- Ciudad Valles to Tecolutla
- Ciudad Valles to Pedro Escobedo
- Ciudad Valles to Otumba
- Ciudad Valles to Cuetzalan
- Ciudad Valles to Tlaxcala
- Ciudad Valles to Chiautempan
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Ciudad Valles to Chipilo?
About 6 h 60 min of driving without stops, over 290 miles.
How far is Chipilo from Ciudad Valles by car?
About 290 miles (466 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 Valles to Chipilo?
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 Valles to Chipilo?
The U.S. State Department rates San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Ciudad Valles to Chipilo?
In order: MEX-85, MEX-102, MEX-105, MEX-88, MEX-132, MEX-M40D and MEX-150D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Ciudad Valles to Chipilo?
Closest to the road: Museo Regional de la Sierra Alta (museum, mile 139, 0.4 mi from the route); La Dificultad Mine Museum (museum, mile 188, 0.5 mi from the route); La Constancia Mexicana (museum, mile 281, 0.4 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.