Ciudad Valles to Tepoztlán is about 304 road miles (490 km): roughly 7 h 30 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Total distance | 304 mi (490 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 7 h 30 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-85 → MEX-102 → MEX-105 → MEX-85D → EM 12 → Viaducto → MEX-95D → MEX-160D |
| Mexican states on the route | San Luis Potosí, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Mexico City, Morelos |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-85D, MEX-95D, MEX-115D, MEX-160D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.2 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.
Driving Ciudad Valles to Tepoztlán: the shape of the trip
MEX-105 (93 mi) and MEX-85 (81 mi) carry about 57% of the 304 miles. It runs through 5 states: San Luis Potosí, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Mexico City, Morelos. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-85D, MEX-95D and MEX-115D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Ciudad Valles to Tepoztlán, road by road
| 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 | 179–193 | 14 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 193–200 | 7 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 200–216 | 16 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-85D | 216–232 | 16 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 232–237 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| EM 12 | 237–245 | 8 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 245–249 | 4 | State of Mexico, Mexico City |
| connecting roads | 249–255 | 6 | Mexico City |
| local roads | 255–262 | 7 | Mexico City |
| Viaducto | 262–265 | 3 | Mexico City |
| MEX-95D | 265–297 | 32 | Mexico City, Morelos |
| connecting roads | 297–298 | 1 | Morelos |
| MEX-160D | 298–303 | 5 | Morelos |
| local roads | 303–304 | 1 | Morelos |
- Mile 75 of this route: San Luis Potosí → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 221 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 247 of this route: State of Mexico → Mexico City (state line)
- Mile 282 of this route: Mexico City → Morelos (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Tepoztlán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 159), Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (mile 194), Museo del Ejército y Fuerza Aerea Mexicanos (mile 259)
- Nature and outdoors: Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 159)
- Museums and history: Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (mile 194), Acueducto de Guadalupe (mile 247), Museo Nacional Numismático (mile 249), Benito Juárez Hemicycle (mile 255), Museo Mural Diego Rivera (mile 255), Museo del Ejército y Fuerza Aerea Mexicanos (mile 259), Museo Dolores Olmedo (mile 268)
- With kids: Zoológico Los Coyotes (mile 262)
Barranca de Metztitlán
Barranca de Metztitlán is a biosphere reserve in Hidalgo, protected for its steep cliffs, deep winding canyons and distinctive plants and wildlife.
Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
Known locally as La Villita, the Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe is a Catholic basilica dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe in Pachuca.
Acueducto de Guadalupe
Built in the mid-18th century to carry drinking water from Santa María Tlalnepantla to the Villa de Guadalupe, this colonial aqueduct in northern Mexico City now stands as a historic monument.
Museo Nacional Numismático
Part of Mexico's Casa de Moneda, the National Numismatic Museum sits in the historic center inside the old Casa del Apartado, where gold was separated from mined silver starting in the 17th century.
Benito Juárez Hemicycle
At the Alameda Central in Mexico City, the Benito Juárez Hemicycle is a Neoclassical monument where his statue is flanked by marble Doric columns.
Museo Mural Diego Rivera
Museo Mural Diego Rivera in Mexico City is where you'll find Diego Rivera's 1946–47 mural Sueño de una Tarde Dominical en la Alameda Central.
Museo del Ejército y Fuerza Aerea Mexicanos
Known as MUEFA, the Museo del Ejército y Fuerza Aérea Mexicanos presents key moments in the history of Mexico's armed forces.
Zoológico Los Coyotes
Opened on February 2, 1999, Los Coyotes is Mexico City's third zoo, created to complement the capital's other zoos.
Museo Dolores Olmedo
In Xochimilco, the Museo Dolores Olmedo is an art museum built around the collection of Mexican businesswoman Dolores Olmedo.
Once you reach Tepoztlán
Tepoztlán Ex Convento Museum
Tepoztlán's Dominican monastery, built between 1555 and 1580, keeps original 16th-century murals in its cloister. Upstairs, the museum covers local daily life, faith, festivals and dances, and the complex is part of a UNESCO World Heritage listing.
El Tepozteco National Park
Eroded volcanic hills of the Sierra de Tepoztlán fill this national park, about half of which lies in Mexico City's Milpa Alta borough. A short, steep climb leads to the Tepozteco archaeological zone; wear good shoes, since the rocks get slippery.
El Tepozteco
High on a hill above Tepoztlán, El Tepozteco holds the remains of a shrine to Ometochtli-Tepoztécatl, god of pulque, fertility and the harvest, along with terraced platforms built from around AD 1200.
More drives to Tepoztlán
- Mexico City to Tepoztlán
- Metepec to Tepoztlán
- Toluca to Tepoztlán
- Atlixco to Tepoztlán
- Taxco to Tepoztlán
- Tepotzotlán to Tepoztlán
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
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Ciudad Valles to Tepoztlán?
About 7 h 30 min of driving without stops, over 304 miles.
How far is Tepoztlán from Ciudad Valles by car?
About 304 miles (490 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 Tepoztlán?
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 Tepoztlán?
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; Mexico City Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Morelos Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Ciudad Valles to Tepoztlán?
In order: MEX-85, MEX-102, MEX-105, MEX-85D, EM 12, Viaducto, MEX-95D and MEX-160D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Ciudad Valles to Tepoztlán?
Closest to the road: Barranca de Metztitlán (canyon, mile 159, 0.2 mi from the route); Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (basilica, mile 194, 0.2 mi from the route); Museo del Ejército y Fuerza Aerea Mexicanos (museum, mile 259, 0.1 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.