Ciudad Valles to Tonatico is about 325 road miles (523 km): roughly 7 h 42 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance by road | 325 mi (523 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 42 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-85 → MEX-102 → MEX-105 → MEX-85D → Circuito Interior → MEX-15 → MEX-15D → MEX-A10D → MEX-55D |
| Mexican states on the route | San Luis Potosí, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Mexico City |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-85D, MEX-15D, MEX-A10D, MEX-55D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.0 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 Ciudad Valles to Tonatico
MEX-105 (93 mi) and MEX-85 (81 mi) carry about 54% of the 325 miles. It runs through 4 states: San Luis Potosí, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Mexico City. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-85D, MEX-15D and MEX-A10D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Ciudad Valles to Tonatico, 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 | 216–246 | 30 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Mexico City |
| connecting roads | 246–250 | 4 | Mexico City |
| Circuito Interior | 250–255 | 5 | Mexico City |
| MEX-15 | 255–260 | 5 | Mexico City |
| MEX-15D | 260–279 | 19 | Mexico City, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 279–281 | 2 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-A10D | 281–294 | 13 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 294–297 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 297–321 | 24 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 321–325 | 4 | State of Mexico |
- Mile 75 of this route: San Luis Potosí → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 221 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 245 of this route: State of Mexico → Mexico City (state line)
- Mile 267 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)
Stops between Ciudad Valles and Tonatico
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 159), Acueducto de Guadalupe (mile 247), Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 247), Museo de Historia Natural (mile 256), Desierto de los Leones National Park (mile 267)
- Nature and outdoors: Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 159), Museo de Historia Natural (mile 256), Desierto de los Leones National Park (mile 267)
- Museums and history: Mexican Air Force Museum (mile 227), Acueducto de Guadalupe (mile 247), Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 247), Museo del Telégrafo (mile 252), Museo de Historia Natural (mile 256)
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.
Mexican Air Force Museum
At Santa Lucía Air Base, the Military Aviation Museum, run by the Secretariat of National Defense, displays historical material from the Mexican Air Force.
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.
Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe
The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, at the foot of Tepeyac Hill in Mexico City's Gustavo A. Madero borough, is a Catholic basilica dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe within the Primate Archdiocese of Mexico.
Teatro de la Ciudad
Built in 1918 as the Teatro Esperanza Iris, the Teatro de la Ciudad on Donceles Street is one of the public stages of Mexico City's historic center.
Museo del Telégrafo
Opened in 2006 in part of the Museo Nacional de Arte building, the Museo del Telégrafo traces the telegraph in Mexico from its arrival in 1849 to the last transmission in 1992.
Museo de Historia Natural
In the second section of Chapultepec Park, the Museo de Historia Natural y Cultura Ambiental displays mounted animals, fossils, rocks, minerals, sculptures and models about life on Earth and Mexico's biodiversity.
Desierto de los Leones National Park
Declared a national park in 1917, this fir, ash and oak forest in Mexico City's Cuajimalpa and Álvaro Obregón boroughs surrounds a former Carmelite monastery. Locals come to hike, run and cycle, and more than 100 bird species live here.
Ciénegas del Lerma
These marshes in the Toluca Valley are three lakes left from a wetland of about 27,000 hectares in the late 19th century. A Ramsar site since 2004, they hold dozens of endemic and threatened species and are a key stop for migratory species.
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 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 Tonatico?
About 7 h 42 min of driving without stops, over 325 miles.
What is the driving distance from Ciudad Valles to Tonatico?
About 325 miles (523 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 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 Valles to Tonatico?
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 (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Ciudad Valles to Tonatico?
In order: MEX-85, MEX-102, MEX-105, MEX-85D, Circuito Interior, MEX-15, MEX-15D, MEX-A10D and MEX-55D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Ciudad Valles to Tonatico?
Closest to the road: Barranca de Metztitlán (canyon, mile 159, 0.2 mi from the route); Acueducto de Guadalupe (monument, mile 247, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo de Historia Natural (museum, mile 256, 0.2 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.