Plan on about 6 h 49 min of driving for the 281-mile (453 km) trip from Ciudad Valles to Zacatelco, before any stops.
| Distance by road | 281 mi (453 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 49 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-85 → MEX-102 → MEX-105 → MEX-88 → MEX-132 → MEX-M40D → MEX-117D → MEX-119 |
| Mexican states on the route | San Luis Potosí, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-M40D, MEX-117D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.3 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.
What the drive from Ciudad Valles to Zacatelco is like
MEX-105 (94 mi) and MEX-85 (65 mi) carry about 57% of the 281 miles. It runs through 5 states: San Luis Potosí, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Tlaxcala, Puebla. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-M40D and MEX-117D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Ciudad Valles to Zacatelco
| 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 | 217–261 | 44 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| MEX-117D | 261–276 | 15 | Puebla, Tlaxcala |
| MEX-119 | 276–281 | 5 | Tlaxcala |
- 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)
- Mile 263 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
Places worth a stop between Ciudad Valles and Zacatelco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Regional de la Sierra Alta (mile 139), Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 159), El Hiloche (mile 190), Parque Ecológico Cubitos (mile 198), Exconvento de Nuestra Señora de las Nieves (mile 272)
- Nature and outdoors: Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 159), El Hiloche (mile 190), Parque Ecológico Cubitos (mile 198)
- Museums and history: Museo Regional de la Sierra Alta (mile 139), Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (mile 194)
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.
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.
El Hiloche
Bosque El Hiloche is a state park of about 100 hectares of forest in Mineral del Monte, Hidalgo, and one of the geosites of the Comarca Minera Geopark.
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.
Ex monastery of Saint Francis of Assisi, Pachuca de Soto, Hidalgo
The Templo y exconvento de San Francisco in Pachuca de Soto is mainly Baroque, with touches of Churrigueresque and Neoclassical style. Construction began in 1596 under Fray Francisco de Torantos, who chose the style of its facade and windows.
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.
Exconvento de Nuestra Señora de las Nieves
The remains of this 16th-century convent stand in San Juan Totolac, Tlaxcala, and are open to visitors. Parts of the nave, two side chapels and a freestanding bell tower survive; in 1591 Tlaxcalan families left here to settle northern New Spain.
Arriving in Zacatelco
Laguna de Acomulco
A quiet lagoon in the state of Tlaxcala, Laguna de Acomulco is surrounded by vegetation and rural scenery and works well for a short walk, landscape photos or a calm break in nature.
Parque ecológico Los Ladrillos
Opened on April 2, 2015, Los Ladrillos Ecological Park is a nature reserve in the municipality of Zacatelco, in Tlaxcala.
More drives to Zacatelco
- Huamantla to Zacatelco
- Cuautla to Zacatelco
- Pachuca to Zacatelco
- Tulancingo to Zacatelco
- Tepotzotlán to Zacatelco
- Cuernavaca to Zacatelco
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 Zacatelco?
About 6 h 49 min of driving without stops, over 281 miles.
How far is Zacatelco from Ciudad Valles by car?
About 281 miles (453 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 Zacatelco?
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 Zacatelco?
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 Zacatelco?
In order: MEX-85, MEX-102, MEX-105, MEX-88, MEX-132, MEX-M40D, MEX-117D and MEX-119. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Ciudad Valles to Zacatelco?
Closest to the road: Barranca de Metztitlán (canyon, mile 159, 0.2 mi from the route); El Hiloche (state park, mile 190, 0.3 mi from the route); Exconvento de Nuestra Señora de las Nieves (convent, mile 272, 0.3 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.