The Wayro route from Ezequiel Montes to Tepoztlán is 173 miles (278 km), about 3 h 13 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 173 mi (278 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 13 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-120 → MEX-57D → MEX-57 → Periférico → MEX-95D → MEX-160D |
| Mexican states on the route | Querétaro (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), Mexico City (Level 2), Morelos (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-57D, MEX-95D, MEX-115D, MEX-160D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 6.9 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.
What the drive from Ezequiel Montes to Tepoztlán is like
MEX-57D (81 mi) and MEX-95D (31 mi) carry about 65% of the 173 miles. MEX-57D, MEX-95D, MEX-160D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-120, MEX-57 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 5 states: Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Mexico City, Morelos. Of the 9 stops listed below, 7 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Ezequiel Montes to Tepoztlán, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Querétaro |
| MEX-120 | 1–23 | 22 | Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 23–104 | 81 | Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| MEX-57 | 104–112 | 8 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 112–113 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| Periférico | 113–132 | 19 | State of Mexico, Mexico City |
| connecting roads | 132–134 | 2 | Mexico City |
| MEX-95D | 134–165 | 31 | Mexico City, Morelos |
| connecting roads | 165–166 | 1 | Morelos |
| MEX-160D | 166–170 | 4 | Morelos |
| local roads | 170–173 | 3 | Morelos |
- Mile 33 of this route: Querétaro → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 66 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 86 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 117 of this route: State of Mexico → Mexico City (state line)
- Mile 150 of this route: Mexico City → Morelos (state line)
Stops between Ezequiel Montes and Tepoztlán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Galería Libertad (mile 11), Templo y exconvento de San Francisco (mile 78), Museo del Axolote y Centro de Conservación de Anfibios (mile 119), Museo de Geofísica de la UNAM (mile 120), El Carmen complex (mile 124), Cuicuilco (mile 130), National Biodiversity Pavilion (mile 130)
- Museums and history: Galería Libertad (mile 11), Museo del Axolote y Centro de Conservación de Anfibios (mile 119), Museo de Geofísica de la UNAM (mile 120), El Carmen complex (mile 124), Copilco (mile 125), Cuicuilco (mile 130), National Biodiversity Pavilion (mile 130), San Bernardino de Siena Church, Xochimilco (mile 139)
Galería Libertad
Run by Querétaro's state culture department, Galería Libertad is a public gallery in the historic center of Santiago de Querétaro devoted to exhibiting, promoting and teaching the visual arts.
Templo y exconvento de San Francisco
The Templo y Exconvento de San Francisco is a church and former convent located in the city of Tepeji del Río, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
Museo del Axolote y Centro de Conservación de Anfibios
Also known as Anfibium, the Museo del Axolote is a museum and research and conservation center that protects the axolotl, an endangered species endemic to Mexico, and works to clean up bodies of water.
Museo de Geofísica de la UNAM
In Mexico City's Tacubaya neighborhood, UNAM's Geophysics Museum holds a collection of geophysical instruments from the early and mid-20th century.
El Carmen complex
Discalced Carmelites founded this convent in San Ángel on June 29, 1615; today the former convent is a museum in the south of Mexico City.
Copilco
Copilco was an important Mesoamerican ceremonial center southwest of Mexico City, located about four kilometers north of Cuicuilco.
Cuicuilco
In Mexico City's Tlalpan borough, Cuicuilco preserves a pyramid whose construction began a few centuries BCE, during the Late Preclassic period, near the old southern shore of Lake Texcoco.
National Biodiversity Pavilion
Opened in 2021 at Ciudad Universitaria in Mexico City, the National Biodiversity Pavilion is a museum about the variety of life found across Mexico.
San Bernardino de Siena Church, Xochimilco
Xochimilco's parish church of San Bernardino de Siena and its former monastery were built in the 16th century over a pre-Hispanic temple.
When you get to Tepoztlán
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.
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.
More drives to Tepoztlán
- Mexico City to Tepoztlán
- Metepec to Tepoztlán
- Toluca to Tepoztlán
- Atlixco to Tepoztlán
- Taxco to Tepoztlán
- Tepotzotlán to Tepoztlán
From Ezequiel Montes to other places in Mexico
- Ezequiel Montes to Tzintzuntzan
- Ezequiel Montes to Tócuaro
- Ezequiel Montes to Pacanda
- Ezequiel Montes to Santa Clara del Cobre
- Ezequiel Montes to Zirahuén
- Ezequiel Montes to Pinos
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Ezequiel Montes to Tepoztlán?
About 3 h 13 min of driving without stops, over 173 miles.
How far is Tepoztlán from Ezequiel Montes by car?
About 173 miles (278 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 Ezequiel Montes 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 Ezequiel Montes to Tepoztlán?
The U.S. State Department rates Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo 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.
What roads does the drive from Ezequiel Montes to Tepoztlán use?
In order: MEX-120, MEX-57D, MEX-57, Periférico, MEX-95D and MEX-160D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Ezequiel Montes and Tepoztlán?
Closest to the road: Galería Libertad (art museum, mile 11, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo de Geofísica de la UNAM (museum, mile 120, 0.2 mi from the route); Cuicuilco (archaeological site, mile 130, 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 mile 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 (roughly 2 to 7 miles depending on the type, farther for World Heritage sites): at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, with no more than five of one type, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place and city 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.