By road, Ixtenco and Capulalpam de Méndez are about 251 miles (404 km) apart, or roughly 4 h 46 min of driving.
| Distance by road | 251 mi (404 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 4 h 46 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-140D → MEX-135D → MEX-190 → MEX-175 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala, Puebla, Oaxaca |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-140D, MEX-150D, MEX-135D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
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 Ixtenco to Capulalpam de Méndez is like
MEX-135D (151 mi) and MEX-175 (34 mi) carry about 74% of the 251 miles. It runs through 3 states: Tlaxcala, Puebla, Oaxaca. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-140D, MEX-150D and MEX-135D. Of the 6 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Ixtenco to Capulalpam de Méndez, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-140D | 2–8 | 6 | Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| local roads | 8–50 | 42 | Puebla |
| MEX-135D | 50–201 | 151 | Puebla, Oaxaca |
| MEX-190 | 201–211 | 10 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-175 | 211–245 | 34 | Oaxaca |
| local roads | 245–251 | 6 | Oaxaca |
- Mile 4 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 105 of this route: Puebla → Oaxaca (state line)
What to see on the way from Ixtenco to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Suchilquitongo (mile 190), Teatro Macedonio Alcalá (mile 208), Museo de los Pintores Oaxaqueños (mile 208)
- Nature and outdoors: Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve (mile 93), Benito Juárez National Park (mile 201)
- Museums and history: Museo del Valle de Tehuacán (mile 79), Suchilquitongo (mile 190), Teatro Macedonio Alcalá (mile 208), Museo de los Pintores Oaxaqueños (mile 208)
Museo del Valle de Tehuacán
Tehuacán's 18th-century former Carmelite convent has housed the Valley of Tehuacán Museum since 2002. Exhibits trace the history of corn and its ties to the valley's early peoples.
Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve
This arid valley straddling Puebla and Oaxaca joined UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2018 as a mixed site. It is a major center of cactus diversity and preserves ancient canals, wells, terraces and dams built to manage scarce water.
Suchilquitongo
Locals call this Zapotec hilltop city Cerro de la Campana; it flourished between about 300 and 800 AD in the northern Etla Valley. Tomb 5, excavated in 1985, holds murals and stucco carvings counted among ancient Mexico's finest funerary art.
Benito Juárez National Park
Pine and oak forest covers about 2,737 hectares in Benito Juárez National Park, a short way north of Oaxaca City. Among its trails is La Coronilla, a loop of around 5 km at moderate difficulty.
Teatro Macedonio Alcalá
In the center of Oaxaca de Juárez, Teatro Macedonio Alcalá is a performance venue built in 1909 in the Art Nouveau style.
Museo de los Pintores Oaxaqueños
Created in 2004 to showcase Oaxacan artists, this museum occupies a 17th-century colonial building at Independencia and García Vigil in the historic center of Oaxaca de Juárez.
More drives to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Tehuacán to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Orizaba to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Huamantla to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Puebla to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Chipilo to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Cholula to Capulalpam de Méndez
From Ixtenco to other places in Mexico
- Ixtenco to Omitlán
- Ixtenco to Huasca de Ocampo
- Ixtenco to Tonatico
- Ixtenco to El Oro
- Ixtenco to Mineral de Pozos
- Ixtenco to Santa Fe de la Laguna
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Ixtenco to Capulalpam de Méndez?
About 4 h 46 min of driving without stops, over 251 miles.
What is the driving distance from Ixtenco to Capulalpam de Méndez?
About 251 miles (404 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 Ixtenco to Capulalpam de Méndez?
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 Ixtenco to Capulalpam de Méndez?
The U.S. State Department rates Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Oaxaca Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Ixtenco to Capulalpam de Méndez?
In order: MEX-140D, MEX-135D, MEX-190 and MEX-175. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Ixtenco and Capulalpam de Méndez?
Closest to the road: Suchilquitongo (archaeological site, mile 190, 0.3 mi from the route); Museo de los Pintores Oaxaqueños (art museum, mile 208, 0.5 mi from the route); Teatro Macedonio Alcalá (opera house, mile 208, 0.7 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.