The Wayro route from Ixtenco to El Oro is 194 miles (312 km), about 3 h 24 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 194 mi (312 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 24 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-136 → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → MEX-561 → EM 5 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-M40D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
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 El Oro is like
MEX-M40D (121 mi) and MEX-136 (48 mi) carry about 87% of the 194 miles. MEX-M40D, MEX-15D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-136, MEX-561 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico. None of the 7 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Ixtenco to El Oro, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-136 | 0–48 | 48 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-M40D | 48–169 | 121 | Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 169–170 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 170–181 | 11 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-561 | 181–185 | 4 | State of Mexico |
| EM 5 | 185–194 | 9 | State of Mexico |
- Mile 58 of this route: Tlaxcala → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 65 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 78 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 94 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 109 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 139 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
Stops between Ixtenco and El Oro
Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Apizaco
In the city of Apizaco, this Catholic basilica (Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Misericordia) was begun in the third decade of the 20th century and completed in 1961.
Ex Convento de Santa María de la Concepción Atlihuetzia
The ruined walls of this 16th-century Franciscan convent in Atlihuetzia rise as high as 21 meters beside the 17th-century Purísima Concepción church. The site also holds a sanctuary to Cristóbal, honored as the first Catholic child martyr in the Americas.
Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque
Built by Franciscan friar Francisco de Tembleque between 1554 and 1572, this 16th-century water system runs more than 48 km between Zempoala and Otumba. Its tallest arcade at Tepeyahualco reaches almost 40 meters, and UNESCO listed it in 2015.
Museo Arqueológico de Apaxco
Founded in 1985, the Museo Arqueológico de Apaxco sits across from the parish church of San Francisco de Asís and beside the town hall in Apaxco, State of Mexico.
Tula
Once the Toltec capital, the Tula archaeological zone is best known for its Atlantes, basalt warrior figures over four meters (13 feet) tall crowning the main pyramid. Visitors also see a ball court, the Burnt Palace and the Coatepantli wall, carved with snakes devouring skeletons.
Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl
The Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl is an archaeological museum located in Tula de Allende, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
Cathedral of Atlacomulco
Atlacomulco's cathedral, the Catedral de la Divina Providencia, is the seat of the Diocese of Atlacomulco and is dedicated to Divine Providence, making it the town's principal Catholic church.
When you get to El Oro
Museo del Ferrocarril del Oro
The Museo del Ferrocarril is in El Oro de Hidalgo, State of Mexico, a town seen as an important part of Mexico's mining and railroad history and named a Pueblo Mágico in 2011.
Rayón National Park
Just outside Tlalpujahua, Rayón National Park (Parque Nacional Rayón) marks the start of the area's famous butterfly reserve country, which stretches south and west from here.
More drives to El Oro
- Amatitán to El Oro
- Pabellón de Arteaga to El Oro
- Tequila to El Oro
- Calvillo to El Oro
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to El Oro
- Zacatecas to El Oro
From Ixtenco to other places in Mexico
- Ixtenco to Omitlán
- Ixtenco to Huasca de Ocampo
- Ixtenco to Tonatico
- Ixtenco to Mineral de Pozos
- Ixtenco to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Ixtenco to Ihuatzio
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Ixtenco to El Oro?
About 3 h 24 min of driving without stops, over 194 miles.
How far is El Oro from Ixtenco by car?
About 194 miles (312 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 El Oro?
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 El Oro?
The U.S. State Department rates Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Ixtenco to El Oro use?
In order: MEX-136, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-561 and EM 5. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Ixtenco and El Oro?
Closest to the road: Ex Convento de Santa María de la Concepción Atlihuetzia (convent, mile 24, 1 mi from the route); Tula (archaeological site, mile 125, 1 mi from the route); Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl (museum, mile 126, 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.