Ixtenco to General Zaragoza is about 521 road miles (838 km): roughly 10 h 39 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Total distance | 521 mi (838 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 39 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-136 → MEX-M40D → MEX-57D → MEX-57 → SLP 29 → NL 3 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, Nuevo León |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-M40D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.8 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 Ixtenco to General Zaragoza is like
MEX-57 (172 mi) and MEX-57D (134 mi) carry about 59% of the 521 miles. It runs through 7 states: Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, Nuevo León. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-M40D and MEX-57D. None of the 9 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Road-by-road breakdown: Ixtenco to General Zaragoza
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-136 | 0–48 | 48 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-M40D | 48–136 | 88 | Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 136–137 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-57D | 137–224 | 87 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro |
| MEX-57 | 224–321 | 97 | Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| connecting roads | 321–322 | 1 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 322–364 | 42 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 364–439 | 75 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 439–444 | 5 | San Luis Potosí |
| connecting roads | 444–445 | 1 | San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 29 | 445–473 | 28 | San Luis Potosí, Nuevo León |
| NL 3 | 473–479 | 6 | Nuevo León |
| local roads | 479–521 | 42 | Nuevo León |
- 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 138 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 171 of this route: State of Mexico → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 231 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 284 of this route: Guanajuato → San Luis Potosí (state line)
- Mile 453 of this route: San Luis Potosí → Nuevo León (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Ixtenco and General Zaragoza
- Nature and outdoors: Parque nacional Xicoténcatl (mile 24)
- Museums and history: Teotihuacan (mile 76), Jorge R. Acosta Museum (mile 125), Casa de la Corregidora (mile 208), Former hacienda of Chichimequillas (mile 216), San Luis Potosí Cathedral (mile 330), Matehuala Cathedral (mile 444)
Parque nacional Xicoténcatl
Covering roughly 600 hectares in central Tlaxcala, Xicohténcatl National Park takes in the historic center of Tlaxcala city plus Quiahuixtlán, Ocotelulco and Tepeticpac, which correspond to three of the old Tlaxcalan lordships.
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.
Teotihuacan
Built between the 1st and 7th centuries AD, this UNESCO-listed ancient city lines the Avenue of the Dead, where you can walk between the Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon and the Temple of the Feathered Serpent.
Atlantean figures
Crowning the main pyramid at the Tula archaeological zone, these basalt sculptures of Toltec warriors stand more than four meters tall in what was once the Toltec capital; the nearby Wall of Snakes shows carved serpents devouring skeletons.
Jorge R. Acosta Museum
Next to the Tula ruins, the Museo de Sitio Jorge R. Acosta traces the rise and decline of the Toltecs and their city, Tollan Xicocotitlan. It moved into new facilities in 1982 and covers nearly 20 years of digs led by archaeologist Jorge R. Acosta.
Casa de la Corregidora
Completed in 1770 as Querétaro's royal houses and town hall, the Casa de la Corregidora is where Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez, held there in 1810, sent word of danger to Miguel Hidalgo. After independence it became the state government palace.
Former hacienda of Chichimequillas
Discalced Carmelite friars founded this hacienda around 1690 to shelter travelers on the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro and to farm. Its two-story stone and lime main house, finished in 1813, wraps around a central courtyard beside a chapel.
San Luis Potosí Cathedral
A parish church from 1609 once stood where San Luis Potosí's cathedral rose between 1701 and 1728. Today the Baroque building serves as the seat of the archdiocese.
Matehuala Cathedral
Still open for worship, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral serves as the seat of the Catholic Diocese of Matehuala, a city in the state of San Luis Potosí.
More drives to General Zaragoza
- Jerez, Zacatecas to General Zaragoza
- Pabellón de Hidalgo to General Zaragoza
- Celaya to General Zaragoza
- Salvatierra to General Zaragoza
- Tlalpujahua to General Zaragoza
- Angangueo to General Zaragoza
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 General Zaragoza?
About 10 h 39 min of driving without stops, over 521 miles.
What is the driving distance from Ixtenco to General Zaragoza?
About 521 miles (838 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 General Zaragoza?
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 General Zaragoza?
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; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Nuevo León 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 General Zaragoza use?
In order: MEX-136, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-57, SLP 29 and NL 3. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Ixtenco to General Zaragoza?
Closest to the road: Ex Convento de Santa María de la Concepción Atlihuetzia (convent, mile 24, 1 mi from the route); Atlantean figures (sculptures, mile 125, 1 mi from the route); Jorge R. Acosta Museum (museum, mile 125, 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 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.