The Wayro route from Ixtenco to Pinos is 395 miles (635 km), about 7 h 29 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 395 mi (635 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 29 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-136 → MEX-M40D → MEX-57D → MEX-57 → MEX-49 → ZAC 291 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Querétaro (Level 2), Guanajuato (Level 3), San Luis Potosí (Level 2), Zacatecas (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-M40D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.8 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 Ixtenco to Pinos is like
MEX-57 (108 mi) and MEX-M40D (88 mi) carry about 50% of the 395 miles. MEX-M40D, MEX-57D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-136, MEX-57, MEX-49 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 7 states: Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, Zacatecas. Of the 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Ixtenco to Pinos, road by road
| 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 | 224–332 | 108 | Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| connecting roads | 332–335 | 3 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-49 | 335–377 | 42 | San Luis Potosí, Zacatecas |
| connecting roads | 377–378 | 1 | Zacatecas |
| ZAC 291 | 378–392 | 14 | Zacatecas |
| local roads | 392–395 | 3 | Zacatecas |
- 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 366 of this route: San Luis Potosí → Zacatecas (state line)
Stops between Ixtenco and Pinos
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo del Ferrocarril Jesús García Corona (mile 332)
- Nature and outdoors: El Gogorrón National Park (mile 310)
- Museums and history: Tula (mile 125), Former hacienda of Chichimequillas (mile 216), Museo del Ferrocarril Jesús García Corona (mile 332)
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.
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.
Historic Monuments Zone of Querétaro
Querétaro's historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996, pairs the Spaniards' grid of streets with the winding lanes of the old Indigenous quarters. Walk it for Baroque churches and mansions of the 17th and 18th centuries and the city's landmark aqueduct.
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.
El Gogorrón National Park
Straddling San Luis Potosí and Guanajuato near Villa de Reyes, this national park offers rugged rock formations, mountain scenery and thermal springs, with camping, hiking and mountain biking.
Museo del Ferrocarril Jesús García Corona
Opened on August 12, 2009, in San Luis Potosí's Barrio del Montecillo, this railroad museum focuses on the steam locomotive, its parts and history, and its role in 20th-century Mexico.
More drives to Pinos
- Calvillo to Pinos
- El Rosario, Sinaloa to Pinos
- Amatitán to Pinos
- Tequila to Pinos
- Paracho to Pinos
- Pátzcuaro to Pinos
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 Pinos?
About 7 h 29 min of driving without stops, over 395 miles.
How far is Pinos from Ixtenco by car?
About 395 miles (635 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 Pinos?
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 Pinos?
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; Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Ixtenco to Pinos use?
In order: MEX-136, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-57, MEX-49 and ZAC 291. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Ixtenco and Pinos?
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); Museo del Ferrocarril Jesús García Corona (museum, mile 332, 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.