The Wayro route from Ixtenco to Temacapulín is 399 miles (642 km), about 6 h 57 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 399 mi (642 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 57 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-136 → MEX-M40D → MEX-57D → MEX-47D → MEX-45D → MEX-80 → MEX-80D |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Querétaro (Level 2), Guanajuato (Level 3), Jalisco (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D, MEX-80D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.0 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 Temacapulín is like
MEX-45D (114 mi) and MEX-M40D (88 mi) carry about 51% of the 399 miles. MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D, MEX-80D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-136, MEX-80 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 6 states: Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato, Jalisco. None of the 9 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Ixtenco to Temacapulín, 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 | 137–171 | 34 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| MEX-47D | 171–225 | 54 | Querétaro, Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 225–339 | 114 | Guanajuato, Jalisco |
| MEX-80 | 339–353 | 14 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 353–379 | 26 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 379–382 | 3 | Jalisco |
| local roads | 382–399 | 17 | Jalisco |
- 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 213 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 322 of this route: Guanajuato → Jalisco (state line)
Stops between Ixtenco and Temacapulín
- Nature and outdoors: Parque nacional Xicoténcatl (mile 24), El Cimatario National Park (mile 208), Cerro de las Campanas (mile 213)
- Museums and history: Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Apizaco (mile 21), Tula (mile 125), Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl (mile 126), Celaya Cathedral (mile 237), Teocaltitan Archaeological Site (mile 366)
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.
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.
Church and former convent of Todos los Santos
Franciscan friars built this fortress-style convent in Zempoala, and the complex still keeps the classic layout of atrium, church, open chapel and cloister. It pairs well with a drive through the area's old pulque haciendas.
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.
El Cimatario National Park
El Cimatario National Park protects about 24 square kilometers of land just south of the city of Santiago de Querétaro.
Cerro de las Campanas
Rising within Querétaro City, the Cerro de las Campanas is a hill that is protected as a Mexican national park.
Celaya Cathedral
Celaya's main Catholic church, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, occupies the space of a former chapel that was annexed to the neighboring Temple of St. Francis.
Teocaltitan Archaeological Site
Near Jalostotitlán in the Los Altos region, the Teocaltitán site holds pyramids, sunken patios and a ball court spread across about nine hectares, built by a people who dominated much of the area from AD 400 to 900.
More drives to Temacapulín
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Temacapulín
- Pabellón de Hidalgo to Temacapulín
- San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes to Temacapulín
- Real de Asientos to Temacapulín
- Pinos to Temacapulín
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Temacapulín
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 Temacapulín?
About 6 h 57 min of driving without stops, over 399 miles.
How far is Temacapulín from Ixtenco by car?
About 399 miles (642 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 Temacapulín?
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 Temacapulín?
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; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Ixtenco to Temacapulín use?
In order: MEX-136, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D, MEX-80 and MEX-80D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Ixtenco and Temacapulín?
Closest to the road: Tula (archaeological site, mile 125, 1 mi from the route); Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl (museum, mile 126, 1 mi from the route); Teocaltitan Archaeological Site (archaeological site, mile 366, 2 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.