Mascota to Ixtenco is about 544 road miles (876 km): roughly 9 h 59 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Total distance | 544 mi (876 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 59 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-70 → MEX-15 → MEX-15D → MEX-M40D → MEX-136 |
| Mexican states on the route | Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-15D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.8 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.
How the Mascota to Ixtenco drive plays out
MEX-15D (254 mi) and MEX-M40D (121 mi) carry about 69% of the 544 miles. It runs through 5 states: Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-15D and MEX-M40D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Mascota to Ixtenco: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-70 | 0–107 | 107 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 107–121 | 14 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 121–375 | 254 | Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico |
| MEX-M40D | 375–496 | 121 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala |
| MEX-136 | 496–544 | 48 | Tlaxcala |
- Mile 188 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 356 of this route: Michoacán → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 406 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 436 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 450 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 467 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 480 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 487 of this route: Hidalgo → Tlaxcala (state line)
Places worth a stop between Mascota and Ixtenco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila (mile 93)
- Nature and outdoors: Rayón National Park (mile 353), Parque nacional Xicoténcatl (mile 519)
- Museums and history: Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila (mile 93), Basílica de San Felipe Neri (mile 124), Museum of Paleontology of Guadalajara (mile 125), Tula (mile 419), Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Apizaco (mile 524)
Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila
Around the town of Tequila, the Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of blue agave fields shaped by the plant's use for tequila since the 16th century.
Basílica de San Felipe Neri
Guadalajara's Basilica of San Felipe Neri is a Catholic church built in baroque style between 1752 and 1802 by master builder Pedro José Ciprés.
Museum of Paleontology of Guadalajara
Fossils are the focus at Guadalajara's Museum of Paleontology, which opened in 2000 inside Parque Agua Azul with exhibits developed alongside INAH, Mexico's national anthropology and history institute.
Rayón National Park
On the outskirts of Tlalpujahua, Parque Nacional Rayón is the gateway to the area's well-known butterfly reserves, which spread out to the south and west of the park.
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.
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.
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.
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.
In Ixtenco itself
Museo Taurino de Huamantla
Next to Huamantla's La Taurina bullring, the Museo Taurino occupies an 18th-century building and since 1982 has displayed bullfighters' costumes, vintage posters, scale models of Mexican bullrings and murals about the Huamantlada.
Museo Nacional del Títere
On the main square of Huamantla, the National Puppet Museum (Museo Nacional del Títere) fills eight galleries with puppets from Mexico and abroad, including pieces tied to the Rosete Aranda family, whose company toured Mexico for generations.
More drives to Ixtenco
- Huejotzingo to Ixtenco
- Otumba to Ixtenco
- Pachuca to Ixtenco
- Mexico City to Ixtenco
- Tepotzotlán to Ixtenco
- Actopan to Ixtenco
From Mascota to other places in Mexico
- Mascota to Temacapulín
- Mascota to Jalpa de Cánovas
- Mascota to Boca de Pascuales
- Mascota to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Mascota to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Mascota to Tócuaro
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Mascota to Ixtenco?
About 9 h 59 min of driving without stops, over 544 miles.
How far is Ixtenco from Mascota by car?
About 544 miles (876 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 Mascota to Ixtenco?
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 Mascota to Ixtenco?
The U.S. State Department rates Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Mascota to Ixtenco use?
In order: MEX-70, MEX-15, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D and MEX-136. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Mascota to Ixtenco?
Closest to the road: Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila (historic site, mile 93, 0.4 mi from the route); Tula (archaeological site, mile 419, 1 mi from the route); Ex Convento de Santa María de la Concepción Atlihuetzia (convent, mile 521, 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.