The Wayro route from Mexico City to Toluca is 40 miles (64 km), about 53 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 40 mi (64 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 53 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15 → MEX-15D |
| Mexican states on the route | Mexico City (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 1.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
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 Mexico City to Toluca is like
MEX-15D (20 mi) and MEX-15 (16 mi) carry about 90% of the 40 miles. MEX-15D is a toll highway (cuota); MEX-15 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 2 states: Mexico City, State of Mexico. Of the 6 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Mexico City to Toluca, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Mexico City |
| MEX-15 | 4–9 | 5 | Mexico City |
| MEX-15D | 9–29 | 20 | State of Mexico, Mexico City |
| MEX-15 | 29–40 | 11 | State of Mexico |
- Mile 9 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 12 of this route: State of Mexico → Mexico City (state line)
- Mile 17 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)
Stops between Mexico City and Toluca
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque de Cultura Urbana (mile 7), Desierto de los Leones National Park (mile 16), La Marquesa National Park (mile 19)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque de Cultura Urbana (mile 7), Lomas de Padierna National Park (mile 11), Desierto de los Leones National Park (mile 16), La Marquesa National Park (mile 19)
Parque de Cultura Urbana
Skaters and free runners use the Parque de Cultura Urbana, an outdoor space for skateboarding, parkour and extreme sports in the third section of Chapultepec Forest.
Cine Lido
Cine Lido is part of the Centro Cultural Bella Época on Tamaulipas 202 in Colonia Condesa, alongside the Rosario Castellanos bookstore and the Luis Cardoza y Aragón gallery.
Lomas de Padierna National Park
Lomas de Padierna National Park lies in the Cerro del Judío ecological reserve in La Magdalena Contreras, on the southwest side of Mexico City.
Desierto de los Leones National Park
Declared a national park in 1917, this fir, ash and oak forest in Mexico City's Cuajimalpa and Álvaro Obregón boroughs surrounds a former Carmelite monastery. Locals come to hike, run and cycle, and more than 100 bird species live here.
La Marquesa National Park
Set in high-altitude conifer forest along the Mexico City–Toluca highway, La Marquesa National Park offers roadside eateries, horse and ATV rentals, mountain biking and camping, and marks the site of the 1810 Battle of Monte de las Cruces.
Ciénegas del Lerma
These marshes in the Toluca Valley are three lakes left from a wetland of about 27,000 hectares in the late 19th century. A Ramsar site since 2004, they hold dozens of endemic and threatened species and are a key stop for migratory species.
When you get to Toluca
Toluca Cathedral
Begun in 1867 and finished only in 1978, Toluca's Cathedral of Saint Joseph has a neoclassical facade and a bronze statue of the saint on its dome. It also preserves the 18th-century baroque front of the former San Elzeario church.
Cosmovitral
Toluca's Cosmovitral wraps a botanical garden of more than 500 plant species in a huge stained-glass work designed by artist Leopoldo Flores. Light filtering through the colored glass sets the mood as you walk the garden paths.
Parque de la Ciencia Fundadores
Opened in 2021 in downtown Toluca on the site of the former Plaza Ángel María Garibay, this science park adds green space, children's play areas and a planetarium with a 360-degree screen.
More drives to Toluca
- Morelia to Toluca
- Irapuato to Toluca
- Durango to Toluca
- Puebla to Toluca
- Veracruz to Toluca
- Acapulco to Toluca
From Mexico City to other places in Mexico
- Mexico City to Metepec
- Mexico City to Cuernavaca
- Mexico City to Atlatlahucan
- Mexico City to Malinalco
- Mexico City to Cuautla
- Mexico City to Tonatico
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Mexico City to Toluca?
About 53 min of driving without stops, over 40 miles.
How far is Toluca from Mexico City by car?
About 40 miles (64 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 Mexico City to Toluca?
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 Mexico City to Toluca?
The U.S. State Department rates Mexico City 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 Mexico City to Toluca use?
In order: MEX-15 and MEX-15D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Mexico City and Toluca?
Closest to the road: Parque de Cultura Urbana (parkour park, mile 7, 0.2 mi from the route); Desierto de los Leones National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 16, 1 mi from the route); La Marquesa National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 19, 0.9 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.