The Wayro route from Mexico City to Tonatico is 75 miles (120 km), about 1 h 27 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 75 mi (120 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 1 h 27 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15 → MEX-15D → MEX-A10D → MEX-55D |
| Mexican states on the route | Mexico City (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-15D, MEX-A10D, MEX-55D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 3.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
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 Tonatico is like
MEX-55D (24 mi) and MEX-15D (20 mi) carry about 59% of the 75 miles. MEX-15D, MEX-A10D, MEX-55D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-15 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 2 states: Mexico City, State of Mexico. Of the 7 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Mexico City to Tonatico, 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 | Mexico City, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 29–31 | 2 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-A10D | 31–43 | 12 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 43–46 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 46–70 | 24 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 70–75 | 5 | State of Mexico |
- Mile 17 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)
Stops between Mexico City and Tonatico
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Desierto de los Leones National Park (mile 16), La Marquesa National Park (mile 19)
- Nature and outdoors: Desierto de los Leones National Park (mile 16), La Marquesa National Park (mile 19), Nevado de Toluca National Park (mile 50), Desierto del Carmen National Park (mile 66)
- Museums and history: Axolotitlán (mile 9)
Axolotitlán
Also known as the Museo Nacional del Ajolote, Axolotitlán is an axolotl museum in the Ectágono natural area of Segundo Parque Las Águilas, in Álvaro Obregón, Mexico City.
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.
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.
Nevado de Toluca National Park
The Nevado de Toluca volcano was declared a flora and fauna protection area in 2013, a protected zone spanning ten municipalities of the State of Mexico, including Toluca, Zinacantepec and Temascaltepec.
Desierto del Carmen National Park
Declared a national park on October 10, 1942, Desierto del Carmen is a protected area in the municipality of Tenancingo, in the State of Mexico.
More drives to Tonatico
- Valle de Bravo to Tonatico
- Zitácuaro to Tonatico
- Tlalpujahua to Tonatico
- Amealco to Tonatico
- San Juan del Río to Tonatico
- Tequisquiapan to Tonatico
From Mexico City to other places in Mexico
- Mexico City to Metepec
- Mexico City to Toluca
- Mexico City to Cuernavaca
- Mexico City to Atlatlahucan
- Mexico City to Malinalco
- Mexico City to Cuautla
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Mexico City to Tonatico?
About 1 h 27 min of driving without stops, over 75 miles.
How far is Tonatico from Mexico City by car?
About 75 miles (120 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 Tonatico?
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 Tonatico?
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 Tonatico use?
In order: MEX-15, MEX-15D, MEX-A10D and MEX-55D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Mexico City and Tonatico?
Closest to the road: Cine Lido (movie theater, mile 9, 1 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.