By road, Otumba and Xilitla are about 191 miles (308 km) apart, or roughly 5 h 14 min of driving.
| Distance | 191 mi (308 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 5 h 14 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-132 → MEX-88 → MEX-105 → MEX-102 → MEX-85 → MEX-120 |
| Mexican states on the route | State of Mexico, Hidalgo, San Luis Potosí |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.7 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.
On the road from Otumba to Xilitla
MEX-105 (95 mi) and MEX-85 (21 mi) carry about 61% of the 191 miles. It runs through 3 states: State of Mexico, Hidalgo, San Luis Potosí. Of the 8 stops listed below, 6 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Otumba to Xilitla
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-132 | 4–14 | 10 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| connecting roads | 14–15 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-88 | 15–30 | 15 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 30–34 | 4 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 34–50 | 16 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 50–53 | 3 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 53–132 | 79 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 132–157 | 25 | Hidalgo, San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-102 | 157–162 | 5 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-85 | 162–183 | 21 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-120 | 183–191 | 8 | San Luis Potosí |
- Mile 12 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 153 of this route: Hidalgo → San Luis Potosí (state line)
What to see on the way from Otumba to Xilitla
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Ecológico Cubitos (mile 31), El Hiloche (mile 39), La Dificultad Mine Museum (mile 40), Templo y exconvento de San Agustín (mile 53), Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 69), Museo Regional de la Sierra Alta (mile 90)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Ecológico Cubitos (mile 31), El Hiloche (mile 39), Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 69)
- Museums and history: La Dificultad Mine Museum (mile 40), Museo Regional de la Sierra Alta (mile 90)
Parque Ecológico Cubitos
Between Pachuca de Soto and Mineral de la Reforma, Parque Ecológico Cubitos is a 90-hectare protected natural area whose public section has a botanical garden, an arboretum, a herpetarium, a farm, a maze, a zip line and a bike path.
Ex monastery of Saint Francis of Assisi, Pachuca de Soto, Hidalgo
The Templo y exconvento de San Francisco in Pachuca de Soto is mainly Baroque, with touches of Churrigueresque and Neoclassical style. Construction began in 1596 under Fray Francisco de Torantos, who chose the style of its facade and windows.
El Hiloche
Bosque El Hiloche is a state park of about 100 hectares of forest in Mineral del Monte, Hidalgo, and one of the geosites of the Comarca Minera Geopark.
La Dificultad Mine Museum
At the La Dificultad mine in Mineral del Monte, a site museum and interpretation center tells the area's mining and hospital history, showing how the mines moved from steam power to electricity.
Templo y exconvento de San Agustín
Founded in 1536 and built between 1542 and 1562, the Augustinian church and former convent of San Agustín in Atotonilco el Grande has a Plateresque design and frescoes.
Barranca de Metztitlán
Barranca de Metztitlán is a biosphere reserve in Hidalgo, protected for its steep cliffs, deep winding canyons and distinctive plants and wildlife.
Antiguo Convento Franciscano
Dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi, the Antiguo Convento Franciscano in Zacatlán was founded by the Franciscans in 1562 and finished in 1567, and it still holds Catholic services.
Museo Regional de la Sierra Alta
Museo Regional de la Sierra Alta is a regional museum in the town of Zacualtipán, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
Once you reach Xilitla
Las Pozas
Created by Edward James in the Sierra Gorda, Las Pozas is a surrealist sculpture garden where concrete structures stand among waterfalls and pools in subtropical forest.
More drives to Xilitla
- Pedro Escobedo to Xilitla
- Tulancingo to Xilitla
- Actopan to Xilitla
- Celaya to Xilitla
- San Miguel de Allende to Xilitla
- Calpulalpan to Xilitla
From Otumba to other places in Mexico
- Otumba to Atlatlahucan
- Otumba to Malinalco
- Otumba to Tonatico
- Otumba to Amealco
- Otumba to Mineral de Pozos
- Otumba to Santa Fe de la Laguna
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Otumba to Xilitla?
About 5 h 14 min of driving without stops, over 191 miles.
How far is Xilitla from Otumba by car?
About 191 miles (308 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 Otumba to Xilitla?
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 Otumba to Xilitla?
The U.S. State Department rates State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Otumba to Xilitla?
In order: MEX-132, MEX-88, MEX-105, MEX-102, MEX-85 and MEX-120. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Otumba to Xilitla?
Closest to the road: El Hiloche (state park, mile 39, 0.3 mi from the route); Barranca de Metztitlán (canyon, mile 69, 0.2 mi from the route); Museo Regional de la Sierra Alta (museum, mile 90, 0.4 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.