Plan on about 7 h 5 min of driving for the 372-mile (598 km) trip from Pachuca to Matehuala, before any stops.
| Distance | 372 mi (598 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 5 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-85 → MEX-M40D → MEX-57D → MEX-57 |
| Mexican states on the route | Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-M40D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.9 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 Pachuca to Matehuala is like
MEX-57 (176 mi) and MEX-57D (129 mi) carry about 82% of the 372 miles. It runs through 5 states: Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-M40D and MEX-57D. None of the 9 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Road-by-road breakdown: Pachuca to Matehuala
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–6 | 6 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 6–18 | 12 | Hidalgo |
| connecting roads | 18–19 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-M40D | 19–65 | 46 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| MEX-57D | 65–152 | 87 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro |
| MEX-57 | 152–250 | 98 | Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 250–292 | 42 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 292–370 | 78 | San Luis Potosí |
| local roads | 370–372 | 2 | San Luis Potosí |
- Mile 23 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 37 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 66 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 99 of this route: State of Mexico → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 159 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 213 of this route: Guanajuato → San Luis Potosí (state line)
Places worth a stop between Pachuca and Matehuala
- Nature and outdoors: El Gogorrón National Park (mile 239)
- Museums and history: Teotihuacan (mile 18), Museo Arqueológico de Apaxco (mile 37), Jorge R. Acosta Museum (mile 53), Casa de la Corregidora (mile 137), Former hacienda of Chichimequillas (mile 144), San Luis Potosí Cathedral (mile 258)
Teotihuacan
Built between the 1st and 7th centuries AD, this UNESCO-listed ancient city lines the Avenue of the Dead, where you can walk between the Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon and the Temple of the Feathered Serpent.
Museo Arqueológico de Apaxco
Founded in 1985, the Museo Arqueológico de Apaxco sits across from the parish church of San Francisco de Asís and beside the town hall in Apaxco, State of Mexico.
Atlantean figures
Crowning the main pyramid at the Tula archaeological zone, these basalt sculptures of Toltec warriors stand more than four meters tall in what was once the Toltec capital; the nearby Wall of Snakes shows carved serpents devouring skeletons.
Jorge R. Acosta Museum
Next to the Tula ruins, the Museo de Sitio Jorge R. Acosta traces the rise and decline of the Toltecs and their city, Tollan Xicocotitlan. It moved into new facilities in 1982 and covers nearly 20 years of digs led by archaeologist Jorge R. Acosta.
Historic Monuments Zone of Querétaro
Querétaro's historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996, pairs the Spaniards' grid of streets with the winding lanes of the old Indigenous quarters. Walk it for Baroque churches and mansions of the 17th and 18th centuries and the city's landmark aqueduct.
Casa de la Corregidora
Completed in 1770 as Querétaro's royal houses and town hall, the Casa de la Corregidora is where Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez, held there in 1810, sent word of danger to Miguel Hidalgo. After independence it became the state government palace.
Former hacienda of Chichimequillas
Discalced Carmelite friars founded this hacienda around 1690 to shelter travelers on the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro and to farm. Its two-story stone and lime main house, finished in 1813, wraps around a central courtyard beside a chapel.
El Gogorrón National Park
Decreed a national park in 1936, Gogorrón in San Luis Potosí mixes desert scrub and grassland with pine-oak forest on its heights, and hot-spring balnearios lie within its bounds.
San Luis Potosí Cathedral
A parish church from 1609 once stood where San Luis Potosí's cathedral rose between 1701 and 1728. Today the Baroque building serves as the seat of the archdiocese.
In Matehuala itself
Matehuala Cathedral
Still open for worship, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral serves as the seat of the Catholic Diocese of Matehuala, a city in the state of San Luis Potosí.
More drives to Matehuala
- Zitácuaro to Matehuala
- Mexico City to Matehuala
- Cuernavaca to Matehuala
- Tlaxcala to Matehuala
- Cuautla to Matehuala
- Colima to Matehuala
From Pachuca to other places in Mexico
- Pachuca to Jilotepec
- Pachuca to Metepec
- Pachuca to Atlatlahucan
- Pachuca to Malinalco
- Pachuca to Amealco
- Pachuca to Cuautla
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Pachuca to Matehuala?
About 7 h 5 min of driving without stops, over 372 miles.
What is the driving distance from Pachuca to Matehuala?
About 372 miles (598 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 Pachuca to Matehuala?
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 Pachuca to Matehuala?
The U.S. State Department rates 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; San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Pachuca to Matehuala use?
In order: MEX-85, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D and MEX-57. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Pachuca to Matehuala?
Closest to the road: Museo Arqueológico de Apaxco (museum, mile 37, 3 mi from the route); Atlantean figures (sculptures, mile 53, 1 mi from the route); Jorge R. Acosta Museum (museum, mile 53, 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.