The Wayro route from Pedro Escobedo to Cuetzalan is 272 miles (438 km), about 4 h 51 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 272 mi (438 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 51 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-57D → MEX-M40D → MEX-136 → MEX-140D → MEX-129D → PUE 575 |
| Mexican states on the route | Querétaro (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-57D, MEX-M40D, MEX-140D, MEX-129D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.9 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 Pedro Escobedo to Cuetzalan is like
MEX-M40D (89 mi) and MEX-57D (57 mi) carry about 54% of the 272 miles. MEX-57D, MEX-M40D, MEX-140D, MEX-129D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-136 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 5 states: Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala, Puebla. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Pedro Escobedo to Cuetzalan, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 1–58 | 57 | Querétaro, State of Mexico |
| MEX-M40D | 58–147 | 89 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Tlaxcala |
| MEX-136 | 147–199 | 52 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-140D | 199–213 | 14 | Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| connecting roads | 213–214 | 1 | Puebla |
| MEX-129D | 214–238 | 24 | Puebla |
| connecting roads | 238–240 | 2 | Puebla |
| PUE 575 | 240–272 | 32 | Puebla |
- Mile 25 of this route: Querétaro → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 58 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 87 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 101 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 118 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 130 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 138 of this route: Hidalgo → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 208 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
Stops between Pedro Escobedo and Cuetzalan
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Tula National Park (mile 70), Museo Nacional del Títere (mile 191)
- Nature and outdoors: Tula National Park (mile 70), Parque nacional Xicoténcatl (mile 170), La Malinche National Park (mile 188)
- Museums and history: Tula (mile 70), Teotihuacan (mile 119), Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Apizaco (mile 175), Museo Nacional del Títere (mile 191)
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.
Tula National Park
This park protects the ruins of Tula, ancient capital of the Toltecs. Walk up to the main pyramid to stand beside the Atlantes, basalt warrior figures more than four meters tall, and look for the Coatepantli wall's reliefs of snakes devouring skeletons.
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.
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.
La Malinche National Park
Tlaxcala's La Malinche National Park surrounds the inactive Matlalcuéyetl volcano, with pine, oak and fir forests on its slopes, hiking trails, birdwatching, and stone cabins and campsites at the Malintzi Vacation Center.
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.
When you get to Cuetzalan
Yohualichan
Pre-Columbian ruins at Yohualichan form an archaeological site in the municipality of Cuetzalan del Progreso, in the Mexican state of Puebla.
More drives to Cuetzalan
- Chiautempan to Cuetzalan
- Cholula to Cuetzalan
- Huejotzingo to Cuetzalan
- Calpulalpan to Cuetzalan
- Pachuca to Cuetzalan
- Otumba to Cuetzalan
From Pedro Escobedo to other places in Mexico
- Pedro Escobedo to Ihuatzio
- Pedro Escobedo to Cuanajo
- Pedro Escobedo to Tócuaro
- Pedro Escobedo to Zirahuén
- Pedro Escobedo to Pinos
- Pedro Escobedo to Temacapulín
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Pedro Escobedo to Cuetzalan?
About 4 h 51 min of driving without stops, over 272 miles.
How far is Cuetzalan from Pedro Escobedo by car?
About 272 miles (438 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 Pedro Escobedo to Cuetzalan?
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 Pedro Escobedo to Cuetzalan?
The U.S. State Department rates Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Pedro Escobedo to Cuetzalan use?
In order: MEX-57D, MEX-M40D, MEX-136, MEX-140D, MEX-129D and PUE 575. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Pedro Escobedo and Cuetzalan?
Closest to the road: Tula National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 70, 1 mi from the route); Tula (archaeological site, mile 70, 1 mi from the route); Museo Nacional del Títere (museum, mile 191, 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.