Pedro Escobedo to Tonatico Road Trip: Where to Stop on the Way

By admin, 3 October, 2026

The Wayro route from Pedro Escobedo to Tonatico is 145 miles (233 km), about 2 h 45 min of driving without stops.

U.S. State Department travel advisory: Querétaro — Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico — Level 2, Exercise Increased CautionAdvisory issued May 29, 2026; checked September 29, 2026. State of Mexico is the Mexican state that contains Tonatico. See the full advisory for current details.
Cathedral of AtlacomulcoCalixtlahuacaParque de la Ciencia FundadoresNevado de Toluca National ParkDesierto del Carmen National ParkPedro EscobedoTonatico
Route from Pedro Escobedo to Tonatico with the 5 stops listed below (blue dots).
Distance145 mi (233 km)
Driving time, no stops2 h 45 min
Main roads, in orderMEX-57D → MEX-55 → MEX-55D
Mexican states on the routeQuerétaro (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2)
Toll roadsMEX-57D, MEX-55D
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 5.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below5

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 insuranceRequired 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 Tonatico is like

MEX-55D (58 mi) and MEX-55 (46 mi) carry about 72% of the 145 miles. MEX-57D, MEX-55D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-55 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 2 states: Querétaro, State of Mexico. Of the 5 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.

The route from Pedro Escobedo to Tonatico, road by road

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miState
local roads0–11Querétaro
MEX-57D1–2120Querétaro
connecting roads21–221Querétaro
MEX-5522–6240Querétaro, State of Mexico
connecting roads62–631State of Mexico
MEX-55D63–9734State of Mexico
MEX-5597–1036State of Mexico
local roads103–11512State of Mexico
connecting roads115–1161State of Mexico
MEX-55D116–14024State of Mexico
local roads140–1455State of Mexico
  • Mile 24 of this route: Querétaro → State of Mexico (state line)

Stops between Pedro Escobedo and Tonatico

  • Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 62), Parque de la Ciencia Fundadores (mile 102)
  • Nature and outdoors: Nevado de Toluca National Park (mile 120), Desierto del Carmen National Park (mile 136)
  • Museums and history: Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 62), Calixtlahuaca (mile 98), Parque de la Ciencia Fundadores (mile 102)

Cathedral of Atlacomulco

Mile 62 · Catholic cathedral · 0.4 mi from the route

Atlacomulco's cathedral, the Catedral de la Divina Providencia, is the seat of the Diocese of Atlacomulco and is dedicated to Divine Providence, making it the town's principal Catholic church.

Calixtlahuaca

Mile 98 · Archaeological site · 1 mi from the route

Spread over the slopes of Cerro Tenismó near Toluca, this site's standout is the round Temple of Ehécatl-Quetzalcóatl, rebuilt in four phases. Nearby, a Mexica-era skull rack displays stone skulls set into cross-shaped walls.

Parque de la Ciencia Fundadores

Mile 102 · Museum · 0.9 mi from the route

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.

Nevado de Toluca National Park

Mile 120 · Flora and fauna protection area · 7 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

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

Mile 136 · National Park of Mexico · 7 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

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

From Pedro Escobedo to other places in Mexico

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from Pedro Escobedo to Tonatico?

About 2 h 45 min of driving without stops, over 145 miles.

How far is Tonatico from Pedro Escobedo by car?

About 145 miles (233 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 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 Pedro Escobedo to Tonatico?

The U.S. State Department rates Querétaro 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 Pedro Escobedo to Tonatico use?

In order: MEX-57D, MEX-55 and MEX-55D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.

What are good stops between Pedro Escobedo and Tonatico?

Closest to the road: Cathedral of Atlacomulco (catholic cathedral, mile 62, 0.4 mi from the route); Calixtlahuaca (archaeological site, mile 98, 1 mi from the route); Parque de la Ciencia Fundadores (museum, mile 102, 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.