Puebla to General Zaragoza is about 513 road miles (826 km): roughly 10 h 21 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance by road | 513 mi (826 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 21 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-150D → MEX-M40D → MEX-57D → MEX-57 → SLP 29 → NL 3 |
| Mexican states on the route | Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, Nuevo León |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-150D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.5 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.
On the road from Puebla to General Zaragoza
MEX-57 (172 mi) and MEX-57D (135 mi) carry about 60% of the 513 miles. It runs through 8 states: Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, Nuevo León. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-150D, MEX-M40D and MEX-57D. None of the 9 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Puebla to General Zaragoza, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Puebla |
| MEX-150D | 4–22 | 18 | Puebla |
| MEX-M40D | 22–129 | 107 | Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| MEX-57D | 129–216 | 87 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro |
| MEX-57 | 216–313 | 97 | Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| connecting roads | 313–314 | 1 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 314–356 | 42 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 356–431 | 75 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 431–437 | 6 | San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 29 | 437–466 | 29 | San Luis Potosí, Nuevo León |
| NL 3 | 466–472 | 6 | Nuevo León |
| local roads | 472–513 | 41 | Nuevo León |
- Mile 27 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 50 of this route: Tlaxcala → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 58 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 70 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 130 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 163 of this route: State of Mexico → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 223 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 277 of this route: Guanajuato → San Luis Potosí (state line)
- Mile 446 of this route: San Luis Potosí → Nuevo León (state line)
Stops between Puebla and General Zaragoza
- Nature and outdoors: Parque nacional Xicoténcatl (mile 16)
- Museums and history: Cacaxtla (mile 17), Tula (mile 117), Casa de la Corregidora (mile 200), Former hacienda of Chichimequillas (mile 208), San Luis Potosí Cathedral (mile 322), Matehuala Cathedral (mile 436)
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.
Cacaxtla
Built on a hill rising above the Tlaxcala-Puebla valley, Cacaxtla is known for its pre-Hispanic murals on the Gran Basamento, a large platform now sheltered under a roof. INAH manages it together with nearby Xochitécatl.
Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque
Running more than 48 km between Zempoala and Otumba, Padre Tembleque's 16th-century water system has been on UNESCO's list since 2015. The friar built it from 1554 to 1572.
Tula
The Toltecs once ruled from Tula, now an archaeological zone. Its Coatepantli wall is carved with snakes devouring skeletons, and the famous Atlantes stand atop the main pyramid.
Historic Monuments Zone of Querétaro
UNESCO listed Querétaro's historic center in 1996. Here, the Spanish grid of streets meets the winding lanes of the old Indigenous quarters, with Baroque churches and mansions throughout.
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.
San Luis Potosí Cathedral
San Luis Potosí's cathedral anchors the city's historic center, which UNESCO lists as a component of the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro World Heritage Site.
Matehuala Cathedral
In Matehuala, San Luis Potosí, the Diocese of Matehuala has its seat at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, a Catholic church that remains open to worshippers.
More drives to General Zaragoza
- Jerez, Zacatecas to General Zaragoza
- Pabellón de Hidalgo to General Zaragoza
- Celaya to General Zaragoza
- Salvatierra to General Zaragoza
- Tlalpujahua to General Zaragoza
- Angangueo to General Zaragoza
From Puebla to other places in Mexico
- Puebla to Calpulalpan
- Puebla to Cuautla
- Puebla to Otumba
- Puebla to Atlatlahucan
- Puebla to Cuernavaca
- Puebla to Omitlán
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Puebla to General Zaragoza?
About 10 h 21 min of driving without stops, over 513 miles.
What is the driving distance from Puebla to General Zaragoza?
About 513 miles (826 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 Puebla to General Zaragoza?
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 Puebla to General Zaragoza?
The U.S. State Department rates Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; 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; Nuevo León Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Puebla to General Zaragoza?
In order: MEX-150D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-57, SLP 29 and NL 3. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Puebla to General Zaragoza?
Closest to the road: Cacaxtla (archaeological site, mile 17, 2 mi from the route); Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque (aqueduct, mile 67, 2 mi from the route); Tula (archaeological site, mile 117, 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.