The Wayro route from Querétaro to Atlixco is 213 miles (342 km), about 3 h 40 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 213 mi (342 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 40 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-57D → MEX-M40D |
| 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-45D, MEX-57D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.5 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.
What the drive from Querétaro to Atlixco is like
MEX-M40D (107 mi) and MEX-57D (74 mi) carry about 85% of the 213 miles. MEX-57D, MEX-M40D are toll highways (cuota). It runs through 5 states: Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala, Puebla. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Querétaro to Atlixco, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 2–76 | 74 | Querétaro, State of Mexico |
| MEX-M40D | 76–183 | 107 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| local roads | 183–213 | 30 | Puebla |
- Mile 43 of this route: Querétaro → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 76 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 105 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 119 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 136 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 149 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 156 of this route: Hidalgo → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 179 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
Stops between Querétaro and Atlixco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Tula National Park (mile 88)
- Nature and outdoors: Tula National Park (mile 88), Parque nacional Xicoténcatl (mile 178)
- Museums and history: Jorge R. Acosta Museum (mile 88), Museo Arqueológico de Apaxco (mile 104), Teotihuacan (mile 137)
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.
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.
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.
Church and former convent of Todos los Santos
Franciscan friars built this fortress-style convent in Zempoala, and the complex still keeps the classic layout of atrium, church, open chapel and cloister. It pairs well with a drive through the area's old pulque haciendas.
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.
Exconvent of Santa María Magdalena
The former convent of Santa María Magdalena (Exconvento de Santa María Magdalena) is a 17th-century Baroque church built by the Dieguino friars, still in use as a Catholic temple of the Archdiocese of Puebla.
Convento de Huejotzingo
Founded by Franciscans in the 16th century, the former convent of San Miguel Arcángel in Huejotzingo shows colonial Plateresque architecture on the western slopes of Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl. UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 1994.
More drives to Atlixco
- Cuernavaca to Atlixco
- Mexico City to Atlixco
- Toluca to Atlixco
- Celaya to Atlixco
- San Miguel de Allende to Atlixco
- Morelia to Atlixco
From Querétaro to other places in Mexico
- Querétaro to Pinos
- Querétaro to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Querétaro to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Querétaro to Real de Asientos
- Querétaro to Guadalupe, Zacatecas
- Querétaro to Amatitán
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Querétaro to Atlixco?
About 3 h 40 min of driving without stops, over 213 miles.
How far is Atlixco from Querétaro by car?
About 213 miles (342 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 Querétaro to Atlixco?
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 Querétaro to Atlixco?
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 Querétaro to Atlixco use?
In order: MEX-57D and MEX-M40D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Querétaro and Atlixco?
Closest to the road: Tula National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 88, 1 mi from the route); Jorge R. Acosta Museum (museum, mile 88, 1 mi from the route); Convento de Huejotzingo (convent, mile 193, 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 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.