By road, Salvatierra and Capulalpam de Méndez are about 493 miles (793 km) apart, or roughly 8 h 40 min of driving.
| Distance | 493 mi (793 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 40 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-51 → MEX-61 → MEX-15D → MEX-M40D → MEX-150D → MEX-135D → MEX-190 → MEX-175 |
| Mexican states on the route | Guanajuato, Michoacán, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala, Puebla, Oaxaca |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-150D, MEX-135D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.7 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 Salvatierra to Capulalpam de Méndez
MEX-135D (151 mi) and MEX-M40D (139 mi) carry about 59% of the 493 miles. It runs through 7 states: Guanajuato, Michoacán, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala, Puebla, Oaxaca. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-15D, MEX-M40D and MEX-150D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Salvatierra to Capulalpam de Méndez: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-51 | 1–20 | 19 | Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 20–21 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-61 | 21–42 | 21 | Guanajuato, Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 42–83 | 41 | Michoacán, State of Mexico |
| MEX-M40D | 83–222 | 139 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| MEX-150D | 222–291 | 69 | Puebla |
| MEX-135D | 291–442 | 151 | Puebla, Oaxaca |
| MEX-190 | 442–453 | 11 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-175 | 453–487 | 34 | Oaxaca |
| local roads | 487–493 | 6 | Oaxaca |
- Mile 39 of this route: Guanajuato → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 65 of this route: Michoacán → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 114 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 144 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 158 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 175 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 188 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 195 of this route: Hidalgo → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 218 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 348 of this route: Puebla → Oaxaca (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Suchilquitongo (mile 431), Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Soledad (mile 449)
- Nature and outdoors: Rayón National Park (mile 61), Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve (mile 334)
- Museums and history: Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 43), Teotihuacan (mile 176), Casa del Mendrugo (mile 242), Museo del Valle de Tehuacán (mile 319), Suchilquitongo (mile 431), Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Soledad (mile 449)
Teatro Morelos de Maravatío
Maravatío's Teatro Morelos is a late-19th-century theater in a French-influenced neoclassical style, designed by architect Rafael Guerrero Torres. It opened on January 11, 1879, with a performance by opera singer Ángela Peralta.
Rayón National Park
Butterfly reserve country begins at Rayón National Park, on the edge of Tlalpujahua, and extends south and west from there across the region.
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.
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.
Casa del Mendrugo
Dating back to the early years of Puebla, founded in 1531, the Casa del Mendrugo is a historic house at 4 Sur 304 in the city's historic center.
Museo del Valle de Tehuacán
The history of corn and how it connects to the valley's early peoples is the focus of the Valley of Tehuacán Museum, which opened in 2002 in a former Carmelite convent.
Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve
In 2018 UNESCO inscribed the arid Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley, which spans Puebla and Oaxaca, as a mixed World Heritage site. A major center of cactus diversity, it also keeps ancient canals, terraces and dams.
Suchilquitongo
Locals call this Zapotec hilltop city Cerro de la Campana; it flourished between about 300 and 800 AD in the northern Etla Valley. Tomb 5, excavated in 1985, holds murals and stucco carvings counted among ancient Mexico's finest funerary art.
Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Soledad
Built between 1682 and 1690, the Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Soledad in Oaxaca de Juárez is a sanctuary dedicated to Our Lady of Solitude, patron saint of Oaxaca.
More drives to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Tehuacán to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Orizaba to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Huamantla to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Ixtenco to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Puebla to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Chipilo to Capulalpam de Méndez
From Salvatierra to other places in Mexico
- Salvatierra to Temacapulín
- Salvatierra to Pinos
- Salvatierra to Calvillo
- Salvatierra to Real de Asientos
- Salvatierra to Amatitán
- Salvatierra to Tequila
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Salvatierra to Capulalpam de Méndez?
About 8 h 40 min of driving without stops, over 493 miles.
How far is Capulalpam de Méndez from Salvatierra by car?
About 493 miles (793 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 Salvatierra to Capulalpam de Méndez?
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 Salvatierra to Capulalpam de Méndez?
The U.S. State Department rates Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; 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; Oaxaca Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Salvatierra to Capulalpam de Méndez use?
In order: MEX-51, MEX-61, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-150D, MEX-135D, MEX-190 and MEX-175. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Salvatierra to Capulalpam de Méndez?
Closest to the road: Atlantean figures (sculptures, mile 127, 1 mi from the route); Suchilquitongo (archaeological site, mile 431, 0.4 mi from the route); Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Soledad (church, mile 449, 0.5 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.