The Wayro route from Salvatierra to Ixtenco is 253 miles (407 km), about 4 h 36 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 253 mi (407 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 36 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-51 → MEX-61 → MEX-15D → MEX-M40D → MEX-136 |
| Mexican states on the route | Guanajuato (Level 3), Michoacán (Level 4), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-15D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.1 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 Salvatierra to Ixtenco is like
MEX-M40D (121 mi) and MEX-136 (49 mi) carry about 67% of the 253 miles. MEX-15D, MEX-M40D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-51, MEX-61, MEX-136 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 5 states: Guanajuato, Michoacán, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala. None of the 9 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Salvatierra to Ixtenco, road by road
| 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 | 83–204 | 121 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala |
| MEX-136 | 204–253 | 49 | Tlaxcala |
- 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)
Stops between Salvatierra and Ixtenco
- Nature and outdoors: Rayón National Park (mile 61), Parque nacional Xicoténcatl (mile 227)
- Museums and history: Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl (mile 127), Teotihuacan (mile 176), Museo Casa de Piedra (mile 231), Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Apizaco (mile 232)
Rayón National Park
Just outside Tlalpujahua, Rayón National Park (Parque Nacional Rayón) marks the start of the area's famous butterfly reserve country, which stretches south and west from here.
Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl
The Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl is an archaeological museum located in Tula de Allende, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
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.
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.
Museo Casa de Piedra
Apizaco's old railroad station, dating from 1916, now houses the Museo Casa de Piedra. Inside, photographs and documents trace the town's history, especially its long ties to the railroads.
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.
When you get to Ixtenco
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.
More drives to Ixtenco
- Huejotzingo to Ixtenco
- Otumba to Ixtenco
- Pachuca to Ixtenco
- Mexico City to Ixtenco
- Tepotzotlán to Ixtenco
- Actopan to Ixtenco
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
- Salvatierra to Atlatlahucan Road Trip: Route, Stops & Safety
- Salvatierra to Tequisquiapan Road Trip: Route, Tolls & Stops
- Salvatierra to El Salto, Durango Road Trip: Stops & Drive Time
- Salvatierra to Nombre de Dios Road Trip: Route, Tolls & Stops
- Salvatierra to El Rosario, Sinaloa Road Trip: Route & Stops
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Salvatierra to Ixtenco?
About 4 h 36 min of driving without stops, over 253 miles.
How far is Ixtenco from Salvatierra by car?
About 253 miles (407 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 Ixtenco?
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 Ixtenco?
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 (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Salvatierra to Ixtenco use?
In order: MEX-51, MEX-61, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D and MEX-136. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Salvatierra and Ixtenco?
Closest to the road: Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl (museum, mile 127, 1 mi from the route); Atlantean figures (atlantean figures, mile 127, 1 mi from the route); Ex Convento de Santa María de la Concepción Atlihuetzia (convent, mile 229, 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.