The Wayro route from San Juan del Río to Atlatlahucan is 157 miles (252 km), about 2 h 48 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 157 mi (252 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 2 h 48 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-57D → MEX-5D → MEX-115 |
| Mexican states on the route | Querétaro (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), Morelos (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-57D, MEX-5D, MEX-115D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 6.3 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 San Juan del Río to Atlatlahucan is like
MEX-57D (66 mi) and MEX-5D (54 mi) carry about 76% of the 157 miles. MEX-57D, MEX-5D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-115 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 4 states: Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Morelos. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from San Juan del Río to Atlatlahucan, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 1–67 | 66 | Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| MEX-5D | 67–121 | 54 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 121–122 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-115 | 122–138 | 16 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 138–152 | 14 | State of Mexico, Morelos |
| MEX-115 | 152–155 | 3 | Morelos |
| local roads | 155–157 | 2 | Morelos |
- Mile 12 of this route: Querétaro → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 45 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 65 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 145 of this route: State of Mexico → Morelos (state line)
Stops between San Juan del Río and Atlatlahucan
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Templo y exconvento de San Francisco (mile 57), Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral, Ecatepec (mile 89), Museo del Centro Cultural Mexiquense Bicentenario (mile 109), Sacromonte National Park (mile 137)
- Nature and outdoors: Molino de Flores Nezahualcóyotl National Park (mile 110), Iztaccíhuatl–Popocatépetl National Park (mile 136), Sacromonte National Park (mile 137)
- Museums and history: Teotihuacan (mile 89), Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral, Ecatepec (mile 89), Museo del Centro Cultural Mexiquense Bicentenario (mile 109), Acozac (mile 121)
Templo y exconvento de San Francisco
The Templo y Exconvento de San Francisco is a church and former convent located in the city of Tepeji del Río, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
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.
Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral, Ecatepec
The Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral, also called Ecatepec Cathedral, is the main Catholic church and seat of the Diocese of Ecatepec in Mexico, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Guerrero Chimalli
Rising 60 meters beside Bordo de Xochiaca Avenue in Chimalhuacán, this steel sculpture by Sebastián depicts an Indigenous warrior holding a shield (chimalli) and a mace.
Museo del Centro Cultural Mexiquense Bicentenario
The museum at the Centro Cultural Mexiquense Bicentenario opened in 2011 with a permanent exhibit, Encuentro con Nuestras Raíces, a hall of art from the State of Mexico and three temporary galleries.
Molino de Flores Nezahualcóyotl National Park
Named for Antonio Flores de Valdés, who inherited the estate in 1642, this former hacienda and mill near Texcoco became a national park in 1937. Visitors walk among its ruins, the San Joaquín church remains and a chapel built on rock.
Acozac
Acozac is an archaeological site in the municipality of Ixtapaluca, State of Mexico, located at kilometer 30 of the federal Mexico City–Puebla road, heading toward Ixtapaluca.
Iztaccíhuatl–Popocatépetl National Park
Iztaccíhuatl–Popocatépetl National Park, also called Izta-Popo Zoquiapan, protects the land around Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl, Mexico's second- and third-highest peaks, where the states of México, Puebla and Morelos meet.
Sacromonte National Park
Sacromonte National Park is a national park and protected area in the State of Mexico, established in 1952 and covering roughly 0.44 square kilometers.
When you get to Atlatlahucan
Templo y Exconvento de San Mateo Apóstol
Built by Augustinian friars, the Templo y Exconvento de San Mateo Apóstol in Atlatlahucan is well preserved, with murals and decorated vaults, and is associated with the origins of the Chinelo dancers.
Templo y exconvento de San Guillermo
Augustinian friars began the Templo y Exconvento de San Guillermo in Totolapan in the mid-16th century; part of the UNESCO-listed Popocatépetl monasteries, it was badly damaged in the 2017 earthquake, and INAH has supervised its restoration.
Monasteries on the slopes of Popocatépetl
Inscribed by UNESCO in 1994, this World Heritage site groups early 16th-century monasteries that Franciscan, Dominican and Augustinian friars built on the slopes of Popocatépetl, with large open spaces used to evangelize the Indigenous population.
More drives to Atlatlahucan
- Cuernavaca to Atlatlahucan
- Metepec to Atlatlahucan
- Toluca to Atlatlahucan
- Valle de Bravo to Atlatlahucan
- Zitácuaro to Atlatlahucan
- Tequisquiapan to Atlatlahucan
From San Juan del Río to other places in Mexico
- San Juan del Río to San Miguel de Allende
- San Juan del Río to Mineral de Pozos
- San Juan del Río to Salvatierra
- San Juan del Río to Moroleón
- San Juan del Río to Guanajuato
- San Juan del Río to Pénjamo
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from San Juan del Río to Atlatlahucan?
About 2 h 48 min of driving without stops, over 157 miles.
How far is Atlatlahucan from San Juan del Río by car?
About 157 miles (252 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 San Juan del Río to Atlatlahucan?
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 San Juan del Río to Atlatlahucan?
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; Morelos Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from San Juan del Río to Atlatlahucan use?
In order: MEX-57D, MEX-5D and MEX-115. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between San Juan del Río and Atlatlahucan?
Closest to the road: Templo y exconvento de San Francisco (convent, mile 57, 0.6 mi from the route); Museo del Centro Cultural Mexiquense Bicentenario (museum, mile 109, 0.2 mi from the route); Sacromonte National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 137, 0.3 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.