The Wayro route from San Miguel de Allende to Ixtenco is 247 miles (397 km), about 4 h 30 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 247 mi (397 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 30 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-111 → MEX-57D → MEX-M40D → MEX-136 |
| Mexican states on the route | Guanajuato (Level 3), Querétaro (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-57D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.9 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 Miguel de Allende to Ixtenco is like
MEX-M40D (88 mi) and MEX-57D (87 mi) carry about 71% of the 247 miles. MEX-57D, MEX-M40D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-111, MEX-136 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 5 states: Guanajuato, Querétaro, 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 San Miguel de Allende to Ixtenco, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-111 | 2–22 | 20 | Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 22–109 | 87 | Querétaro, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 109–110 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-M40D | 110–198 | 88 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Tlaxcala |
| MEX-136 | 198–247 | 49 | Tlaxcala |
- Mile 17 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 76 of this route: Querétaro → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 109 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 139 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 153 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 170 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 182 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 190 of this route: Hidalgo → Tlaxcala (state line)
Stops between San Miguel de Allende and Ixtenco
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Joya La Barreta (mile 17), El Cimatario National Park (mile 42)
- Museums and history: Former hacienda of Chichimequillas (mile 30), Tula (mile 122), Museo Arqueológico de Apaxco (mile 138), Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Apizaco (mile 227)
Parque Joya La Barreta
Run by the municipality of Querétaro, Parque Recreativo Joya La Barreta protects a mountain ecosystem and offers space for ecotourism activities amid local flora and fauna.
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.
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.
Historic Monuments Zone of Querétaro
Querétaro's historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996, pairs the Spaniards' grid of streets with the winding lanes of the old Indigenous quarters. Walk it for Baroque churches and mansions of the 17th and 18th centuries and the city's landmark aqueduct.
El Cimatario National Park
El Cimatario National Park protects about 24 square kilometers of land just south of the city of Santiago de Querétaro.
Tula
Once the Toltec capital, the Tula archaeological zone is best known for its Atlantes, basalt warrior figures over four meters (13 feet) tall crowning the main pyramid. Visitors also see a ball court, the Burnt Palace and the Coatepantli wall, carved with snakes devouring skeletons.
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.
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 San Miguel de Allende to other places in Mexico
- San Miguel de Allende to Pénjamo
- San Miguel de Allende to Tócuaro
- San Miguel de Allende to Temacapulín
- San Miguel de Allende to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- San Miguel de Allende to Calvillo
- San Miguel de Allende to Zacatecas
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from San Miguel de Allende to Ixtenco?
About 4 h 30 min of driving without stops, over 247 miles.
How far is Ixtenco from San Miguel de Allende by car?
About 247 miles (397 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 Miguel de Allende 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 San Miguel de Allende to Ixtenco?
The U.S. State Department rates Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; 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 (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from San Miguel de Allende to Ixtenco use?
In order: MEX-111, MEX-57D, 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 San Miguel de Allende and Ixtenco?
Closest to the road: Tula (archaeological site, mile 122, 1 mi from the route); Museo Arqueológico de Apaxco (museum, mile 138, 3 mi from the route); Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Apizaco (basilica, mile 227, 2 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.