The Wayro route from San Miguel de Allende to Tepoztlán is 216 miles (347 km), about 3 h 59 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 216 mi (347 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 59 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-111 → MEX-57D → MEX-57 → Periférico → MEX-95D → MEX-160D |
| Mexican states on the route | Guanajuato (Level 3), Querétaro (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), Mexico City (Level 2), Morelos (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-57D, MEX-95D, MEX-115D, MEX-160D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
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 Tepoztlán is like
MEX-57D (126 mi) and MEX-95D (33 mi) carry about 74% of the 216 miles. MEX-57D, MEX-95D, MEX-160D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-111, MEX-57 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 6 states: Guanajuato, Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Mexico City, Morelos. Of the 8 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from San Miguel de Allende to Tepoztlán, 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 | 22–148 | 126 | Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| MEX-57 | 148–156 | 8 | State of Mexico |
| Periférico | 156–175 | 19 | State of Mexico, Mexico City |
| connecting roads | 175–176 | 1 | Mexico City |
| MEX-95D | 176–209 | 33 | Mexico City, Morelos |
| MEX-160D | 209–214 | 5 | Morelos |
| local roads | 214–216 | 2 | Morelos |
- 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 129 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 161 of this route: State of Mexico → Mexico City (state line)
- Mile 194 of this route: Mexico City → Morelos (state line)
Stops between San Miguel de Allende and Tepoztlán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Templo y exconvento de San Francisco (mile 122), Petrogravures of Cerro de Chapultepec (mile 162), Centro Cultural Isidro Fabela (mile 168), Universum (mile 173)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Joya La Barreta (mile 17)
- Museums and history: Cristo Rey (mile 151), Museo Experimental El Eco (mile 162), Frida Kahlo Museum (mile 166), Centro Cultural Isidro Fabela (mile 168), Universum (mile 173)
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.
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.
Cristo Rey
Begun in 1975 and inaugurated in 1981, this colossal Cristo Rey statue stands on Cerro Cola de Caballo in the Sierra de Guadalupe, within the Jardines del Recuerdo cemetery in Tlalnepantla.
Museo Experimental El Eco
Designed by sculptor Mathias Goeritz, who worked closely with architect Luis Barragán, Museo Experimental El Eco is a contemporary art space in central Mexico City.
Petrogravures of Cerro de Chapultepec
On the east slope of Chapultepec Hill, inside the forest park, is a group of rock carvings made by the Mexica (Petrograbados del Cerro de Chapultepec).
Frida Kahlo Museum
Known as the Blue House for its cobalt-blue walls, the Frida Kahlo Museum in Coyoacán is a historic house and art museum devoted to the life and work of the painter.
Centro Cultural Isidro Fabela
Facing Plaza San Jacinto in San Ángel, the Casa del Risco houses the Centro Cultural Isidro Fabela, a museum opened in 1963 after Isidro Fabela and his wife donated the house.
Universum
Universum is a museum that promotes science and technology to the public and supports the university's science missions. It opened in 1992 at Ciudad Universitaria in Mexico City.
When you get to Tepoztlán
El Tepozteco National Park
Eroded volcanic hills of the Sierra de Tepoztlán fill this national park, about half of which lies in Mexico City's Milpa Alta borough. A short, steep climb leads to the Tepozteco archaeological zone; wear good shoes, since the rocks get slippery.
Tepoztlán Ex Convento Museum
Tepoztlán's Dominican monastery, built between 1555 and 1580, keeps original 16th-century murals in its cloister. Upstairs, the museum covers local daily life, faith, festivals and dances, and the complex is part of a UNESCO World Heritage listing.
El Tepozteco
High on a hill above Tepoztlán, El Tepozteco holds the remains of a shrine to Ometochtli-Tepoztécatl, god of pulque, fertility and the harvest, along with terraced platforms built from around AD 1200.
More drives to Tepoztlán
- Mexico City to Tepoztlán
- Metepec to Tepoztlán
- Toluca to Tepoztlán
- Atlixco to Tepoztlán
- Taxco to Tepoztlán
- Tepotzotlán to Tepoztlán
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 Tepoztlán?
About 3 h 59 min of driving without stops, over 216 miles.
How far is Tepoztlán from San Miguel de Allende by car?
About 216 miles (347 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 Tepoztlán?
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 Tepoztlán?
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; Mexico City 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 Miguel de Allende to Tepoztlán use?
In order: MEX-111, MEX-57D, MEX-57, Periférico, MEX-95D and MEX-160D. 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 Tepoztlán?
Closest to the road: Templo y exconvento de San Francisco (convent, mile 122, 0.6 mi from the route); Centro Cultural Isidro Fabela (museum, mile 168, 0.7 mi from the route); Universum (museum, mile 173, 0.6 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.