The Wayro route from Santa Fe de la Laguna to Chipilo is 295 miles (474 km), about 4 h 48 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 295 mi (474 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 48 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15 → MEX-37D → MEX-15D → MEX-M40D → MEX-150D |
| Mexican states on the route | Michoacán (Level 4), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-150D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.8 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 Santa Fe de la Laguna to Chipilo is like
MEX-M40D (140 mi) and MEX-15D (91 mi) carry about 78% of the 295 miles. MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-150D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-15 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 5 states: Michoacán, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala, Puebla. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Santa Fe de la Laguna to Chipilo, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-15 | 0–16 | 16 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 16–37 | 21 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 37–128 | 91 | Michoacán, State of Mexico |
| MEX-M40D | 128–268 | 140 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| MEX-150D | 268–286 | 18 | Puebla |
| connecting roads | 286–290 | 4 | Puebla |
| local roads | 290–295 | 5 | Puebla |
- Mile 110 of this route: Michoacán → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 160 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 190 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 204 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 221 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 234 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 241 of this route: Hidalgo → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 264 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
Stops between Santa Fe de la Laguna and Chipilo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): La Constancia Mexicana (mile 285)
- Nature and outdoors: Rayón National Park (mile 107), Parque nacional Xicoténcatl (mile 275)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 127), Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl (mile 173), Cacaxtla (mile 273), La Constancia Mexicana (mile 285)
Historic Centre of Morelia
Morelia's old core, founded in the 16th century as Valladolid, keeps more than 200 historic buildings in the region's pink stone around its cathedral and checkerboard streets. UNESCO added it to the World Heritage List in 1991.
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.
Cathedral of Atlacomulco
Atlacomulco's cathedral, the Catedral de la Divina Providencia, is the seat of the Diocese of Atlacomulco and is dedicated to Divine Providence, making it the town's principal Catholic church.
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.
Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl
The Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl is an archaeological museum located in Tula de Allende, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
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.
Cacaxtla
Built on a hill rising above the Tlaxcala-Puebla valley, Cacaxtla is known for its pre-Hispanic murals on the Gran Basamento, a large platform now sheltered under a roof. INAH manages it together with nearby Xochitécatl.
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.
La Constancia Mexicana
A textile factory founded in 1835 in Puebla now houses the La Constancia museum complex, with a children's museum, a puppet house, a Mexican music museum, an automobile museum and a park of miniature world monuments.
When you get to Chipilo
Convent Church of Nuestra Señora del Carmen, Puebla
An early 17th-century example of Puebla Baroque, the Church of the Virgin of Carmen has two richly decorated chapels and a neoclassical altarpiece holding an image of the Virgin by sculptor José Antonio Villegas Cora.
Puebla Cathedral
Consecrated in 1649, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception is the seat of the Archdiocese of Puebla and one of the key buildings in the city's UNESCO-listed historic center.
Fort Loreto
Fort Loreto is a fort that stands in the city of Puebla, in the Mexican state of the same name.
More drives to Chipilo
- Apizaco to Chipilo
- Calpulalpan to Chipilo
- Pachuca to Chipilo
- Cuernavaca to Chipilo
- Tepotzotlán to Chipilo
- Actopan to Chipilo
From Santa Fe de la Laguna to other places in Mexico
- Santa Fe de la Laguna to Bernal
- Santa Fe de la Laguna to Mineral de Pozos
- Santa Fe de la Laguna to Real de Asientos
- Santa Fe de la Laguna to San Ignacio, Sinaloa
- Santa Fe de la Laguna to Omitlán
- Santa Fe de la Laguna to Huasca de Ocampo
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Santa Fe de la Laguna to Chipilo?
About 4 h 48 min of driving without stops, over 295 miles.
How far is Chipilo from Santa Fe de la Laguna by car?
About 295 miles (474 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 Santa Fe de la Laguna to Chipilo?
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 Santa Fe de la Laguna to Chipilo?
The U.S. State Department rates 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 (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Santa Fe de la Laguna to Chipilo use?
In order: MEX-15, MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D and MEX-150D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Santa Fe de la Laguna and Chipilo?
Closest to the road: Atlantean figures (atlantean figures, mile 173, 1 mi from the route); Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl (museum, mile 173, 1 mi from the route); La Constancia Mexicana (museum, mile 285, 0.4 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.