The Wayro route from Tecolutla to Jilotepec is 222 miles (357 km), about 3 h 47 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 222 mi (357 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 47 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-180 → MEX-180D → MEX-132D → MEX-132 → MEX-M40D |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-180D, MEX-130D, MEX-132D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.9 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 Tecolutla to Jilotepec is like
MEX-132D (88 mi) and MEX-M40D (64 mi) carry about 68% of the 222 miles. MEX-180D, MEX-132D, MEX-M40D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-180, MEX-132 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: Veracruz, Puebla, Hidalgo, State of Mexico. Of the 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Tecolutla to Jilotepec, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180 | 1–18 | 17 | Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 18–19 | 1 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 19–42 | 23 | Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 42–44 | 2 | Veracruz |
| MEX-132D | 44–132 | 88 | Veracruz, Puebla, Hidalgo |
| MEX-132 | 132–155 | 23 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-M40D | 155–219 | 64 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| local roads | 219–222 | 3 | State of Mexico |
- Mile 53 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 107 of this route: Puebla → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 174 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 188 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 218 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
Stops between Tecolutla and Jilotepec
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Huapalcalco (mile 124)
- Nature and outdoors: Tula National Park (mile 204)
- Museums and history: El Tajín (mile 24), Huapalcalco (mile 124), Museo de Datos Históricos (mile 127), Teotihuacan (mile 156), Museo Arqueológico de Apaxco (mile 188), Tula (mile 204)
El Tajín
A UNESCO World Heritage Site in Veracruz, El Tajín peaked from the early 9th to the early 13th century. Look for the Pyramid of the Niches, elaborately carved reliefs on columns and friezes, and some of the site's 17 ballcourts.
Huapalcalco
About 5 kilometers north of Tulancingo, the pre-Columbian site of Huapalcalco sits on the western slope of a hill called Tecolote.
Museo de Datos Históricos
Tulancingo's first station of the Hidalgo and Northeast Railroad, built in 1893, now houses the Museo de Datos Históricos, with regional archaeological pieces such as the Huapalcalco feline, traditional clothing from Santa Ana Hueytlalpan and a historical photo archive.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Tula National Park
This park protects the ruins of Tula, ancient capital of the Toltecs. Walk up to the main pyramid to stand beside the Atlantes, basalt warrior figures more than four meters tall, and look for the Coatepantli wall's reliefs of snakes devouring skeletons.
More drives to Jilotepec
- Mexico City to Jilotepec
- Cuernavaca to Jilotepec
- Cuautla to Jilotepec
- Taxco to Jilotepec
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Jilotepec
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Jilotepec
From Tecolutla to other places in Mexico
- Tecolutla to Huasca de Ocampo
- Tecolutla to Omitlán
- Tecolutla to Otumba
- Tecolutla to Zimapán
- Tecolutla to Atlatlahucan
- Tecolutla to Tepoztlán
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tecolutla to Jilotepec?
About 3 h 47 min of driving without stops, over 222 miles.
How far is Jilotepec from Tecolutla by car?
About 222 miles (357 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 Tecolutla to Jilotepec?
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 Tecolutla to Jilotepec?
The U.S. State Department rates Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Tecolutla to Jilotepec use?
In order: MEX-180, MEX-180D, MEX-132D, MEX-132 and MEX-M40D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Tecolutla and Jilotepec?
Closest to the road: Huapalcalco (archaeological site, mile 124, 0.2 mi from the route); Tula (archaeological site, mile 204, 1 mi from the route); Tula National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 204, 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.