The Wayro route from Tlaxcala to Actopan is 99 miles (159 km), about 2 h 0 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 99 mi (159 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 2 h 0 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-117D → MEX-M40D → MEX-132 → MEX-88 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-117D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 3.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
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 Tlaxcala to Actopan is like
MEX-M40D (43 mi) and MEX-88 (16 mi) carry about 60% of the 99 miles. MEX-117D, MEX-M40D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-132, MEX-88 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: Tlaxcala, Puebla, Hidalgo, State of Mexico. Of the 7 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Tlaxcala to Actopan, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-117D | 2–13 | 11 | Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| MEX-M40D | 13–56 | 43 | Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 56–57 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-132 | 57–60 | 3 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| MEX-88 | 60–76 | 16 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 76–99 | 23 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 12 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 15 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 38 of this route: Tlaxcala → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 45 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 58 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
Stops between Tlaxcala and Actopan
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Church and former convent of Todos los Santos (mile 63)
- Nature and outdoors: El Chico National Park (mile 80)
- Museums and history: Teotihuacan (mile 56), Museo Nacional de la Fotografía (mile 76), Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (mile 78)
Exconvent of Santa María Magdalena
The former convent of Santa María Magdalena (Exconvento de Santa María Magdalena) is a 17th-century Baroque church built by the Dieguino friars, still in use as a Catholic temple of the Archdiocese of Puebla.
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.
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.
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.
Museo Nacional de la Fotografía
Pachuca de Soto, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo, is home to the Museo Nacional de la Fotografía, a museum devoted to photography.
Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
Known locally as La Villita, the Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe is a Catholic basilica dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe in Pachuca.
El Chico National Park
In Hidalgo, El Chico National Park is known for towering cliffs such as Las Ventanas and Peña del Cuervo, popular with climbers, and forest wildlife including gray foxes, ringtails, armadillos, hawks, falcons and woodpeckers.
More drives to Actopan
- Tulancingo to Actopan
- Tepotzotlán to Actopan
- Mexico City to Actopan
- Tequisquiapan to Actopan
- Toluca to Actopan
- Cuernavaca to Actopan
From Tlaxcala to other places in Mexico
- Tlaxcala to Omitlán
- Tlaxcala to Atlatlahucan
- Tlaxcala to Huasca de Ocampo
- Tlaxcala to Metepec
- Tlaxcala to Malinalco
- Tlaxcala to Taxco
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tlaxcala to Actopan?
About 2 h 0 min of driving without stops, over 99 miles.
How far is Actopan from Tlaxcala by car?
About 99 miles (159 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 Tlaxcala to Actopan?
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 Tlaxcala to Actopan?
The U.S. State Department rates Tlaxcala 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 Tlaxcala to Actopan use?
In order: MEX-117D, MEX-M40D, MEX-132 and MEX-88. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Tlaxcala and Actopan?
Closest to the road: Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque (aqueduct, mile 58, 2 mi from the route); Church and former convent of Todos los Santos (convent, mile 63, 0.6 mi from the route); Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (basilica, mile 78, 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.