Tlaxcala to Amatitán Road Trip: Stops, Tolls & Drive Time

By admin, 3 October, 2026

The Wayro route from Tlaxcala to Amatitán is 430 miles (692 km), about 6 h 54 min of driving without stops.

U.S. State Department travel advisory: 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; Michoacán — Level 4, Do Not Travel; Jalisco — Level 3, Reconsider TravelAdvisory issued May 29, 2026; checked September 29, 2026. Jalisco is the Mexican state that contains Amatitán. This route passes through a state at the advisory's highest level. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive.
Exconvent of Santa María MagdalenaChurch and former convent of Todos los SantosMuseo Arqueológico de ApaxcoTulaSala Histórica QuetzalcóatlRayón National ParkMuseo Regional de la Ceramica, TlaquepaqueDiana TheatreExconvento del CarmenTlaxcalaAmatitán
Route from Tlaxcala to Amatitán with the 9 stops listed below (blue dots).
Distance430 mi (692 km)
Driving time, no stops6 h 54 min
Main roads, in orderMEX-117D → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → MEX-15
Mexican states on the routeTlaxcala (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Michoacán (Level 4), Jalisco (Level 3)
Toll roadsMEX-117D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 17.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below9

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 insuranceRequired 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 Amatitán is like

MEX-15D (256 mi) and MEX-M40D (137 mi) carry about 91% of the 430 miles. MEX-117D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-15 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 6 states: Tlaxcala, Puebla, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco. None of the 9 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.

The route from Tlaxcala to Amatitán, road by road

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miState
local roads0–22Tlaxcala
MEX-117D2–1311Tlaxcala, Puebla
MEX-M40D13–150137Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico
MEX-15D150–406256State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco
MEX-15406–43024Jalisco
  • 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)
  • Mile 75 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
  • Mile 89 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
  • Mile 119 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
  • Mile 168 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
  • Mile 337 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)

Stops between Tlaxcala and Amatitán

  • Nature and outdoors: Rayón National Park (mile 171)
  • Museums and history: Museo Arqueológico de Apaxco (mile 89), Tula (mile 106), Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl (mile 106), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 396)

Exconvent of Santa María Magdalena

Mile 13 · Convent · 2 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

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.

Church and former convent of Todos los Santos

Mile 59 · Convent · 5 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

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 Arqueológico de Apaxco

Mile 89 · Museum · 3 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

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

Mile 106 · Archaeological site · 1 mi from the route

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.

Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl

Mile 106 · Museum · 1 mi from the route

The Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl is an archaeological museum located in Tula de Allende, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.

Rayón National Park

Mile 171 · National Park of Mexico · 5 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

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.

Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque

Mile 396 · Museum · 1 mi from the route

On Independencia Street in central Tlaquepaque, Jalisco, the Museo Regional de la Cerámica is one of the city's two main ceramics museums, alongside the Pantaleón Panduro Museum.

Diana Theatre

Mile 400 · Venue · 1 mi from the route

The Diana Theatre, or Teatro Diana, is an indoor theater in Guadalajara, in the state of Jalisco, with seating for 2,345 people.

Exconvento del Carmen

Mile 400 · Convent · 2 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Built in the 17th century for the Discalced Carmelites, the Ex Convento del Carmen in Guadalajara is now a cultural venue with a long religious history.

More drives to Amatitán

From Tlaxcala to other places in Mexico

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from Tlaxcala to Amatitán?

About 6 h 54 min of driving without stops, over 430 miles.

How far is Amatitán from Tlaxcala by car?

About 430 miles (692 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 Amatitán?

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 Amatitán?

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; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.

What roads does the drive from Tlaxcala to Amatitán use?

In order: MEX-117D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D and MEX-15. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.

What are good stops between Tlaxcala and Amatitán?

Closest to the road: Tula (archaeological site, mile 106, 1 mi from the route); Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (museum, mile 396, 1 mi from the route); Diana Theatre (venue, mile 400, 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.