By road, Tlaxcala and Ciudad Tula are about 423 miles (680 km) apart, or roughly 7 h 24 min of driving.
| Distance | 423 mi (680 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 24 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-117D → MEX-M40D → MEX-57D → MEX-57 → SLP 75D → MEX-101D → MEX-101 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala, Puebla, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-117D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-101D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.9 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.
The Tlaxcala–Ciudad Tula drive in a few lines
MEX-57D (129 mi) and MEX-M40D (103 mi) carry about 55% of the 423 miles. It runs through 8 states: Tlaxcala, Puebla, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-117D, MEX-M40D and MEX-57D. None of the 9 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Tlaxcala to Ciudad Tula, 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 | 13–116 | 103 | Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 116–117 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-57D | 117–204 | 87 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro |
| MEX-57 | 204–301 | 97 | Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| connecting roads | 301–302 | 1 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 302–344 | 42 | San Luis Potosí |
| connecting roads | 344–346 | 2 | San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 75D | 346–365 | 19 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-101D | 365–397 | 32 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-101 | 397–421 | 24 | San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas |
| local roads | 421–423 | 2 | Tamaulipas |
- 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 118 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 151 of this route: State of Mexico → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 211 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 265 of this route: Guanajuato → San Luis Potosí (state line)
- Mile 400 of this route: San Luis Potosí → Tamaulipas (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Ciudad Tula
- Nature and outdoors: El Gogorrón National Park (mile 291)
- Museums and history: Tula (mile 106), Jorge R. Acosta Museum (mile 106), Casa de la Corregidora (mile 188), Former hacienda of Chichimequillas (mile 196), San Luis Potosí Cathedral (mile 311)
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.
Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque
Running more than 48 km between Zempoala and Otumba, Padre Tembleque's 16th-century water system has been on UNESCO's list since 2015. The friar built it from 1554 to 1572.
Tula
Basalt warrior figures over four meters (13 feet) tall, the Atlantes, crown the main pyramid at Tula. Visitors can also explore a ball court, the Burnt Palace and the Coatepantli wall.
Jorge R. Acosta Museum
Next to the Tula ruins, the Museo de Sitio Jorge R. Acosta traces the rise and decline of the Toltecs and their city, Tollan Xicocotitlan. It moved into new facilities in 1982 and covers nearly 20 years of digs led by archaeologist Jorge R. Acosta.
Historic Monuments Zone of Querétaro
Baroque churches and mansions from the 17th and 18th centuries line the streets of Querétaro's historic center, along with the city's landmark aqueduct.
Casa de la Corregidora
Completed in 1770 as Querétaro's royal houses and town hall, the Casa de la Corregidora is where Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez, held there in 1810, sent word of danger to Miguel Hidalgo. After independence it became the state government palace.
Former hacienda of Chichimequillas
Discalced Carmelite friars founded this hacienda around 1690 to shelter travelers on the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro and to farm. Its two-story stone and lime main house, finished in 1813, wraps around a central courtyard beside a chapel.
El Gogorrón National Park
Straddling San Luis Potosí and Guanajuato near Villa de Reyes, this national park offers rugged rock formations, mountain scenery and thermal springs, with camping, hiking and mountain biking.
San Luis Potosí Cathedral
Look closely at the two towers of San Luis Potosí's cathedral: one is built of mortar, the other of quarried cantera stone. The Baroque church is the seat of the archdiocese.
More drives to Ciudad Tula
- San Miguel de Allende to Ciudad Tula
- Guanajuato to Ciudad Tula
- Querétaro to Ciudad Tula
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Ciudad Tula
- Pedro Escobedo to Ciudad Tula
- Calvillo to Ciudad Tula
From Tlaxcala to other places in Mexico
- Tlaxcala to Omitlán
- Tlaxcala to Atlatlahucan
- Tlaxcala to Huasca de Ocampo
- Tlaxcala to Actopan
- Tlaxcala to Metepec
- Tlaxcala to Malinalco
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Tlaxcala to Ciudad Tula?
About 7 h 24 min of driving without stops, over 423 miles.
How far is Ciudad Tula from Tlaxcala by car?
About 423 miles (680 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 Ciudad Tula?
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 Ciudad Tula?
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; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tamaulipas Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Tlaxcala to Ciudad Tula?
In order: MEX-117D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-57, SLP 75D, MEX-101D and MEX-101. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Tlaxcala to Ciudad Tula?
Closest to the road: Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque (aqueduct, mile 55, 2 mi from the route); Tula (archaeological site, mile 106, 1 mi from the route); Jorge R. Acosta Museum (museum, mile 106, 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 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: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place 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.