Tlaxcala to Matehuala is about 423 road miles (681 km): roughly 7 h 46 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance | 423 mi (681 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 46 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-117D → MEX-M40D → MEX-57D → MEX-57 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala, Puebla, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-117D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D |
| 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–Matehuala drive in a few lines
MEX-57 (175 mi) and MEX-57D (129 mi) carry about 72% of the 423 miles. It runs through 7 states: Tlaxcala, Puebla, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí. 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 Matehuala, 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 |
| MEX-57 | 344–422 | 78 | San Luis Potosí |
| local roads | 422–423 | 1 | San Luis Potosí |
- 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 150 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)
Stops between Tlaxcala and Matehuala
- Nature and outdoors: El Gogorrón National Park (mile 291)
- Museums and history: Teotihuacan (mile 57), Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl (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
At Tepeyahualco, the tallest arcade of this 16th-century water system rises almost 40 meters. Franciscan friar Francisco de Tembleque built it between 1554 and 1572.
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.
Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl
The Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl is an archaeological museum located in Tula de Allende, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
Historic Monuments Zone of Querétaro
UNESCO listed Querétaro's historic center in 1996. Here, the Spanish grid of streets meets the winding lanes of the old Indigenous quarters, with Baroque churches and mansions throughout.
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
San Luis Potosí's cathedral anchors the city's historic center, which UNESCO lists as a component of the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro World Heritage Site.
When you get to Matehuala
Matehuala Cathedral
Matehuala's Immaculate Conception Cathedral is the seat of the Diocese of Matehuala; it is open for worship though still under construction.
More drives to Matehuala
- Zitácuaro to Matehuala
- Mexico City to Matehuala
- Pachuca to Matehuala
- Cuernavaca to Matehuala
- Cuautla to Matehuala
- Colima to Matehuala
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 is the drive from Tlaxcala to Matehuala?
About 7 h 46 min of driving without stops, over 423 miles.
What is the driving distance from Tlaxcala to Matehuala?
About 423 miles (681 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 Matehuala?
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 Matehuala?
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 (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Tlaxcala to Matehuala use?
In order: MEX-117D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D and MEX-57. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Tlaxcala and Matehuala?
Closest to the road: Exconvent of Santa María Magdalena (convent, mile 13, 2 mi from the route); Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque (aqueduct, mile 55, 2 mi from the route); Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl (archaeological site, 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.