Plan on about 8 h 13 min of driving for the 475-mile (764 km) trip from Tlaxcala to Teúl de González Ortega, before any stops.
| Total distance | 475 mi (764 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 13 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-117D → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → MEX-23 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala, Puebla, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco, Zacatecas |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-117D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.0 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.
Driving Tlaxcala to Teúl de González Ortega: the shape of the trip
MEX-15D (239 mi) and MEX-M40D (137 mi) carry about 79% of the 475 miles. It runs through 7 states: Tlaxcala, Puebla, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco, Zacatecas. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-117D, MEX-M40D and MEX-15D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Tlaxcala to Teúl de González Ortega: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-117D | 2–13 | 11 | Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| MEX-M40D | 13–150 | 137 | Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 150–389 | 239 | State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco |
| local roads | 389–407 | 18 | Jalisco |
| MEX-23 | 407–474 | 67 | Jalisco, Zacatecas |
| local roads | 474–475 | 1 | Zacatecas |
- 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)
- Mile 445 of this route: Jalisco → Zacatecas (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Tlaxcala and Teúl de González Ortega
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Guadalajara Zoo (mile 401)
- Nature and outdoors: Tula National Park (mile 106), Rayón National Park (mile 171)
- Museums and history: Tula (mile 106), Panteón de Belén (mile 402), Basilica of Our Lady of Zapopan (mile 406), Museo Etnográfico Huichol Wixxarika (mile 406)
- With kids: Guadalajara Zoo (mile 401)
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.
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.
Tula
The Toltecs once ruled from Tula, now an archaeological zone. Its Coatepantli wall is carved with snakes devouring skeletons, and the famous Atlantes stand atop the main pyramid.
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.
Rayón National Park
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.
Guadalajara Zoo
Zoológico Guadalajara is the main zoo of Guadalajara, Jalisco, and holds a large population of animal species.
Panteón de Belén
A historic cemetery in Guadalajara, Panteón de Belén is known for its legends and offers night tours.
Basilica of Our Lady of Zapopan
The Basilica of Our Lady of Zapopan is a 17th-century Franciscan sanctuary in downtown Zapopan. It keeps a wooden image of the Virgin that came from Spain to New Galicia in the 16th century.
Museo Etnográfico Huichol Wixxarika
The Museo de Arte Huichol Wixárika is a public museum where visitors can see a permanent exhibition of Huichol art.
In Teúl de González Ortega itself
El Teúl
On a hill of the same name in southern Zacatecas, near Jalisco, El Teúl was a Mesoamerican settlement where people made copper and ceramic goods.
More drives to Teúl de González Ortega
- Ajijic to Teúl de González Ortega
- Tepatitlán to Teúl de González Ortega
- Aguascalientes to Teúl de González Ortega
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Teúl de González Ortega
- San Juan de los Lagos to Teúl de González Ortega
- Lagos de Moreno to Teúl de González Ortega
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 Teúl de González Ortega?
About 8 h 13 min of driving without stops, over 475 miles.
How far is Teúl de González Ortega from Tlaxcala by car?
About 475 miles (764 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 Teúl de González Ortega?
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 Teúl de González Ortega?
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; Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Tlaxcala to Teúl de González Ortega use?
In order: MEX-117D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D and MEX-23. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Tlaxcala and Teúl de González Ortega?
Closest to the road: Tula (archaeological site, mile 106, 1 mi from the route); Tula National Park (national park, mile 106, 1 mi from the route); Guadalajara Zoo (zoo, mile 401, 0.7 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.