By road, Tlaxcala and Xilitla are about 237 miles (381 km) apart, or roughly 5 h 52 min of driving.
| Distance by road | 237 mi (381 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 5 h 52 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-117D → MEX-M40D → MEX-132 → MEX-88 → MEX-105 → MEX-102 → MEX-85 → MEX-120 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala, Puebla, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, San Luis Potosí |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-117D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.5 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.
Driving Tlaxcala to Xilitla: the shape of the trip
MEX-105 (94 mi) and MEX-M40D (43 mi) carry about 58% of the 237 miles. It runs through 5 states: Tlaxcala, Puebla, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, San Luis Potosí. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-117D and MEX-M40D. Of the 7 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Tlaxcala and Xilitla
| 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 | 76–79 | 3 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 79–95 | 16 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 95–99 | 4 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 99–177 | 78 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 177–202 | 25 | Hidalgo, San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-102 | 202–206 | 4 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-85 | 206–228 | 22 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-120 | 228–236 | 8 | San Luis Potosí |
| local roads | 236–237 | 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 199 of this route: Hidalgo → San Luis Potosí (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Tlaxcala and Xilitla
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Ecológico Cubitos (mile 76), La Dificultad Mine Museum (mile 86), Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 114), Museo Regional de la Sierra Alta (mile 135)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Ecológico Cubitos (mile 76), Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 114)
- Museums and history: Monumental Clock of Pachuca (mile 80), La Dificultad Mine Museum (mile 86), Museo Regional de la Sierra Alta (mile 135)
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.
Parque Ecológico Cubitos
Between Pachuca de Soto and Mineral de la Reforma, Parque Ecológico Cubitos is a 90-hectare protected natural area whose public section has a botanical garden, an arboretum, a herpetarium, a farm, a maze, a zip line and a bike path.
Monumental Clock of Pachuca
Rising over Plaza Independencia in Pachuca's historic center, the Monumental Clock tower was built between 1904 and 1910 to mark the centennial of Mexico's War of Independence.
La Dificultad Mine Museum
At the La Dificultad mine in Mineral del Monte, a site museum and interpretation center tells the area's mining and hospital history, showing how the mines moved from steam power to electricity.
Barranca de Metztitlán
Barranca de Metztitlán is a biosphere reserve in Hidalgo, protected for its steep cliffs, deep winding canyons and distinctive plants and wildlife.
Antiguo Convento Franciscano
Dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi, the Antiguo Convento Franciscano in Zacatlán was founded by the Franciscans in 1562 and finished in 1567, and it still holds Catholic services.
Museo Regional de la Sierra Alta
Museo Regional de la Sierra Alta is a regional museum in the town of Zacualtipán, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
Once you reach Xilitla
Las Pozas
Created by Edward James in the Sierra Gorda, Las Pozas is a surrealist sculpture garden where concrete structures stand among waterfalls and pools in subtropical forest.
More drives to Xilitla
- Pedro Escobedo to Xilitla
- Tulancingo to Xilitla
- Actopan to Xilitla
- Otumba to Xilitla
- Celaya to Xilitla
- San Miguel de Allende to Xilitla
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 Xilitla?
About 5 h 52 min of driving without stops, over 237 miles.
How far is Xilitla from Tlaxcala by car?
About 237 miles (381 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 Xilitla?
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 Xilitla?
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; San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Tlaxcala to Xilitla?
In order: MEX-117D, MEX-M40D, MEX-132, MEX-88, MEX-105, MEX-102, MEX-85 and MEX-120. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Tlaxcala to Xilitla?
Closest to the road: La Dificultad Mine Museum (museum, mile 86, 0.5 mi from the route); Barranca de Metztitlán (canyon, mile 114, 0.1 mi from the route); Museo Regional de la Sierra Alta (museum, mile 135, 0.4 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.