Tlaxco to Jilotepec Road Trip: Where to Stop on the Way

By admin, 3 October, 2026

The Wayro route from Tlaxco to Jilotepec is 118 miles (190 km), about 2 h 19 min of driving without stops.

U.S. State Department travel advisory: Tlaxcala — Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo — Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico — Level 2, Exercise Increased CautionAdvisory issued May 29, 2026; checked September 29, 2026. State of Mexico is the Mexican state that contains Jilotepec. See the full advisory for current details.
Museo del Ferrocarril de ApanAqueduct of Padre TemblequeTeotihuacanChurch and former convent of Todos los SantosMuseo Arqueológico de ApaxcoTulaJorge R. Acosta MuseumTlaxcoJilotepec
Route from Tlaxco to Jilotepec with the 7 stops listed below (blue dots).
Distance118 mi (190 km)
Driving time, no stops2 h 19 min
Main roads, in orderMEX-M40D
Mexican states on the routeTlaxcala (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2)
Toll roadsMEX-M40D
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 4.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below7

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 Tlaxco to Jilotepec is like

MEX-M40D (82 mi) carries about 69% of the 118 miles. MEX-M40D is a toll highway (cuota). It runs through 3 states: Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico. Of the 7 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.

The route from Tlaxco to Jilotepec, road by road

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miState
local roads0–3434Tlaxcala, Hidalgo
MEX-M40D34–11682Hidalgo, State of Mexico
local roads116–1182State of Mexico
  • Mile 14 of this route: Tlaxcala → Hidalgo (state line)
  • Mile 41 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
  • Mile 53 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
  • Mile 70 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
  • Mile 85 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
  • Mile 114 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)

Stops between Tlaxco and Jilotepec

  • Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo del Ferrocarril de Apan (mile 25)
  • Museums and history: Museo del Ferrocarril de Apan (mile 25), Teotihuacan (mile 52), Museo Arqueológico de Apaxco (mile 85), Tula (mile 101), Jorge R. Acosta Museum (mile 101)

Museo del Ferrocarril de Apan

Mile 25 · Museum · 0.1 mi from the route

Set in Apan's old train station on the former Mexico City–Veracruz line, this railroad museum preserves the town's history.

Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque

Mile 50 · Aqueduct · 2 mi from the route

Built by Franciscan friar Francisco de Tembleque between 1554 and 1572, this 16th-century water system runs more than 48 km between Zempoala and Otumba. Its tallest arcade at Tepeyahualco reaches almost 40 meters, and UNESCO listed it in 2015.

Teotihuacan

Mile 52 · Historic site · 13 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

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.

Church and former convent of Todos los Santos

Mile 54 · 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 85 · 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 101 · 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.

Jorge R. Acosta Museum

Mile 101 · Museum · 1 mi from the route

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.

More drives to Jilotepec

From Tlaxco to other places in Mexico

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from Tlaxco to Jilotepec?

About 2 h 19 min of driving without stops, over 118 miles.

How far is Jilotepec from Tlaxco by car?

About 118 miles (190 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 Tlaxco to Jilotepec?

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 Tlaxco to Jilotepec?

The U.S. State Department rates Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.

What are good stops between Tlaxco and Jilotepec?

Closest to the road: Museo del Ferrocarril de Apan (museum, mile 25, 0.1 mi from the route); Tula (archaeological site, mile 101, 1 mi from the route); Jorge R. Acosta Museum (museum, mile 101, 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.