Plan on about 9 h 45 min of driving for the 519-mile (836 km) trip from Tlaxco to Mascota, before any stops.
| Total distance | 519 mi (836 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 45 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-70 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-M40D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
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 Tlaxco to Mascota: the shape of the trip
MEX-15D (257 mi) and MEX-M40D (111 mi) carry about 71% of the 519 miles. It runs through 5 states: Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-M40D and MEX-15D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Tlaxco and Mascota
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–34 | 34 | Tlaxcala, Hidalgo |
| MEX-M40D | 34–145 | 111 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 145–402 | 257 | State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 402–413 | 11 | Jalisco |
| MEX-70 | 413–519 | 106 | Jalisco |
- 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)
- Mile 163 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 332 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
Stops between Tlaxco and Mascota
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo del Ferrocarril de Apan (mile 25), Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila (mile 426)
- Nature and outdoors: Rayón National Park (mile 167)
- Museums and history: Museo del Ferrocarril de Apan (mile 25), Teotihuacan (mile 52), Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 185), Universidad de Guadalajara. Museo de las Artes (mile 396), Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila (mile 426)
Museo del Ferrocarril de Apan
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
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.
Atlantean figures
Crowning the main pyramid at the Tula archaeological zone, these basalt sculptures of Toltec warriors stand more than four meters tall in what was once the Toltec capital; the nearby Wall of Snakes shows carved serpents 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.
Teatro Morelos de Maravatío
Maravatío's Teatro Morelos is a late-19th-century theater in a French-influenced neoclassical style, designed by architect Rafael Guerrero Torres. It opened on January 11, 1879, with a performance by opera singer Ángela Peralta.
Universidad de Guadalajara. Museo de las Artes
The University of Guadalajara's Museo de las Artes, known as MUSA, opened on October 10, 1994, and was expanded in 2013.
Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila
Around the town of Tequila, the Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of blue agave fields shaped by the plant's use for tequila since the 16th century.
More drives to Mascota
- Guadalajara to Mascota
- Tepatitlán to Mascota
- San Juan de los Lagos to Mascota
- Jalpa to Mascota
- Zamora to Mascota
- Lagos de Moreno to Mascota
From Tlaxco to other places in Mexico
- Tlaxco to Chipilo
- Tlaxco to Otumba
- Tlaxco to Omitlán
- Tlaxco to Atlatlahucan
- Tlaxco to Jilotepec
- Tlaxco to Zimapán
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tlaxco to Mascota?
About 9 h 45 min of driving without stops, over 519 miles.
How far is Mascota from Tlaxco by car?
About 519 miles (836 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 Mascota?
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 Mascota?
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; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Tlaxco to Mascota?
In order: MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-15 and MEX-70. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Tlaxco to Mascota?
Closest to the road: Museo del Ferrocarril de Apan (museum, mile 25, 0.1 mi from the route); Atlantean figures (sculptures, mile 101, 1 mi from the route); Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila (historic site, mile 426, 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.