The Wayro route from Toluca to Coatepec is 222 miles (357 km), about 4 h 19 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 222 mi (357 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 19 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15 → MEX-15D → Viaducto → MEX-136D → MEX-136 → MEX-140D → VER 7 |
| Mexican states on the route | State of Mexico (Level 2), Mexico City (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Veracruz (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-15D, MEX-136D, MEX-140D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.9 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.
What the drive from Toluca to Coatepec is like
MEX-136 (84 mi) and MEX-140D (65 mi) carry about 67% of the 222 miles. MEX-15D, MEX-136D, MEX-140D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-15, MEX-136 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 5 states: State of Mexico, Mexico City, Tlaxcala, Puebla, Veracruz. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Toluca to Coatepec, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-15 | 0–11 | 11 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 11–31 | 20 | State of Mexico, Mexico City |
| connecting roads | 31–35 | 4 | Mexico City |
| Viaducto | 35–41 | 6 | Mexico City |
| connecting roads | 41–47 | 6 | Mexico City |
| MEX-136D | 47–57 | 10 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 57–59 | 2 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-136 | 59–143 | 84 | State of Mexico, Tlaxcala |
| connecting roads | 143–144 | 1 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-140D | 144–209 | 65 | Tlaxcala, Puebla, Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 209–213 | 4 | Veracruz |
| local roads | 213–217 | 4 | Veracruz |
| VER 7 | 217–221 | 4 | Veracruz |
| local roads | 221–222 | 1 | Veracruz |
- Mile 23 of this route: State of Mexico → Mexico City (state line)
- Mile 47 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 73 of this route: State of Mexico → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 152 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 178 of this route: Puebla → Veracruz (state line)
Stops between Toluca and Coatepec
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Desierto de los Leones National Park (mile 24), Museo Casa de la Bola (mile 35), Zoológico de San Juan de Aragón (mile 45), Xalapa Cathedral (mile 216)
- Nature and outdoors: Desierto de los Leones National Park (mile 24), La Malinche National Park (mile 132)
- Museums and history: Museo de Arte Moderno (mile 34), Museo Casa de la Bola (mile 35), Casa Talavera Cultural Center (mile 40), Cantona (mile 170), Xalapa Cathedral (mile 216)
- With kids: Zoológico de San Juan de Aragón (mile 45)
Desierto de los Leones National Park
Declared a national park in 1917, this fir, ash and oak forest in Mexico City's Cuajimalpa and Álvaro Obregón boroughs surrounds a former Carmelite monastery. Locals come to hike, run and cycle, and more than 100 bird species live here.
Museo de Arte Moderno
In Chapultepec Park, the Museo de Arte Moderno is part of Mexico's national fine arts institute (INBAL) and shows modern Mexican art along with exhibitions by Mexican and international artists.
Museo Casa de la Bola
The Museo Casa de la Bola is a museum in Mexico City, located in the city's Tacubaya neighborhood.
Equestrian statue of Charles IV of Spain
Cast by Manuel Tolsá between 1796 and 1803, this bronze equestrian statue in Mexico City honors King Charles IV of Spain.
Casa Talavera Cultural Center
In the La Merced area of Mexico City's historic center, Casa Talavera Cultural Center occupies a 16th- or early 17th-century building that was home to the Marquis de Aguayo.
Zoológico de San Juan de Aragón
Opened on November 20, 1964, near the San Juan de Aragón forest in Mexico City, this zoo was designed with a radial layout of semicircular exhibits that let visitors see animals from any angle.
La Malinche National Park
Tlaxcala's La Malinche National Park surrounds the inactive Matlalcuéyetl volcano, with pine, oak and fir forests on its slopes, hiking trails, birdwatching, and stone cabins and campsites at the Malintzi Vacation Center.
Cantona
High on the Puebla plateau near the Veracruz line, Cantona was a fortified pre-Hispanic city that controlled trade toward the Gulf; its explored southern section reveals interconnected streets, walled residential units and more than two dozen ballgame courts.
Xalapa Cathedral
One of Xalapa's oldest buildings, the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception mixes a baroque core with neo-Gothic touches added in 1895, and holds the remains of Bishop Rafael Guízar y Valencia.
When you get to Coatepec
Cascada de Texolo
Two waterfalls on the Matlacobatl River, Texolo with a 20-meter drop and La Monja with about 8 meters, sit roughly 3 kilometers from Xico amid cloud forest included in a Ramsar wetland site.
Jardín Botánico Francisco J. Clavijero
Opened in 1977 by the Instituto de Ecología near Xalapa, this botanical garden sits in native cloud forest beside a 30-hectare forest sanctuary and keeps notable collections of Mexican cycads, bamboo and carnivorous butterworts.
More drives to Coatepec
- Teziutlán to Coatepec
- Puebla to Coatepec
- Cholula to Coatepec
- Tulancingo to Coatepec
- Pachuca to Coatepec
- Mexico City to Coatepec
From Toluca to other places in Mexico
- Toluca to Salvatierra
- Toluca to Celaya
- Toluca to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Toluca to Tócuaro
- Toluca to Pénjamo
- Toluca to Cotija
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Toluca to Coatepec?
About 4 h 19 min of driving without stops, over 222 miles.
How far is Coatepec from Toluca by car?
About 222 miles (357 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 Toluca to Coatepec?
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 Toluca to Coatepec?
The U.S. State Department rates State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Mexico City Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Toluca to Coatepec use?
In order: MEX-15, MEX-15D, Viaducto, MEX-136D, MEX-136, MEX-140D and VER 7. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Toluca and Coatepec?
Closest to the road: Museo Casa de la Bola (museum, mile 35, 0.3 mi from the route); Zoológico de San Juan de Aragón (zoo, mile 45, 0.9 mi from the route); Xalapa Cathedral (cathedral, mile 216, 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 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.