The Wayro route from Toluca to Oaxaca is 323 miles (520 km), about 5 h 21 min of driving without stops.
| Distance by road | 323 mi (520 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 21 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15 → MEX-15D → Viaducto → MEX-150D → MEX-135D → MEX-190 |
| Mexican states on the route | State of Mexico, Mexico City, Puebla, Oaxaca |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-15D, MEX-150D, MEX-135D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.9 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.
How the Toluca to Oaxaca drive plays out
MEX-135D (151 mi) and MEX-150D (115 mi) carry about 82% of the 323 miles. It runs through 4 states: State of Mexico, Mexico City, Puebla, Oaxaca. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-15D, MEX-150D and MEX-135D. None of the 7 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Which roads connect Toluca and Oaxaca
| 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 | 35–43 | 8 | Mexico City |
| local roads | 43–48 | 5 | Mexico City, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 48–50 | 2 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-150D | 50–165 | 115 | State of Mexico, Puebla |
| MEX-135D | 165–316 | 151 | Puebla, Oaxaca |
| MEX-190 | 316–321 | 5 | Oaxaca |
| local roads | 321–323 | 2 | Oaxaca |
- Mile 23 of this route: State of Mexico → Mexico City (state line)
- Mile 45 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 78 of this route: State of Mexico → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 222 of this route: Puebla → Oaxaca (state line)
Stops between Toluca and Oaxaca
- Nature and outdoors: Lomas de Padierna National Park (mile 28), Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve (mile 208), Benito Juárez National Park (mile 316)
- Museums and history: Casa del Lago Juan José Arreola (mile 34), Porta Coeli Cathedral (mile 39), Cathedral of Nezahualcóyotl (mile 47), Fort Guadalupe (mile 117)
Lomas de Padierna National Park
Lomas de Padierna National Park lies in the Cerro del Judío ecological reserve in La Magdalena Contreras, on the southwest side of Mexico City.
Casa del Lago Juan José Arreola
Casa del Lago Juan José Arreola opened in 1959 as the first off-campus cultural center of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, bringing together the avant-garde and tradition.
Porta Coeli Cathedral
Porta Coeli Cathedral, also called the Church of the Gate of Heaven, is the Mexico City cathedral of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, in communion with Rome.
Cathedral of Nezahualcóyotl
Consecrated on November 20, 2000, the Cathedral of Nezahualcóyotl, dedicated to Jesús, Señor de la Misericordia, is the seat of the Diocese of Nezahualcóyotl.
Fort Guadalupe
Fort Guadalupe is a fort you'll find in the city of Puebla, within the Mexican state of the same name.
Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve
In 2018 UNESCO inscribed the arid Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley, which spans Puebla and Oaxaca, as a mixed World Heritage site. A major center of cactus diversity, it also keeps ancient canals, terraces and dams.
Benito Juárez National Park
Hikers heading just north of Oaxaca City reach Benito Juárez National Park, where trails cross roughly 2,737 hectares of pine and oak. La Coronilla, a moderate loop, runs about 5 km.
In Oaxaca itself
Museo Rufino Tamayo, Oaxaca
The Museo Rufino Tamayo is an art museum you can visit in the city of Oaxaca, in southern Mexico.
Monte Albán
Carved into a mountaintop above the Valley of Oaxaca, Monte Albán was a Zapotec capital for some 1,300 years; visitors walk a 300-meter ceremonial plaza lined with temples, a ball court, tombs and carved reliefs. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Oaxaca Ethnobotanical Garden
Next to the Church of Santo Domingo in Oaxaca City, the Oaxaca Ethnobotanical Garden (Jardín Etnobotánico de Oaxaca) is a botanical garden covering about 2.3 acres.
More drives to Oaxaca
- Tehuacán to Oaxaca
- Puebla to Oaxaca
- Veracruz to Oaxaca
- Mexico City to Oaxaca
- Cuernavaca to Oaxaca
- Tuxtla to Oaxaca
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 Oaxaca?
About 5 h 21 min of driving without stops, over 323 miles.
How far is Oaxaca from Toluca by car?
About 323 miles (520 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 Oaxaca?
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 Oaxaca?
The U.S. State Department rates State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Mexico City Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Oaxaca Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Toluca to Oaxaca?
In order: MEX-15, MEX-15D, Viaducto, MEX-150D, MEX-135D and MEX-190. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Toluca and Oaxaca?
Closest to the road: Casa del Lago Juan José Arreola (museum, mile 34, 1 mi from the route); Porta Coeli Cathedral (cathedral, mile 39, 2 mi from the route); Fort Guadalupe (fort, mile 117, 2 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.