The Wayro route from Toluca to Tlaxcala is 110 miles (177 km), about 2 h 10 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 110 mi (177 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 2 h 10 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15 → MEX-15D → Viaducto → MEX-150D → MEX-150 → MEX-117D |
| Mexican states on the route | State of Mexico (Level 2), Mexico City (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-15D, MEX-150D, MEX-117D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 4.4 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.
What the drive from Toluca to Tlaxcala is like
MEX-150D (36 mi) and MEX-15D (20 mi) carry about 51% of the 110 miles. MEX-15D, MEX-150D, MEX-117D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-15, MEX-150 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: State of Mexico, Mexico City, Puebla, Tlaxcala. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Toluca to Tlaxcala, 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 | 35–43 | 8 | Mexico City |
| local roads | 43–48 | 5 | Mexico City, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 48–50 | 2 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-150D | 50–86 | 36 | State of Mexico, Puebla |
| MEX-150 | 86–94 | 8 | Puebla |
| connecting roads | 94–96 | 2 | Puebla |
| MEX-117D | 96–108 | 12 | Puebla, Tlaxcala |
| local roads | 108–110 | 2 | Tlaxcala |
- 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 99 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
Stops between Toluca and Tlaxcala
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Desierto de los Leones National Park (mile 24), Cencalli (mile 34)
- Nature and outdoors: Desierto de los Leones National Park (mile 24), Fuentes Brotantes de Tlalpan National Park (mile 28), Cerro de la Estrella National Park (mile 44)
- Museums and history: Cencalli (mile 34), Laboratorio Arte Alameda (mile 38), Museo Textil de los Pueblos Indígenas y Afromexicanos (mile 40), Cathedral of Nezahualcóyotl (mile 47)
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.
Fuentes Brotantes de Tlalpan National Park
In southern Mexico City's Tlalpan borough, Fuentes Brotantes de Tlalpan was declared a national park on September 28, 1936, on land once called the Barranca de los Manantiales.
Cencalli
Cencalli, Casa del Maíz y la Cultura Alimentaria, is a museum and cultural center devoted to corn and its place in Mexican food.
Laboratorio Arte Alameda
Laboratorio Arte Alameda is a space for exhibiting, documenting, producing and researching art practices that use technology and explore the relationship between art and technology.
Museo Textil de los Pueblos Indígenas y Afromexicanos
The Museo Textil de los Pueblos Indígenas y Afromexicanos is a museum in Mexico City's historic center devoted to the textiles of Indigenous and Afro-Mexican peoples.
Cerro de la Estrella National Park
Rising in eastern Mexico City's Iztapalapa borough, Cerro de la Estrella is where the Mexica lit the New Fire every 52 years; trails lead up to a pyramid-shaped site museum near the summit and to caves with traces of pre-Hispanic use.
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.
Convento de Huejotzingo
Founded by Franciscans in the 16th century, the former convent of San Miguel Arcángel in Huejotzingo shows colonial Plateresque architecture on the western slopes of Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl. UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 1994.
When you get to Tlaxcala
Basílica de Ocotlán
On Cerro de San Lorenzo near the city of Tlaxcala, the Basílica de Ocotlán is a standout of Mexican Churrigueresque Baroque, begun in 1670 and home to an ocote-wood image of the Virgin tied to a 1541 legend.
Tlaxcala Cathedral
Part of a 16th-century Franciscan complex among the earliest in the Americas, Tlaxcala's cathedral is famous for its carved Mudéjar-style wooden ceiling. Look for the freestanding bell tower and the stone font where Tlaxcalan lords were baptized.
Museo Nacional de Antropología e Historia de Tlaxcala
Set in the cloisters of Tlaxcala's former Franciscan convent, founded in 1528, the regional museum (Museo Regional de Tlaxcala) traces the state from paleontology and pre-Hispanic cultures through the colonial era to the Revolution, with pottery, sculpture and paintings.
More drives to Tlaxcala
- Cuautla to Tlaxcala
- Cuernavaca to Tlaxcala
- San Juan del Río to Tlaxcala
- Zitácuaro to Tlaxcala
- San Miguel de Allende to Tlaxcala
- Irapuato to Tlaxcala
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 Tlaxcala?
About 2 h 10 min of driving without stops, over 110 miles.
How far is Tlaxcala from Toluca by car?
About 110 miles (177 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 Tlaxcala?
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 Tlaxcala?
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; Tlaxcala 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 Tlaxcala use?
In order: MEX-15, MEX-15D, Viaducto, MEX-150D, MEX-150 and MEX-117D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Toluca and Tlaxcala?
Closest to the road: Desierto de los Leones National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 24, 1 mi from the route); Cencalli (museum, mile 34, 0.7 mi from the route); Laboratorio Arte Alameda (art museum, mile 38, 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 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.