The Wayro route from Toluca to Zacatelco is 114 miles (183 km), about 2 h 11 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 114 mi (183 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 2 h 11 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15 → MEX-15D → Viaducto → MEX-150D |
| 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 |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 4.5 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 Zacatelco is like
MEX-150D (55 mi) and MEX-15D (20 mi) carry about 66% of the 114 miles. MEX-15D, MEX-150D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-15 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 4 states: State of Mexico, Mexico City, Puebla, Tlaxcala. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Toluca to Zacatelco, 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 | 50–105 | 55 | State of Mexico, Puebla |
| local roads | 105–114 | 9 | Puebla, 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 107 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
Stops between Toluca and Zacatelco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): La Marquesa National Park (mile 20), Desierto de los Leones National Park (mile 24)
- Nature and outdoors: La Marquesa National Park (mile 20), Desierto de los Leones National Park (mile 24), Fuentes Brotantes de Tlalpan National Park (mile 28), Los Remedios National Park (mile 32), Cerro de la Estrella National Park (mile 44)
- Museums and history: Monumento a la Madre, Mexico City (mile 37), Museo del Telégrafo (mile 39), Xochitecatl (mile 100)
- With kids: Chapultepec Zoo (mile 34)
La Marquesa National Park
Set in high-altitude conifer forest along the Mexico City–Toluca highway, La Marquesa National Park offers roadside eateries, horse and ATV rentals, mountain biking and camping, and marks the site of the 1810 Battle of Monte de las Cruces.
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.
Los Remedios National Park
Los Remedios National Park, created by federal decree in 1938, covers about 400 hectares on the far western side of Naucalpan, just northwest of Mexico City.
Chapultepec Zoo
Founded on July 6, 1923, by biologist Alfonso Luis Herrera, Chapultepec Zoo sits inside Mexico City's Chapultepec Park.
Monumento a la Madre, Mexico City
Inaugurated on May 10, 1949, the Monumento a la Madre in Mexico City is a monument honoring and commemorating Mexican mothers.
Museo del Telégrafo
Opened in 2006 in part of the Museo Nacional de Arte building, the Museo del Telégrafo traces the telegraph in Mexico from its arrival in 1849 to the last transmission in 1992.
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.
Xochitecatl
Xochitécatl is a pre-Hispanic archaeological site in the state of Tlaxcala. INAH runs it together with nearby Cacaxtla as a single zone, and the Xochitécatl site museum displays finds from the area.
When you get to Zacatelco
Laguna de Acomulco
A quiet lagoon in the state of Tlaxcala, Laguna de Acomulco is surrounded by vegetation and rural scenery and works well for a short walk, landscape photos or a calm break in nature.
Parque ecológico Los Ladrillos
Opened on April 2, 2015, Los Ladrillos Ecological Park is a nature reserve in the municipality of Zacatelco, in Tlaxcala.
More drives to Zacatelco
- Huamantla to Zacatelco
- Cuautla to Zacatelco
- Pachuca to Zacatelco
- Tulancingo to Zacatelco
- Tepotzotlán to Zacatelco
- Cuernavaca to Zacatelco
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 Zacatelco?
About 2 h 11 min of driving without stops, over 114 miles.
How far is Zacatelco from Toluca by car?
About 114 miles (183 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 Zacatelco?
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 Zacatelco?
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 Zacatelco use?
In order: MEX-15, MEX-15D, Viaducto and MEX-150D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Toluca and Zacatelco?
Closest to the road: La Marquesa National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 20, 1 mi from the route); Desierto de los Leones National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 24, 1 mi from the route); Chapultepec Zoo (zoo, mile 34, 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.