The Wayro route from Tonatico to Xilitla is 290 miles (466 km), about 6 h 60 min of driving without stops.
| Distance by road | 290 mi (466 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 6 h 60 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-55D → MEX-A10D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → Circuito Interior → MEX-85 → MEX-105 → MEX-102 → MEX-120 |
| Mexican states on the route | State of Mexico, Mexico City, Hidalgo, San Luis Potosí |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-55D, MEX-A10D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.6 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.
Driving Tonatico to Xilitla: the shape of the trip
MEX-105 (95 mi) and MEX-85 (70 mi) carry about 57% of the 290 miles. It runs through 4 states: State of Mexico, Mexico City, Hidalgo, San Luis Potosí. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-55D, MEX-A10D and MEX-15D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Tonatico to Xilitla, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 4–28 | 24 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 28–31 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-A10D | 31–43 | 12 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 43–45 | 2 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 45–65 | 20 | State of Mexico, Mexico City |
| MEX-15 | 65–69 | 4 | Mexico City |
| connecting roads | 69–70 | 1 | Mexico City |
| Circuito Interior | 70–75 | 5 | Mexico City |
| MEX-85 | 75–124 | 49 | Mexico City, State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| local roads | 124–132 | 8 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 132–148 | 16 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 148–152 | 4 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 152–231 | 79 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 231–255 | 24 | Hidalgo, San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-102 | 255–260 | 5 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-85 | 260–281 | 21 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-120 | 281–289 | 8 | San Luis Potosí |
| local roads | 289–290 | 1 | San Luis Potosí |
- Mile 57 of this route: State of Mexico → Mexico City (state line)
- Mile 80 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 103 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 252 of this route: Hidalgo → San Luis Potosí (state line)
What to see on the way from Tonatico to Xilitla
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo de Historia Natural (mile 68), Monumento a los Niños Héroes (mile 70), Acueducto de Guadalupe (mile 78), Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 167)
- Nature and outdoors: Museo de Historia Natural (mile 68), Barranca de Metztitlán (mile 167)
- Museums and history: Museo de Historia Natural (mile 68), Monumento a los Niños Héroes (mile 70), Museo Nacional de Arte (mile 72), Planetario Luis Enrique Erro (mile 76), Acueducto de Guadalupe (mile 78), Mexican Air Force Museum (mile 97), Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (mile 132)
- With kids: Planetario Luis Enrique Erro (mile 76)
Ciénegas del Lerma
These marshes in the Toluca Valley are three lakes left from a wetland of about 27,000 hectares in the late 19th century. A Ramsar site since 2004, they hold dozens of endemic and threatened species and are a key stop for migratory species.
Museo de Historia Natural
In the second section of Chapultepec Park, the Museo de Historia Natural y Cultura Ambiental displays mounted animals, fossils, rocks, minerals, sculptures and models about life on Earth and Mexico's biodiversity.
Monumento a los Niños Héroes
Officially called Altar a la Patria, this monument in Mexico City's Chapultepec park honors the Niños Héroes, six mostly teenage cadets killed defending the city during the Battle of Chapultepec on September 13, 1847.
Museo Nacional de Arte
Housed in Mexico City's historic center, the Museo Nacional de Arte is the country's national art museum.
Planetario Luis Enrique Erro
Run by the National Polytechnic Institute, the Planetario Luis Enrique Erro in Mexico City is a planetarium open to the public and one of the longest-running in Latin America.
Acueducto de Guadalupe
Built in the mid-18th century to carry drinking water from Santa María Tlalnepantla to the Villa de Guadalupe, this colonial aqueduct in northern Mexico City now stands as a historic monument.
Mexican Air Force Museum
At Santa Lucía Air Base, the Military Aviation Museum, run by the Secretariat of National Defense, displays historical material from the Mexican Air Force.
Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
Known locally as La Villita, the Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe is a Catholic basilica dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe in Pachuca.
Barranca de Metztitlán
Barranca de Metztitlán is a biosphere reserve in Hidalgo, protected for its steep cliffs, deep winding canyons and distinctive plants and wildlife.
In Xilitla itself
Las Pozas
Created by Edward James in the Sierra Gorda, Las Pozas is a surrealist sculpture garden where concrete structures stand among waterfalls and pools in subtropical forest.
More drives to Xilitla
- Pedro Escobedo to Xilitla
- Tulancingo to Xilitla
- Actopan to Xilitla
- Otumba to Xilitla
- Celaya to Xilitla
- San Miguel de Allende to Xilitla
From Tonatico to other places in Mexico
- Tonatico to El Oro
- Tonatico to Bernal
- Tonatico to Mineral de Pozos
- Tonatico to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Tonatico to Cuanajo
- Tonatico to Tócuaro
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Tonatico to Xilitla?
About 6 h 60 min of driving without stops, over 290 miles.
How far is Xilitla from Tonatico by car?
About 290 miles (466 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 Tonatico to Xilitla?
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 Tonatico to Xilitla?
The U.S. State Department rates State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Mexico City Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Tonatico to Xilitla use?
In order: MEX-55D, MEX-A10D, MEX-15D, MEX-15, Circuito Interior, MEX-85, MEX-105, MEX-102 and MEX-120. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Tonatico and Xilitla?
Closest to the road: Museo de Historia Natural (museum, mile 68, 0.2 mi from the route); Monumento a los Niños Héroes (monument, mile 70, 0.2 mi from the route); Barranca de Metztitlán (canyon, mile 167, 0.1 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 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.