By road, Tulancingo and Arteaga are about 544 miles (876 km) apart, or roughly 10 h 13 min of driving.
| Distance | 544 mi (876 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 13 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-130 → MEX-132 → MEX-M40D → MEX-57D → MEX-57 |
| Mexican states on the route | Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, Nuevo León, Coahuila |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-M40D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.8 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 Tulancingo to Arteaga is like
MEX-57 (294 mi) and MEX-57D (159 mi) carry about 83% of the 544 miles. It runs through 7 states: Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, Nuevo León, Coahuila. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-M40D and MEX-57D. None of the 9 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Road-by-road breakdown: Tulancingo to Arteaga
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-130 | 2–6 | 4 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-132 | 6–29 | 23 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-M40D | 29–89 | 60 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 89–90 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-57D | 90–177 | 87 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro |
| MEX-57 | 177–274 | 97 | Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| connecting roads | 274–275 | 1 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 275–317 | 42 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 317–392 | 75 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 392–401 | 9 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 401–520 | 119 | San Luis Potosí, Nuevo León |
| MEX-57D | 520–541 | 21 | Nuevo León, Coahuila |
| MEX-57 | 541–544 | 3 | Coahuila |
- Mile 48 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 62 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 91 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 124 of this route: State of Mexico → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 184 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 237 of this route: Guanajuato → San Luis Potosí (state line)
- Mile 414 of this route: San Luis Potosí → Nuevo León (state line)
- Mile 521 of this route: Nuevo León → Coahuila (state line)
Places worth a stop between Tulancingo and Arteaga
- Nature and outdoors: El Gogorrón National Park (mile 263)
- Museums and history: Tula (mile 78), Jorge R. Acosta Museum (mile 78), Casa de la Corregidora (mile 161), Former hacienda of Chichimequillas (mile 169), San Luis Potosí Cathedral (mile 283), Matehuala Cathedral (mile 397)
Church and former convent of Todos los Santos
Franciscan friars built this fortress-style convent in Zempoala, and the complex still keeps the classic layout of atrium, church, open chapel and cloister. It pairs well with a drive through the area's old pulque haciendas.
Tula
Basalt warrior figures over four meters (13 feet) tall, the Atlantes, crown the main pyramid at Tula. Visitors can also explore a ball court, the Burnt Palace and the Coatepantli wall.
Jorge R. Acosta Museum
Next to the Tula ruins, the Museo de Sitio Jorge R. Acosta traces the rise and decline of the Toltecs and their city, Tollan Xicocotitlan. It moved into new facilities in 1982 and covers nearly 20 years of digs led by archaeologist Jorge R. Acosta.
Historic Monuments Zone of Querétaro
Baroque churches and mansions from the 17th and 18th centuries line the streets of Querétaro's historic center, along with the city's landmark aqueduct.
Casa de la Corregidora
Completed in 1770 as Querétaro's royal houses and town hall, the Casa de la Corregidora is where Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez, held there in 1810, sent word of danger to Miguel Hidalgo. After independence it became the state government palace.
Former hacienda of Chichimequillas
Discalced Carmelite friars founded this hacienda around 1690 to shelter travelers on the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro and to farm. Its two-story stone and lime main house, finished in 1813, wraps around a central courtyard beside a chapel.
El Gogorrón National Park
Decreed a national park in 1936, Gogorrón in San Luis Potosí mixes desert scrub and grassland with pine-oak forest on its heights, and hot-spring balnearios lie within its bounds.
San Luis Potosí Cathedral
Look closely at the two towers of San Luis Potosí's cathedral: one is built of mortar, the other of quarried cantera stone. The Baroque church is the seat of the archdiocese.
Matehuala Cathedral
Still open for worship, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral serves as the seat of the Catholic Diocese of Matehuala, a city in the state of San Luis Potosí.
More drives to Arteaga
- Montemorelos to Arteaga
- Jerez, Zacatecas to Arteaga
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Arteaga
- Durango to Arteaga
- Calvillo to Arteaga
- San Juan de los Lagos to Arteaga
From Tulancingo to other places in Mexico
- Tulancingo to Tepotzotlán
- Tulancingo to Zimapán
- Tulancingo to Metepec
- Tulancingo to Atlatlahucan
- Tulancingo to Malinalco
- Tulancingo to Tonatico
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tulancingo to Arteaga?
About 10 h 13 min of driving without stops, over 544 miles.
What is the driving distance from Tulancingo to Arteaga?
About 544 miles (876 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 Tulancingo to Arteaga?
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 Tulancingo to Arteaga?
The U.S. State Department rates Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Nuevo León Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Coahuila Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Tulancingo to Arteaga?
In order: MEX-130, MEX-132, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D and MEX-57. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Tulancingo to Arteaga?
Closest to the road: Church and former convent of Todos los Santos (convent, mile 24, 2 mi from the route); Tula (archaeological site, mile 78, 1 mi from the route); Jorge R. Acosta Museum (museum, mile 78, 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.