By road, Xilitla and Ocuituco are about 273 miles (439 km) apart, or roughly 6 h 52 min of driving.
| Total distance | 273 mi (439 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 52 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-120 → MEX-85 → MEX-102 → MEX-105 → MEX-85D → MEX-5D → MEX-115 |
| Mexican states on the route | San Luis Potosí, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Morelos |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-85D, MEX-5D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.9 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.
How the Xilitla to Ocuituco drive plays out
MEX-105 (94 mi) and MEX-85 (37 mi) carry about 48% of the 273 miles. It runs through 4 states: San Luis Potosí, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Morelos. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-85D and MEX-5D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Xilitla to Ocuituco, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-120 | 1–9 | 8 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-85 | 9–30 | 21 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-102 | 30–35 | 5 | San Luis Potosí |
| local roads | 35–59 | 24 | San Luis Potosí, Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 59–138 | 79 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 138–142 | 4 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 142–157 | 15 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 157–163 | 6 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 163–179 | 16 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-85D | 179–199 | 20 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 199–201 | 2 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-5D | 201–233 | 32 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 233–234 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-115 | 234–255 | 21 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 255–273 | 18 | State of Mexico, Morelos |
- Mile 38 of this route: San Luis Potosí → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 185 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 263 of this route: State of Mexico → Morelos (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Ocuituco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Regional de la Sierra Alta (mile 102), Ex monastery of Saint Francis of Assisi, Pachuca de Soto, Hidalgo (mile 157)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Ecológico Cubitos (mile 159), Iztaccíhuatl–Popocatépetl National Park (mile 248)
- Museums and history: Museo Regional de la Sierra Alta (mile 102), Mexican Air Force Museum (mile 190), Luis Barragán House and Studio (mile 211)
Museo Regional de la Sierra Alta
Museo Regional de la Sierra Alta is a regional museum in the town of Zacualtipán, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
Antiguo Convento Franciscano
Dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi, the Antiguo Convento Franciscano in Zacatlán was founded by the Franciscans in 1562 and finished in 1567, and it still holds Catholic services.
Ex monastery of Saint Francis of Assisi, Pachuca de Soto, Hidalgo
The Templo y exconvento de San Francisco in Pachuca de Soto is mainly Baroque, with touches of Churrigueresque and Neoclassical style. Construction began in 1596 under Fray Francisco de Torantos, who chose the style of its facade and windows.
Parque Ecológico Cubitos
Between Pachuca de Soto and Mineral de la Reforma, Parque Ecológico Cubitos is a 90-hectare protected natural area whose public section has a botanical garden, an arboretum, a herpetarium, a farm, a maze, a zip line and a bike path.
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.
Historic center of Mexico City
Built by the Spanish in the 16th century on the ruins of Tenochtitlan, Mexico City's Centro Histórico holds the Metropolitan Cathedral, the excavated Aztec Templo Mayor and the Palacio de Bellas Artes. UNESCO added it to the World Heritage List in 1987.
Luis Barragán House and Studio
Luis Barragán built his own house and studio in Mexico City in 1948, blending modern design with Mexican vernacular touches. The concrete house and its private garden joined UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2004.
Iztaccíhuatl–Popocatépetl National Park
Iztaccíhuatl–Popocatépetl National Park, also called Izta-Popo Zoquiapan, protects the land around Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl, Mexico's second- and third-highest peaks, where the states of México, Puebla and Morelos meet.
When you get to Ocuituco
Convento de Santiago Apóstol
In the town of Ocuituco, the Temple and Ex-convent of Santiago Apóstol (Templo y Exconvento de Santiago Apóstol) belongs to the UNESCO-listed group of 16th-century monasteries on the slopes of Popocatépetl, inscribed in 1994.
Convento de San Juan Bautista
This convent in Tetela del Volcán, known for its carved wooden sacristy and light-filled cloister walks, was cleaned of soot left from its use as a barracks during the Mexican Revolution in a conservation project completed in 2009.
More drives to Ocuituco
- Tepoztlán to Ocuituco
- Cuernavaca to Ocuituco
- Mexico City to Ocuituco
- Zacatelco to Ocuituco
- Tlaxcala to Ocuituco
- Chiautempan to Ocuituco
From Xilitla to other places in Mexico
- Xilitla to Pinal de Amoles
- Xilitla to Omitlán
- Xilitla to Cuetzalan
- Xilitla to El Oro
- Xilitla to Jalpa de Cánovas
- Xilitla to Santa Fe de la Laguna
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Xilitla to Ocuituco?
About 6 h 52 min of driving without stops, over 273 miles.
What is the driving distance from Xilitla to Ocuituco?
About 273 miles (439 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 Xilitla to Ocuituco?
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 Xilitla to Ocuituco?
The U.S. State Department rates San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Morelos Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Xilitla to Ocuituco use?
In order: MEX-120, MEX-85, MEX-102, MEX-105, MEX-85D, MEX-5D and MEX-115. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Xilitla to Ocuituco?
Closest to the road: Museo Regional de la Sierra Alta (museum, mile 102, 0.4 mi from the route); Ex monastery of Saint Francis of Assisi, Pachuca de Soto, Hidalgo (convent, mile 157, 0.4 mi from the route); Parque Ecológico Cubitos (park, mile 159, 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.