The Wayro route from Zacatlán to Chipilo is 78 miles (126 km), about 1 h 52 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 78 mi (126 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 1 h 52 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-119 → MEX-117D → MEX-121 |
| Mexican states on the route | Puebla (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-117D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 3.1 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 Zacatlán to Chipilo is like
MEX-119 (44 mi) and MEX-121 (23 mi) carry about 86% of the 78 miles. MEX-117D is a toll highway (cuota); MEX-119, MEX-121 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 2 states: Puebla, Tlaxcala. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Zacatlán to Chipilo, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Puebla |
| MEX-119 | 1–45 | 44 | Puebla, Tlaxcala |
| connecting roads | 45–47 | 2 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-117D | 47–51 | 4 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-121 | 51–74 | 23 | Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| local roads | 74–78 | 4 | Puebla |
- Mile 25 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 70 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
Stops between Zacatlán and Chipilo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Apizaco (mile 45), Ex Convento de Santa María de la Concepción Atlihuetzia (mile 49)
- Nature and outdoors: La Malinche National Park (mile 65)
- Museums and history: Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Apizaco (mile 45), Museo Casa de Piedra (mile 45), Basílica de Ocotlán (mile 54), Museo Nacional de Antropología e Historia de Tlaxcala (mile 54), La Constancia Mexicana (mile 71)
Santuario de Nuestro Padre Jesús de Aquixtla
In the Sierra Norte de Puebla, the sanctuary of Nuestro Padre Jesús in Aquixtla draws thousands of pilgrims during the year who come to give thanks for favors received.
Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Apizaco
In the city of Apizaco, this Catholic basilica (Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Misericordia) was begun in the third decade of the 20th century and completed in 1961.
Museo Casa de Piedra
Apizaco's old railroad station, dating from 1916, now houses the Museo Casa de Piedra. Inside, photographs and documents trace the town's history, especially its long ties to the railroads.
Ex Convento de Santa María de la Concepción Atlihuetzia
The ruined walls of this 16th-century Franciscan convent in Atlihuetzia rise as high as 21 meters beside the 17th-century Purísima Concepción church. The site also holds a sanctuary to Cristóbal, honored as the first Catholic child martyr in the Americas.
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.
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.
La Malinche National Park
Tlaxcala's La Malinche National Park surrounds the inactive Matlalcuéyetl volcano, with pine, oak and fir forests on its slopes, hiking trails, birdwatching, and stone cabins and campsites at the Malintzi Vacation Center.
La Constancia Mexicana
A textile factory founded in 1835 in Puebla now houses the La Constancia museum complex, with a children's museum, a puppet house, a Mexican music museum, an automobile museum and a park of miniature world monuments.
When you get to Chipilo
Convent Church of Nuestra Señora del Carmen, Puebla
An early 17th-century example of Puebla Baroque, the Church of the Virgin of Carmen has two richly decorated chapels and a neoclassical altarpiece holding an image of the Virgin by sculptor José Antonio Villegas Cora.
Convent Church of San Francisco, Puebla
The Convent Church of San Francisco is a historic church that you'll find in the city of Puebla, in the Mexican state of Puebla.
Puebla Cathedral
Consecrated in 1649, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception is the seat of the Archdiocese of Puebla and one of the key buildings in the city's UNESCO-listed historic center.
More drives to Chipilo
- Apizaco to Chipilo
- Calpulalpan to Chipilo
- Pachuca to Chipilo
- Cuernavaca to Chipilo
- Tepotzotlán to Chipilo
- Actopan to Chipilo
From Zacatlán to other places in Mexico
- Zacatlán to Omitlán
- Zacatlán to Otumba
- Zacatlán to Actopan
- Zacatlán to Metztitlán
- Zacatlán to Jilotepec
- Zacatlán to Atlatlahucan
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Zacatlán to Chipilo?
About 1 h 52 min of driving without stops, over 78 miles.
How far is Chipilo from Zacatlán by car?
About 78 miles (126 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 Zacatlán to Chipilo?
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 Zacatlán to Chipilo?
The U.S. State Department rates 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 Zacatlán to Chipilo use?
In order: MEX-119, MEX-117D and MEX-121. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Zacatlán and Chipilo?
Closest to the road: Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Apizaco (basilica, mile 45, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo Casa de Piedra (railway museum, mile 45, 1 mi from the route); Ex Convento de Santa María de la Concepción Atlihuetzia (convent, mile 49, 0.3 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.