Magical Towns on the way from Mexico City to Querétaro
7 Magical Towns are less than 30 km from the road between Mexico City and Querétaro, a trip of roughly 227 km on the Mexico City–Querétaro highway (57D). Tepotzotlán and Jilotepec are right on the way.
Mexico’s busiest highway is also one of the best for Magical Towns: Tepotzotlán sits right by the road, Jilotepec and Aculco are minutes away and, once in Querétaro, Tequisquiapan opens the Cheese and Wine Route.
- Distance
- ≈ 227 km
- Driving time
- ≈ 2 h 45 min
- Stops
- 7
Stops in order, from Mexico City
Km 39Estado de MéxicoTepotzotlán
Right on the way
A jewel of New Spain baroque on the UNESCO-listed Camino Real de Tierra Adentro: a former Jesuit college that now houses the National Museum of the Viceroyalty.
Km 64Estado de MéxicoVilla del Carbón
≈ 15 km off the road
Leather jackets, wool sarapes, cobbled streets and reservoirs such as Presa del Llano and Taxhimay in the Sierra de Monte Alto, near Mexico City.
Km 89Estado de MéxicoJilotepec
Right on the way
Climbing crags, reservoirs and one of Mexico's oldest Franciscan parishes on the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, 100 km from Mexico City.
Km 129Estado de MéxicoAculco de Espinoza
≈ 11 km off the road
White quarry stone, arcades and waterfalls such as La Concepción and Tixhiñú: a quiet getaway from Mexico City, Toluca or Querétaro, with local cheeses.
Km 140HidalgoHuichapan
≈ 24 km off the road
Quarry stone, an aqueduct and Independence history in Hidalgo: El Chapitel, rock paintings, El Saucillo eco-park and hot-spring pools.
Km 165QuerétaroAmealco
≈ 27 km off the road
Home of the handmade Otomí doll: over 550 workshops, the Doll Museum, textiles, countryside and communities like Santiago Mexquititlán.
Km 171QuerétaroTequisquiapan
≈ 18 km off the road
Heart of Querétaro's Cheese and Wine Route: vineyards, cheese makers, hot-air balloon rides, wicker crafts, spas and opal mines.
Kilometers are approximate, measured along the main highway; the detour is the straight-line distance from the road to the town, so by road it will be longer. Times are estimates: check your route and road conditions before you leave.
Other road trips
Magical Towns near your city
- Near Mexico City
- Near Guadalajara
- Near Monterrey
- Near Puebla
- Near Querétaro
- Near León
- Near Mérida
- Near Cancún
- Near Oaxaca
- Near Puerto Vallarta
- Near Toluca
- Near Cuernavaca
- Near Pachuca
- Near Tlaxcala
- Near San Luis Potosí
- Near Aguascalientes
- Near Morelia
- Near Zacatecas
- Near Saltillo
- Near Xalapa
- Near Veracruz
- Near Tuxtla Gutiérrez
- Near Villahermosa
- Near Colima
- Near Tepic
Explore by theme
- Beach Magical Towns
- Mountain Magical Towns with a cool climate
- Magical Towns with cenotes
- Mining Magical Towns
- Wine Magical Towns
- Magical Towns with hot springs
- Magical Towns with archaeological sites
- UNESCO World Heritage Magical Towns
- Magical Towns for Day of the Dead
- Magical Towns for Mexican crafts
- Coffee Magical Towns
- The newest Magical Towns