Day trips

The 13 Best Day Trips from Mexico City

Drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan for every place worth the trip.

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There are 13 good day trips from Mexico City, Mexico, led by Puebla, Ecatepec de Morelos, Tlalpan. The closest is Tlalpan, about 25 min by car, and 9 of them fit into half a day. Below: drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan.

Day trips from Mexico City at a glance

DestinationDistanceDrive timeBest as
Puebla105 km SE1 hr 40 minFull-day trip
Ecatepec de Morelos21 km N30 minHalf-day trip
Tlalpan15 km S25 minHalf-day trip
Cuautitlán Izcalli26 km N40 minHalf-day trip
Toluca57 km W1 hr 5 minFull-day trip
Ciudad López Mateos20 km NW30 minHalf-day trip
Xochimilco19 km S30 minHalf-day trip
Cuernavaca57 km S1 hr 5 minFull-day trip
Ixtapaluca29 km SE45 minHalf-day trip
Tláhuac20 km SE30 minHalf-day trip
Nicolás Romero30 km NW35 minHalf-day trip
Zumpango41 km N45 minHalf-day trip
Pachuca de Soto87 km NE1 hr 20 minFull-day trip

Drive times are estimates from the distance. Check live traffic before you leave.

The best day trips from Mexico City

  1. 1

    Puebla, Mexico

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 40 min by car105 km south-east of Mexico City3 hr 20 min round trip

    Known for Benito Juárez.

    Also nearby: Cholula.

  2. 2

    Ecatepec de Morelos, Mexico

    Half-day trip
    About 30 min by car21 km north of Mexico City1 hr round trip

    Known for 100 años del ejercito mexicano.

    Also nearby: Coacalco.

  3. 3

    Tlalpan, Mexico

    Half-day trip
    About 25 min by car15 km south of Mexico City50 min round trip
  4. 4

    Cuautitlán Izcalli, Mexico

    Half-day trip
    About 40 min by car26 km north of Mexico City1 hr 20 min round trip
  5. 5

    Toluca, Mexico

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 5 min by car57 km west of Mexico City2 hr 10 min round trip
  6. 6

    Ciudad López Mateos, Mexico

    Half-day trip
    About 30 min by car20 km north-west of Mexico City1 hr round trip
  7. 7

    Xochimilco, Mexico

    Half-day trip
    About 30 min by car19 km south of Mexico City1 hr round trip
  8. 8

    Cuernavaca, Mexico

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 5 min by car57 km south of Mexico City2 hr 10 min round trip
  9. 9

    Ixtapaluca, Mexico

    Half-day trip
    About 45 min by car29 km south-east of Mexico City1 hr 30 min round trip
  10. 10

    Tláhuac, Mexico

    Half-day trip
    About 30 min by car20 km south-east of Mexico City1 hr round trip
  11. 11

    Nicolás Romero, Mexico

    Half-day trip
    About 35 min by car30 km north-west of Mexico City1 hr 10 min round trip
  12. 12

    Zumpango, Mexico

    Half-day trip
    About 45 min by car41 km north of Mexico City1 hr 30 min round trip
  13. 13

    Pachuca de Soto, Mexico

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 20 min by car87 km north-east of Mexico City2 hr 40 min round trip

A sample day trip: Mexico City to Puebla

A realistic pace for Puebla, 105 km from Mexico City. Packy AI builds this for any place on the list, with a route, opening hours and timings you can edit.

  1. 07:30Leave Mexico City
  2. 09:10Arrive in Puebla (1 hr 40 min drive)
  3. 09:25Benito Juárez
  4. 11:25Lunch
  5. 12:40Explore the old town, markets and cafes of Puebla
  6. 15:10Head back to Mexico City
  7. 16:50Home in Mexico City

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

What are the best day trips from Mexico City?
The best day trips from Mexico City are Puebla, Ecatepec de Morelos, Tlalpan, Cuautitlán Izcalli, Toluca. The closest is Tlalpan, about 25 min away by car.
What is the closest day trip from Mexico City?
Tlalpan is the closest, 15 km south of Mexico City, roughly 25 min by car. Best as a half-day trip.
Where can I go within an hour of Mexico City?
9 places are within about an hour's drive of Mexico City: Tlalpan (25 min), Xochimilco (30 min), Ciudad López Mateos (30 min), Tláhuac (30 min), Ecatepec de Morelos (30 min), Cuautitlán Izcalli (40 min).
What is the biggest city near Mexico City for a day out?
Puebla is the largest city in day-trip range, 105 km south-east of Mexico City and about 1 hr 40 min by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
How far is too far for a day trip from Mexico City?
Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Puebla at 105 km, around 1 hr 40 min by car.

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