The Wayro route from Actopan to Jalpa de Cánovas is 245 miles (395 km), about 4 h 32 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 245 mi (395 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 32 min |
| Main roads, in order | HGO 30 → HGO 17 → MEX-M40D → MEX-57D → MEX-47D → MEX-45D → GTO 87-0 → GTO 37 |
| Mexican states on the route | Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Querétaro (Level 2), Guanajuato (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
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 Actopan to Jalpa de Cánovas is like
MEX-45D (86 mi) and MEX-47D (53 mi) carry about 57% of the 245 miles. MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D are toll highways (cuota). It runs through 4 states: Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato. None of the 6 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Actopan to Jalpa de Cánovas, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–17 | 17 | Hidalgo |
| HGO 30 | 17–26 | 9 | Hidalgo |
| HGO 17 | 26–30 | 4 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-M40D | 30–45 | 15 | Hidalgo |
| connecting roads | 45–46 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-57D | 46–81 | 35 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro |
| MEX-47D | 81–134 | 53 | Querétaro, Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 134–220 | 86 | Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 220–221 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| GTO 87-0 | 221–234 | 13 | Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 234–237 | 3 | Guanajuato |
| GTO 37 | 237–245 | 8 | Guanajuato |
- Mile 47 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 80 of this route: State of Mexico → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 122 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
Stops between Actopan and Jalpa de Cánovas
- Nature and outdoors: El Cimatario National Park (mile 117), Cerro de las Campanas (mile 122)
- Museums and history: Jorge R. Acosta Museum (mile 34), Celaya Cathedral (mile 146)
Hacienda Demiñho
Near Tunititlán in the Mezquital Valley, Hacienda Demiñho is a former Spanish-era estate that once ran cattle, farmed and rented land, becoming one of the region's important haciendas.
Atlantean figures
Crowning the main pyramid at the Tula archaeological zone, these basalt sculptures of Toltec warriors stand more than four meters tall in what was once the Toltec capital; the nearby Wall of Snakes shows carved serpents devouring skeletons.
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.
El Cimatario National Park
El Cimatario National Park protects about 24 square kilometers of land just south of the city of Santiago de Querétaro.
Cerro de las Campanas
Rising within Querétaro City, the Cerro de las Campanas is a hill that is protected as a Mexican national park.
Celaya Cathedral
Celaya's main Catholic church, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, occupies the space of a former chapel that was annexed to the neighboring Temple of St. Francis.
More drives to Jalpa de Cánovas
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Jalpa de Cánovas
- Real de Asientos to Jalpa de Cánovas
- Amatitán to Jalpa de Cánovas
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Jalpa de Cánovas
- Zacatecas to Jalpa de Cánovas
- Jerez, Zacatecas to Jalpa de Cánovas
From Actopan to other places in Mexico
- Actopan to Otumba
- Actopan to Cadereyta
- Actopan to Ezequiel Montes
- Actopan to Amealco
- Actopan to Pedro Escobedo
- Actopan to El Oro
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Actopan to Jalpa de Cánovas?
About 4 h 32 min of driving without stops, over 245 miles.
How far is Jalpa de Cánovas from Actopan by car?
About 245 miles (395 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 Actopan to Jalpa de Cánovas?
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 Actopan to Jalpa de Cánovas?
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 (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Actopan to Jalpa de Cánovas use?
In order: HGO 30, HGO 17, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D, GTO 87-0 and GTO 37. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Actopan and Jalpa de Cánovas?
Closest to the road: Hacienda Demiñho (plantation, mile 19, 2 mi from the route); Atlantean figures (atlantean figures, mile 34, 1 mi from the route); Jorge R. Acosta Museum (museum, mile 34, 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 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.