The Wayro route from Actopan to Otumba is 53 miles (85 km), about 1 h 21 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 53 mi (85 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 1 h 21 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-85 → MEX-88 → MEX-132 |
| Mexican states on the route | Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2) |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 2.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
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 Otumba is like
MEX-88 (15 mi) and MEX-85 (14 mi) carry about 55% of the 53 miles. The route stays on free federal roads (libre): MEX-85, MEX-88, MEX-132. It runs through 2 states: Hidalgo, State of Mexico. Of the 4 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Actopan to Otumba, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 2–16 | 14 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 16–23 | 7 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-88 | 23–38 | 15 | Hidalgo |
| connecting roads | 38–39 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-132 | 39–48 | 9 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 48–49 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 49–53 | 4 | State of Mexico |
- Mile 42 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
Stops between Actopan and Otumba
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Church and former convent of Todos los Santos (mile 35)
- Nature and outdoors: El Chico National Park (mile 19)
- Museums and history: Monumental Clock of Pachuca (mile 21)
El Chico National Park
In Hidalgo, El Chico National Park is known for towering cliffs such as Las Ventanas and Peña del Cuervo, popular with climbers, and forest wildlife including gray foxes, ringtails, armadillos, hawks, falcons and woodpeckers.
Monumental Clock of Pachuca
Rising over Plaza Independencia in Pachuca's historic center, the Monumental Clock tower was built between 1904 and 1910 to mark the centennial of Mexico's War of Independence.
Church and former convent of Todos los Santos
Franciscan friars built this fortress-style convent in Zempoala, and the complex still keeps the classic layout of atrium, church, open chapel and cloister. It pairs well with a drive through the area's old pulque haciendas.
Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque
Built by Franciscan friar Francisco de Tembleque between 1554 and 1572, this 16th-century water system runs more than 48 km between Zempoala and Otumba. Its tallest arcade at Tepeyahualco reaches almost 40 meters, and UNESCO listed it in 2015.
When you get to Otumba
Pyramid of the Sun
Rising along the Avenue of the Dead between the Pyramid of the Moon and the Ciudadela, the Pyramid of the Sun is the largest building in Teotihuacan, believed to date to about AD 200.
Teotihuacan
Built between the 1st and 7th centuries AD, this UNESCO-listed ancient city lines the Avenue of the Dead, where you can walk between the Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon and the Temple of the Feathered Serpent.
Museo del Ferrocarril en Otumba
The Museo del Ferrocarril en Otumba is a museum in the town of Otumba de Gómez Farías devoted, as its name says, to the railroad.
More drives to Otumba
- Mexico City to Otumba
- Tepotzotlán to Otumba
- Toluca to Otumba
- Metepec to Otumba
- Jilotepec to Otumba
- Cuernavaca to Otumba
From Actopan to other places in Mexico
- Actopan to Cadereyta
- Actopan to Ezequiel Montes
- Actopan to Amealco
- Actopan to Pedro Escobedo
- Actopan to El Oro
- Actopan to Tlalpujahua
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Actopan to Otumba?
About 1 h 21 min of driving without stops, over 53 miles.
How far is Otumba from Actopan by car?
About 53 miles (85 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 Otumba?
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 Otumba?
The U.S. State Department rates Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Actopan to Otumba use?
In order: MEX-85, MEX-88 and MEX-132. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Actopan and Otumba?
Closest to the road: Monumental Clock of Pachuca (monument, mile 21, 3 mi from the route); Church and former convent of Todos los Santos (convent, mile 35, 0.6 mi from the route); Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque (aqueduct, mile 40, 2 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.