The Wayro route from Actopan to Santa Clara del Cobre is 221 miles (356 km), about 4 h 0 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 221 mi (356 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 0 min |
| Main roads, in order | HGO 30 → HGO 17 → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → MEX-37D → MEX-120 |
| Mexican states on the route | Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Michoacán (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D, MEX-14D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
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 Santa Clara del Cobre is like
MEX-15D (89 mi) and MEX-M40D (48 mi) carry about 62% of the 221 miles. MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-120 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 3 states: Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán. None of the 9 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Actopan to Santa Clara del Cobre, 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 | 30–78 | 48 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 78–80 | 2 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 80–169 | 89 | State of Mexico, Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 169–170 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 170–208 | 38 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 208–211 | 3 | Michoacán |
| MEX-120 | 211–221 | 10 | Michoacán |
- Mile 48 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 97 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
Stops between Actopan and Santa Clara del Cobre
- Nature and outdoors: Tula National Park (mile 34), Rayón National Park (mile 100)
- Museums and history: Jorge R. Acosta Museum (mile 34), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 80), Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 118), Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro (mile 211), Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares (mile 211)
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.
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.
Tula National Park
This park protects the ruins of Tula, ancient capital of the Toltecs. Walk up to the main pyramid to stand beside the Atlantes, basalt warrior figures more than four meters tall, and look for the Coatepantli wall's reliefs of snakes devouring skeletons.
Cathedral of Atlacomulco
Atlacomulco's cathedral, the Catedral de la Divina Providencia, is the seat of the Diocese of Atlacomulco and is dedicated to Divine Providence, making it the town's principal Catholic church.
Rayón National Park
Just outside Tlalpujahua, Rayón National Park (Parque Nacional Rayón) marks the start of the area's famous butterfly reserve country, which stretches south and west from here.
Teatro Morelos de Maravatío
Maravatío's Teatro Morelos is a late-19th-century theater in a French-influenced neoclassical style, designed by architect Rafael Guerrero Torres. It opened on January 11, 1879, with a performance by opera singer Ángela Peralta.
Historic Centre of Morelia
Morelia's old core, founded in the 16th century as Valladolid, keeps more than 200 historic buildings in the region's pink stone around its cathedral and checkerboard streets. UNESCO added it to the World Heritage List in 1991.
Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro
Pátzcuaro's basilica (Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Salud) rises on pre-Hispanic platforms beside its own plaza. Bishop Vasco de Quiroga planned it as a five-nave cathedral, only one nave was finished, and his remains rest inside.
Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares
Housed in an 18th-century building adapted from the Colegio de San Nicolás, which Vasco de Quiroga founded in the 16th century, this INAH museum in Pátzcuaro shows Purépecha pottery, textiles, woodwork and lacquerware.
More drives to Santa Clara del Cobre
- Tepatitlán to Santa Clara del Cobre
- Tequila to Santa Clara del Cobre
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Santa Clara del Cobre
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Santa Clara del Cobre
- Zacatecas to Santa Clara del Cobre
- Jerez, Zacatecas to Santa Clara del Cobre
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 Santa Clara del Cobre?
About 4 h 0 min of driving without stops, over 221 miles.
How far is Santa Clara del Cobre from Actopan by car?
About 221 miles (356 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 Santa Clara del Cobre?
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 Santa Clara del Cobre?
The U.S. State Department rates Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Actopan to Santa Clara del Cobre use?
In order: HGO 30, HGO 17, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D and MEX-120. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Actopan and Santa Clara del Cobre?
Closest to the road: Jorge R. Acosta Museum (museum, mile 34, 1 mi from the route); Tula National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 34, 1 mi from the route); Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (opera house, mile 118, 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.