The Wayro route from Actopan to Sayula is 390 miles (628 km), about 6 h 52 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 390 mi (628 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 52 min |
| Main roads, in order | HGO 30 → HGO 17 → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → JAL 122 → MEX-35 → MEX-GUA 10D → MEX-54D → MEX-54 |
| Mexican states on the route | Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Michoacán (Level 4), Jalisco (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-GUA 10D, MEX-54D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.6 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 Sayula is like
MEX-15D (203 mi) and MEX-M40D (48 mi) carry about 64% of the 390 miles. MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-GUA 10D, MEX-54D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-35, MEX-54 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco. None of the 6 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Actopan to Sayula, 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 | 80–283 | 203 | State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco |
| JAL 122 | 283–288 | 5 | Jalisco |
| MEX-35 | 288–318 | 30 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 318–319 | 1 | Jalisco |
| MEX-GUA 10D | 319–341 | 22 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 341–343 | 2 | Jalisco |
| MEX-54D | 343–383 | 40 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 383–385 | 2 | Jalisco |
| MEX-54 | 385–389 | 4 | Jalisco |
| local roads | 389–390 | 1 | Jalisco |
- Mile 48 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 97 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 265 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
Stops between Actopan and Sayula
- Nature and outdoors: Rayón National Park (mile 100)
- Museums and history: Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl (mile 35), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 80), Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 118)
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.
Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl
The Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl is an archaeological museum located in Tula de Allende, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
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.
More drives to Sayula
- Tepatitlán to Sayula
- San Juan de los Lagos to Sayula
- Lagos de Moreno to Sayula
- León to Sayula
- Aguascalientes to Sayula
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Sayula
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 Sayula?
About 6 h 52 min of driving without stops, over 390 miles.
How far is Sayula from Actopan by car?
About 390 miles (628 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 Sayula?
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 Sayula?
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; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Actopan to Sayula use?
In order: HGO 30, HGO 17, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, JAL 122, MEX-35, MEX-GUA 10D, MEX-54D and MEX-54. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Actopan and Sayula?
Closest to the road: Atlantean figures (atlantean figures, mile 34, 1 mi from the route); Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl (museum, mile 35, 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.