The Wayro route from Actopan to Tonatico is 146 miles (235 km), about 2 h 52 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 146 mi (235 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 2 h 52 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-85 → MEX-85D → Circuito Interior → MEX-15 → MEX-15D → MEX-A10D → MEX-55D |
| Mexican states on the route | Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Mexico City (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-85D, MEX-15D, MEX-A10D, MEX-55D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 5.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
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 Tonatico is like
MEX-85 (35 mi) and MEX-85D (30 mi) carry about 45% of the 146 miles. MEX-85D, MEX-15D, MEX-A10D, MEX-55D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-85, MEX-15 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Mexico City. Of the 7 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Actopan to Tonatico, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 2–37 | 35 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-85D | 37–67 | 30 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Mexico City |
| connecting roads | 67–71 | 4 | Mexico City |
| Circuito Interior | 71–76 | 5 | Mexico City |
| MEX-15 | 76–81 | 5 | Mexico City |
| MEX-15D | 81–101 | 20 | Mexico City, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 101–103 | 2 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-A10D | 103–115 | 12 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 115–118 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 118–142 | 24 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 142–146 | 4 | State of Mexico |
- Mile 43 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 66 of this route: State of Mexico → Mexico City (state line)
- Mile 89 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)
Stops between Actopan and Tonatico
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 69), Papalote Museo del Niño (mile 77)
- Nature and outdoors: El Chico National Park (mile 17), Fuentes Brotantes de Tlalpan National Park (mile 83)
- Museums and history: Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 69), Planetario Luis Enrique Erro (mile 69), Museo Nacional de Arte (mile 73), Papalote Museo del Niño (mile 77)
- With kids: Planetario Luis Enrique Erro (mile 69)
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.
Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe
The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, at the foot of Tepeyac Hill in Mexico City's Gustavo A. Madero borough, is a Catholic basilica dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe within the Primate Archdiocese of Mexico.
Planetario Luis Enrique Erro
Run by the National Polytechnic Institute, the Planetario Luis Enrique Erro in Mexico City is a planetarium open to the public and one of the longest-running in Latin America.
Museo Nacional de Arte
Housed in Mexico City's historic center, the Museo Nacional de Arte is the country's national art museum.
Papalote Museo del Niño
In Chapultepec's woods, Papalote Museo del Niño is a children's museum with interactive exhibits on science, technology and art built around learning and teamwork.
Fuentes Brotantes de Tlalpan National Park
In southern Mexico City's Tlalpan borough, Fuentes Brotantes de Tlalpan was declared a national park on September 28, 1936, on land once called the Barranca de los Manantiales.
Ciénegas del Lerma
These marshes in the Toluca Valley are three lakes left from a wetland of about 27,000 hectares in the late 19th century. A Ramsar site since 2004, they hold dozens of endemic and threatened species and are a key stop for migratory species.
More drives to Tonatico
- Valle de Bravo to Tonatico
- Zitácuaro to Tonatico
- Tlalpujahua to Tonatico
- Amealco to Tonatico
- San Juan del Río to Tonatico
- Tequisquiapan to Tonatico
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 Tonatico?
About 2 h 52 min of driving without stops, over 146 miles.
How far is Tonatico from Actopan by car?
About 146 miles (235 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 Tonatico?
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 Tonatico?
The U.S. State Department rates Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Mexico City 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 Tonatico use?
In order: MEX-85, MEX-85D, Circuito Interior, MEX-15, MEX-15D, MEX-A10D and MEX-55D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Actopan and Tonatico?
Closest to the road: Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe (catholic parish church, mile 69, 0.6 mi from the route); Planetario Luis Enrique Erro (science museum, mile 69, 1 mi from the route); Papalote Museo del Niño (museum building, mile 77, 0.2 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.