By road, Apizaco and Lo de Marcos are about 550 miles (885 km) apart, or roughly 8 h 51 min of driving.
| Distance | 550 mi (885 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 51 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-136 → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-70D → MEX-200D → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-70D, MEX-200D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 22.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
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.
Driving Apizaco to Lo de Marcos: the shape of the trip
MEX-15D (322 mi) and MEX-M40D (120 mi) carry about 80% of the 550 miles. It runs through 6 states: Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-M40D, MEX-15D and MEX-70D. None of the 8 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Which roads connect Apizaco and Lo de Marcos
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-136 | 1–27 | 26 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-M40D | 27–147 | 120 | Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 147–148 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 148–405 | 257 | State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 405–413 | 8 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 413–478 | 65 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 478–513 | 35 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 513–531 | 18 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 531–546 | 15 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200 | 546–549 | 3 | Nayarit |
| local roads | 549–550 | 1 | Nayarit |
- Mile 35 of this route: Tlaxcala → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 43 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 56 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 73 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 86 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 117 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 166 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 334 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 462 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
What to see on the way from Apizaco to Lo de Marcos
- Nature and outdoors: Rayón National Park (mile 169), Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 541)
- Museums and history: Tula (mile 103), Jorge R. Acosta Museum (mile 103), Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 187), Guadalajara Cathedral (mile 398), National Museum of Tequila (mile 432)
Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque
At Tepeyahualco, the tallest arcade of this 16th-century water system rises almost 40 meters. Franciscan friar Francisco de Tembleque built it between 1554 and 1572.
Tula
Basalt warrior figures over four meters (13 feet) tall, the Atlantes, crown the main pyramid at Tula. Visitors can also explore a ball court, the Burnt Palace and the Coatepantli wall.
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.
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
French influence shapes the neoclassical lines of the Teatro Morelos, a late-19th-century theater in Maravatío by architect Rafael Guerrero Torres. It first opened in January 1879.
Guadalajara Cathedral
In the Centro of Guadalajara, the Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady is the seat of the Archdiocese of Guadalajara and a minor basilica.
National Museum of Tequila
Jalisco's state government took back the National Museum of Tequila in 2026, announcing a reopening with refreshed displays. The museum, known as MUNAT, tells the story of the spirit in the town that shares its name.
Rincón de Guayabitos
Visitors from Guadalajara and Tepic often head to this Nayarit beach town in the municipality of Compostela. Its shore runs about two kilometers, and the waves tend to be calm.
More drives to Lo de Marcos
- San Juan de los Lagos to Lo de Marcos
- León to Lo de Marcos
- Aguascalientes to Lo de Marcos
- Paracho to Lo de Marcos
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Lo de Marcos
- Pabellón de Hidalgo to Lo de Marcos
From Apizaco to other places in Mexico
- Apizaco to Omitlán
- Apizaco to Huasca de Ocampo
- Apizaco to Atlatlahucan
- Apizaco to Metepec
- Apizaco to Jilotepec
- Apizaco to Malinalco
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Apizaco to Lo de Marcos?
About 8 h 51 min of driving without stops, over 550 miles.
How far is Lo de Marcos from Apizaco by car?
About 550 miles (885 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 Apizaco to Lo de Marcos?
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 Apizaco to Lo de Marcos?
The U.S. State Department rates Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; 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; Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Apizaco to Lo de Marcos?
In order: MEX-136, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-70D, MEX-200D and MEX-200. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Apizaco and Lo de Marcos?
Closest to the road: Tula (archaeological site, mile 103, 1 mi from the route); Jorge R. Acosta Museum (museum, mile 103, 1 mi from the route); Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (opera house, mile 187, 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 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: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place 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.