The Wayro route from Apizaco to Tapalpa is 467 miles (752 km), about 8 h 7 min of driving without stops.
| Distance by road | 467 mi (752 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 7 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-136 → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → JAL 122 → MEX-35 → MEX-GUA 10D → MEX-54D → MEX-54 → JAL 436 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-GUA 10D, MEX-54D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.7 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.
How the Apizaco to Tapalpa drive plays out
MEX-15D (203 mi) and MEX-M40D (120 mi) carry about 69% of the 467 miles. It runs through 5 states: Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-M40D, MEX-15D and MEX-GUA 10D. None of the 8 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Road-by-road breakdown: Apizaco to Tapalpa
| 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 | 148–351 | 203 | State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 351–352 | 1 | Jalisco |
| JAL 122 | 352–357 | 5 | Jalisco |
| MEX-35 | 357–387 | 30 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 387–388 | 1 | Jalisco |
| MEX-GUA 10D | 388–410 | 22 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 410–411 | 1 | Jalisco |
| MEX-54D | 411–434 | 23 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 434–437 | 3 | Jalisco |
| MEX-54 | 437–447 | 10 | Jalisco |
| JAL 436 | 447–466 | 19 | Jalisco |
| local roads | 466–467 | 1 | Jalisco |
- 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)
What to see on the way from Apizaco to Tapalpa
- Nature and outdoors: Tula National Park (mile 103), Rayón National Park (mile 169)
- Museums and history: Museo Arqueológico de Apaxco (mile 87), Tula (mile 103), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 149), Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 187)
Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque
Running more than 48 km between Zempoala and Otumba, Padre Tembleque's 16th-century water system has been on UNESCO's list since 2015. The friar built it from 1554 to 1572.
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.
Museo Arqueológico de Apaxco
Founded in 1985, the Museo Arqueológico de Apaxco sits across from the parish church of San Francisco de Asís and beside the town hall in Apaxco, State of Mexico.
Tula
The Toltecs once ruled from Tula, now an archaeological zone. Its Coatepantli wall is carved with snakes devouring skeletons, and the famous Atlantes stand atop the main pyramid.
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
Dedicated to Divine Providence, the cathedral in Atlacomulco is the principal Catholic church in town and the seat of the local diocese.
Rayón National Park
On the outskirts of Tlalpujahua, Parque Nacional Rayón is the gateway to the area's well-known butterfly reserves, which spread out to the south and west of the park.
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.
More drives to Tapalpa
- Tepatitlán to Tapalpa
- Nochistlán to Tapalpa
- Lagos de Moreno to Tapalpa
- León to Tapalpa
- Aguascalientes to Tapalpa
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Tapalpa
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 Tapalpa?
About 8 h 7 min of driving without stops, over 467 miles.
What is the driving distance from Apizaco to Tapalpa?
About 467 miles (752 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 Tapalpa?
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 Tapalpa?
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 (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Apizaco to Tapalpa use?
In order: MEX-136, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, JAL 122, MEX-35, MEX-GUA 10D, MEX-54D, MEX-54 and JAL 436. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Apizaco to Tapalpa?
Closest to the road: Tula (archaeological site, mile 103, 1 mi from the route); Tula National Park (national park, 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.