The Wayro route from Calpulalpan to Zimapán is 126 miles (202 km), about 2 h 50 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 126 mi (202 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 2 h 50 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-M40D → HGO 30 → MEX-85 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 5.0 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.
What the drive from Calpulalpan to Zimapán is like
MEX-M40D (58 mi) and HGO 30 (29 mi) carry about 69% of the 126 miles. MEX-M40D is a toll highway (cuota); MEX-85 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 3 states: Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Calpulalpan to Zimapán, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-M40D | 4–62 | 58 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 62–63 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| HGO 30 | 63–92 | 29 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 92–121 | 29 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 121–126 | 5 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 4 of this route: Tlaxcala → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 11 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 24 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 40 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 55 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
Stops between Calpulalpan and Zimapán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Church of San Miguel Arcángel (mile 96), Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (mile 96)
- Nature and outdoors: Tula National Park (mile 63)
- Museums and history: Teotihuacan (mile 22), Museo Arqueológico de Apaxco (mile 55), Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (mile 96)
Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque
Built by Franciscan friar Francisco de Tembleque between 1554 and 1572, this 16th-century water system runs more than 48 km between Zempoala and Otumba. Its tallest arcade at Tepeyahualco reaches almost 40 meters, and UNESCO listed it in 2015.
Teotihuacan
Built between the 1st and 7th centuries AD, this UNESCO-listed ancient city lines the Avenue of the Dead, where you can walk between the Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon and the Temple of the Feathered Serpent.
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 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.
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.
Church of San Miguel Arcángel
Ixmiquilpan's 16th-century Church of San Miguel Arcángel is known for its murals with religious and secular scenes, and for a design that blends European and Indigenous traditions.
Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital
In Ixmiquilpan, Hidalgo, the Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital works as both a museum and a cultural center.
More drives to Zimapán
- Celaya to Zimapán
- Tlalpujahua to Zimapán
- Moroleón to Zimapán
- Pénjamo to Zimapán
- Zitácuaro to Zimapán
- Cuitzeo to Zimapán
From Calpulalpan to other places in Mexico
- Calpulalpan to Omitlán
- Calpulalpan to Huasca de Ocampo
- Calpulalpan to Actopan
- Calpulalpan to Atlatlahucan
- Calpulalpan to Metepec
- Calpulalpan to Jilotepec
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Calpulalpan to Zimapán?
About 2 h 50 min of driving without stops, over 126 miles.
How far is Zimapán from Calpulalpan by car?
About 126 miles (202 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 Calpulalpan to Zimapán?
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 Calpulalpan to Zimapán?
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 (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Calpulalpan to Zimapán use?
In order: MEX-M40D, HGO 30 and MEX-85. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Calpulalpan and Zimapán?
Closest to the road: Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque (aqueduct, mile 21, 2 mi from the route); Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (museum, mile 96, 0.1 mi from the route); Church of San Miguel Arcángel (convent, mile 96, 0.4 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.