The Wayro route from Cuanajo to Huasca de Ocampo is 242 miles (390 km), about 4 h 27 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 242 mi (390 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 27 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-14 → MEX-126 → MEX-48D → MEX-15D → MEX-M40D → MEX-85 → MEX-105 |
| Mexican states on the route | Michoacán (Level 4), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-48D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.7 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 Cuanajo to Huasca de Ocampo is like
MEX-M40D (80 mi) and MEX-15D (77 mi) carry about 65% of the 242 miles. MEX-48D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-14, MEX-126, MEX-85, MEX-105 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Michoacán, State of Mexico, Hidalgo. Of the 7 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Cuanajo to Huasca de Ocampo, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Michoacán |
| MEX-14 | 4–29 | 25 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 29–30 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-126 | 30–34 | 4 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 34–35 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-48D | 35–50 | 15 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 50–127 | 77 | Michoacán, State of Mexico |
| MEX-M40D | 127–207 | 80 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| connecting roads | 207–208 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 208–219 | 11 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 219–227 | 8 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 227–237 | 10 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 237–242 | 5 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 109 of this route: Michoacán → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 159 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 190 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 204 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
Stops between Cuanajo and Huasca de Ocampo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Morelia Cathedral (mile 29)
- Nature and outdoors: Insurgente José María Morelos y Pavón National Park (mile 37), Rayón National Park (mile 106), El Chico National Park (mile 232)
- Museums and history: Morelia Cathedral (mile 29), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 127), Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl (mile 172), Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (mile 227)
Morelia Cathedral
Morelia's Metropolitan Cathedral (Catedral Metropolitana de Morelia) is the seat of the Catholic Archdiocese of Morelia, in the capital of the state of Michoacán.
Insurgente José María Morelos y Pavón National Park
Insurgente José María Morelos y Pavón National Park protects about 72 square kilometers of mountain terrain in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt in Michoacán.
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.
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.
Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl
The Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl is an archaeological museum located in Tula de Allende, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
Known locally as La Villita, the Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe is a Catholic basilica dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe in Pachuca.
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.
When you get to Huasca de Ocampo
Basaltic Prisms of Santa María Regla
Basalt columns more than 40 meters tall line a ravine near Huasca de Ocampo, formed when lava cooled quickly on contact with water. Alexander von Humboldt described the Basaltic Prisms (Prismas Basálticos) after his visit in 1803.
More drives to Huasca de Ocampo
- Actopan to Huasca de Ocampo
- Otumba to Huasca de Ocampo
- Tepotzotlán to Huasca de Ocampo
- Mexico City to Huasca de Ocampo
- Jilotepec to Huasca de Ocampo
- Zimapán to Huasca de Ocampo
From Cuanajo to other places in Mexico
- Cuanajo to Temacapulín
- Cuanajo to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Cuanajo to Real de Asientos
- Cuanajo to San Ignacio, Sinaloa
- Cuanajo to Mineral de Pozos
- Cuanajo to Bernal
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Cuanajo to Huasca de Ocampo?
About 4 h 27 min of driving without stops, over 242 miles.
How far is Huasca de Ocampo from Cuanajo by car?
About 242 miles (390 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 Cuanajo to Huasca de Ocampo?
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 Cuanajo to Huasca de Ocampo?
The U.S. State Department rates Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Cuanajo to Huasca de Ocampo use?
In order: MEX-14, MEX-126, MEX-48D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-85 and MEX-105. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Cuanajo and Huasca de Ocampo?
Closest to the road: Morelia Cathedral (catholic cathedral, mile 29, 0.2 mi from the route); Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl (museum, mile 172, 1 mi from the route); Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (basilica, mile 227, 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.