The Wayro route from Cuautla to Tulancingo is 120 miles (193 km), about 2 h 36 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 120 mi (193 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 2 h 36 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-115 → MEX-115D → MEX-142 → MEX-132 → MEX-130 |
| Mexican states on the route | Morelos (Level 3), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-115D, MEX-132D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 4.8 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 Cuautla to Tulancingo is like
MEX-132 (41 mi) and MEX-115 (26 mi) carry about 56% of the 120 miles. MEX-115D is a toll highway (cuota); MEX-115, MEX-142, MEX-132, MEX-130 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Morelos, State of Mexico, Hidalgo. Of the 8 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Cuautla to Tulancingo, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Morelos |
| MEX-115 | 2–13 | 11 | Morelos |
| MEX-115D | 13–28 | 15 | Morelos, State of Mexico |
| MEX-115 | 28–43 | 15 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 43–57 | 14 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 57–58 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-142 | 58–68 | 10 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 68–73 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-132 | 73–114 | 41 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| MEX-130 | 114–119 | 5 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 119–120 | 1 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 21 of this route: Morelos → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 93 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
Stops between Cuautla and Tulancingo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Sacromonte National Park (mile 29), Museo del Centro Cultural Mexiquense Bicentenario (mile 57), Texcoco Cathedral (mile 62), Paleontological Museum in Tocuila (mile 63)
- Nature and outdoors: Sacromonte National Park (mile 29), Iztaccíhuatl–Popocatépetl National Park (mile 30)
- Museums and history: Museo del Centro Cultural Mexiquense Bicentenario (mile 57), Texcoco Cathedral (mile 62), Paleontological Museum in Tocuila (mile 63)
Convento de Santiago Apóstol
In the town of Ocuituco, the Temple and Ex-convent of Santiago Apóstol (Templo y Exconvento de Santiago Apóstol) belongs to the UNESCO-listed group of 16th-century monasteries on the slopes of Popocatépetl, inscribed in 1994.
Sacromonte National Park
Sacromonte National Park is a national park and protected area in the State of Mexico, established in 1952 and covering roughly 0.44 square kilometers.
Iztaccíhuatl–Popocatépetl National Park
Iztaccíhuatl–Popocatépetl National Park, also called Izta-Popo Zoquiapan, protects the land around Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl, Mexico's second- and third-highest peaks, where the states of México, Puebla and Morelos meet.
Museo del Centro Cultural Mexiquense Bicentenario
The museum at the Centro Cultural Mexiquense Bicentenario opened in 2011 with a permanent exhibit, Encuentro con Nuestras Raíces, a hall of art from the State of Mexico and three temporary galleries.
Texcoco Cathedral
Texcoco's Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception occupies a former convent built by the Franciscans in the 16th century, one of the order's early convent complexes in the Americas.
Paleontological Museum in Tocuila
The Paleontological Museum in Tocuila, in Texcoco, State of Mexico, is a fossil museum displaying part of a rich deposit of Late Pleistocene animals from the Americas.
Pyramid of the Moon
In the western part of ancient Teotihuacan, in present-day San Martín de las Pirámides, the Pyramid of the Moon mimics the contours of Cerro Gordo, the mountain just north of the site.
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.
When you get to Tulancingo
Museo del Ferrocarril
This former railway station on the old Hidalgo Railroad line to Mexico City now works as a museum, with photographs of its construction and the office and bookkeeping objects used in its day.
Museo de Datos Históricos
Tulancingo's first station of the Hidalgo and Northeast Railroad, built in 1893, now houses the Museo de Datos Históricos, with regional archaeological pieces such as the Huapalcalco feline, traditional clothing from Santa Ana Hueytlalpan and a historical photo archive.
Tulancingo Cathedral
Tulancingo Cathedral grew from a 16th-century Franciscan mission. The present church, designed by architect José Damián Ortiz de Castro and consecrated in 1806, has an unusual Neoclassical portico with Ionic columns and a triangular pediment.
More drives to Tulancingo
- Mexico City to Tulancingo
- Toluca to Tulancingo
- Cuernavaca to Tulancingo
- Zamora to Tulancingo
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Tulancingo
- Zacatecas to Tulancingo
From Cuautla to other places in Mexico
- Cuautla to Malinalco
- Cuautla to Metepec
- Cuautla to Zitácuaro
- Cuautla to Tlalpujahua
- Cuautla to Amealco
- Cuautla to Tequisquiapan
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Cuautla to Tulancingo?
About 2 h 36 min of driving without stops, over 120 miles.
How far is Tulancingo from Cuautla by car?
About 120 miles (193 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 Cuautla to Tulancingo?
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 Cuautla to Tulancingo?
The U.S. State Department rates Morelos Level 3: Reconsider 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 Cuautla to Tulancingo use?
In order: MEX-115, MEX-115D, MEX-142, MEX-132 and MEX-130. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Cuautla and Tulancingo?
Closest to the road: Sacromonte National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 29, 0.3 mi from the route); Museo del Centro Cultural Mexiquense Bicentenario (museum, mile 57, 0.1 mi from the route); Texcoco Cathedral (cathedral, mile 62, 0.7 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.