The Wayro route from Guadalajara to Huauchinango is 400 miles (644 km), about 6 h 28 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 400 mi (644 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 28 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15D → MEX-M40D → MEX-132 → MEX-132D |
| Mexican states on the route | Jalisco (Level 3), Michoacán (Level 4), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-132D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
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 Guadalajara to Huauchinango is like
MEX-15D (245 mi) and MEX-M40D (94 mi) carry about 85% of the 400 miles. MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-132D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-132 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 5 states: Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Puebla. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Guadalajara to Huauchinango, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–6 | 6 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 6–251 | 245 | Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico |
| MEX-M40D | 251–345 | 94 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| MEX-132 | 345–368 | 23 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-132D | 368–397 | 29 | Hidalgo, Puebla |
| local roads | 397–400 | 3 | Puebla |
- Mile 65 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 233 of this route: Michoacán → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 283 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 313 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 327 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 393 of this route: Hidalgo → Puebla (state line)
Stops between Guadalajara and Huauchinango
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Tula National Park (mile 296), Huapalcalco (mile 376)
- Nature and outdoors: Rayón National Park (mile 229), Tula National Park (mile 296)
- Museums and history: Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 211), Tula (mile 296), Museo Arqueológico de Apaxco (mile 312), Teotihuacan (mile 344), Museo del Ferrocarril (mile 374), Huapalcalco (mile 376)
Teatro Morelos de Maravatío
Maravatío's Teatro Morelos is a late-19th-century theater in a French-influenced neoclassical style, designed by architect Rafael Guerrero Torres. It opened on January 11, 1879, with a performance by opera singer Ángela Peralta.
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.
Tula
Once the Toltec capital, the Tula archaeological zone is best known for its Atlantes, basalt warrior figures over four meters (13 feet) tall crowning the main pyramid. Visitors also see a ball court, the Burnt Palace and the Coatepantli wall, carved with snakes devouring skeletons.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Huapalcalco
About 5 kilometers north of Tulancingo, the pre-Columbian site of Huapalcalco sits on the western slope of a hill called Tecolote.
More drives to Huauchinango
- Pachuca to Huauchinango
- Cholula to Huauchinango
- Mexico City to Huauchinango
- Tepotzotlán to Huauchinango
- Atlixco to Huauchinango
- Toluca to Huauchinango
From Guadalajara to other places in Mexico
- Guadalajara to Pabellón de Arteaga
- Guadalajara to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Guadalajara to Calvillo
- Guadalajara to Real de Asientos
- Guadalajara to Guadalupe, Zacatecas
- Guadalajara to Zacatecas
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Guadalajara to Huauchinango?
About 6 h 28 min of driving without stops, over 400 miles.
How far is Huauchinango from Guadalajara by car?
About 400 miles (644 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 Guadalajara to Huauchinango?
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 Guadalajara to Huauchinango?
The U.S. State Department rates Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Guadalajara to Huauchinango use?
In order: MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-132 and MEX-132D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Guadalajara and Huauchinango?
Closest to the road: Tula National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 296, 1 mi from the route); Tula (archaeological site, mile 296, 1 mi from the route); Huapalcalco (archaeological site, mile 376, 0.3 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.