Huamantla to Otumba Road Trip: Where to Stop on the Way

By admin, 3 October, 2026

The Wayro route from Huamantla to Otumba is 73 miles (118 km), about 1 h 28 min of driving without stops.

U.S. State Department travel advisory: Tlaxcala — Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo — Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico — Level 2, Exercise Increased CautionAdvisory issued May 29, 2026; checked September 29, 2026. State of Mexico is the Mexican state that contains Otumba. See the full advisory for current details.
Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, ApizacoMuseo Casa de PiedraAqueduct of Padre TemblequeHuamantlaOtumba
Route from Huamantla to Otumba with the 3 stops listed below (blue dots).
Distance73 mi (118 km)
Driving time, no stops1 h 28 min
Main roads, in orderMEX-136 → MEX-M40D
Mexican states on the routeTlaxcala (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2)
Toll roadsMEX-M40D
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 2.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below3

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 insuranceRequired 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 Huamantla to Otumba is like

MEX-136 (43 mi) and MEX-M40D (20 mi) carry about 86% of the 73 miles. MEX-M40D is a toll highway (cuota); MEX-136 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 3 states: Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico. None of the 3 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.

The route from Huamantla to Otumba, road by road

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miState
MEX-1360–4343Tlaxcala
MEX-M40D43–6320Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico
local roads63–7310State of Mexico
  • Mile 52 of this route: Tlaxcala → Hidalgo (state line)
  • Mile 60 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)

Stops between Huamantla and Otumba

Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Apizaco

Mile 16 · Basilica · 2 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

In the city of Apizaco, this Catholic basilica (Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Misericordia) was begun in the third decade of the 20th century and completed in 1961.

Museo Casa de Piedra

Mile 16 · Railway museum · 2 mi from the route

Apizaco's old railroad station, dating from 1916, now houses the Museo Casa de Piedra. Inside, photographs and documents trace the town's history, especially its long ties to the railroads.

Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque

Mile 65 · Aqueduct · 6 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

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.

When you get to Otumba

Pyramid of the Sun

Temple · about 6 mi from Otumba

Rising along the Avenue of the Dead between the Pyramid of the Moon and the Ciudadela, the Pyramid of the Sun is the largest building in Teotihuacan, believed to date to about AD 200.

Museo del Ferrocarril en Otumba

Museum · in Otumba

The Museo del Ferrocarril en Otumba is a museum in the town of Otumba de Gómez Farías devoted, as its name says, to the railroad.

Teotihuacan

Historic site · about 6 mi from Otumba

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.

More drives to Otumba

From Huamantla to other places in Mexico

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from Huamantla to Otumba?

About 1 h 28 min of driving without stops, over 73 miles.

How far is Otumba from Huamantla by car?

About 73 miles (118 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 Huamantla to Otumba?

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 Huamantla to Otumba?

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 Huamantla to Otumba use?

In order: MEX-136 and MEX-M40D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.

What are good stops between Huamantla and Otumba?

Closest to the road: Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Apizaco (basilica, mile 16, 2 mi from the route); Museo Casa de Piedra (railway museum, mile 16, 2 mi from the route); Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque (aqueduct, mile 65, 6 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.