The Wayro route from Huamantla to Pénjamo is 300 miles (482 km), about 5 h 4 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 300 mi (482 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 4 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-136 → MEX-M40D → MEX-57D → MEX-47D → MEX-45D → MEX-90 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Querétaro (Level 2), Guanajuato (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.0 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 Huamantla to Pénjamo is like
MEX-M40D (87 mi) and MEX-47D (53 mi) carry about 47% of the 300 miles. MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-136, MEX-90 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 5 states: Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato. None of the 9 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Huamantla to Pénjamo, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-136 | 0–43 | 43 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-M40D | 43–130 | 87 | Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 130–132 | 2 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-57D | 132–167 | 35 | State of Mexico, Querétaro |
| MEX-47D | 167–220 | 53 | Querétaro, Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 220–269 | 49 | Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 269–270 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-90 | 270–298 | 28 | Guanajuato |
| local roads | 298–300 | 2 | Guanajuato |
- Mile 52 of this route: Tlaxcala → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 60 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 72 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 89 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 103 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 132 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 165 of this route: State of Mexico → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 207 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
Stops between Huamantla and Pénjamo
- Nature and outdoors: Tula National Park (mile 120), El Cimatario National Park (mile 203), Cerro de las Campanas (mile 208)
- Museums and history: Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Apizaco (mile 16), Museo Casa de Piedra (mile 16), Teotihuacan (mile 71), Celaya Cathedral (mile 232)
Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Apizaco
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
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.
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.
Atlantean figures
Crowning the main pyramid at the Tula archaeological zone, these basalt sculptures of Toltec warriors stand more than four meters tall in what was once the Toltec capital; the nearby Wall of Snakes shows carved serpents 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.
El Cimatario National Park
El Cimatario National Park protects about 24 square kilometers of land just south of the city of Santiago de Querétaro.
Cerro de las Campanas
Rising within Querétaro City, the Cerro de las Campanas is a hill that is protected as a Mexican national park.
Celaya Cathedral
Celaya's main Catholic church, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, occupies the space of a former chapel that was annexed to the neighboring Temple of St. Francis.
Tequila Corralejo
Tequila Corralejo is distilled in Pénjamo, Guanajuato, at the historic Hacienda de Corralejo, where the brand, established in 1996, offers guided tours and hosts social events.
More drives to Pénjamo
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Pénjamo
- Zacatecas to Pénjamo
- Jerez, Zacatecas to Pénjamo
- Fresnillo to Pénjamo
- Durango to Pénjamo
- Mazatlán to Pénjamo
From Huamantla to other places in Mexico
- Huamantla to Huejotzingo
- Huamantla to Otumba
- Huamantla to Omitlán
- Huamantla to Atlatlahucan
- Huamantla to Huasca de Ocampo
- Huamantla to Actopan
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Huamantla to Pénjamo?
About 5 h 4 min of driving without stops, over 300 miles.
How far is Pénjamo from Huamantla by car?
About 300 miles (482 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 Pénjamo?
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 Pénjamo?
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; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Huamantla to Pénjamo use?
In order: MEX-136, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D and MEX-90. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Huamantla and Pénjamo?
Closest to the road: Atlantean figures (atlantean figures, mile 120, 1 mi from the route); Tula National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 120, 1 mi from the route); Tequila Corralejo (distillery, mile 293, 1 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.