The Wayro route from Huamantla to Santa Clara del Cobre is 306 miles (493 km), about 5 h 6 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 306 mi (493 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 6 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-136 → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → MEX-37D → MEX-120 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Michoacán (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D, MEX-14D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.3 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 Santa Clara del Cobre is like
MEX-M40D (121 mi) and MEX-15D (90 mi) carry about 69% of the 306 miles. MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-136, MEX-120 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán. None of the 9 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Huamantla to Santa Clara del Cobre, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-136 | 0–43 | 43 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-M40D | 43–164 | 121 | Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 164–165 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 165–255 | 90 | State of Mexico, Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 255–294 | 39 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 294–297 | 3 | Michoacán |
| MEX-120 | 297–306 | 9 | Michoacán |
- 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 134 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 183 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
Stops between Huamantla and Santa Clara del Cobre
- Nature and outdoors: Tula National Park (mile 120), Rayón National Park (mile 186)
- Museums and history: Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Apizaco (mile 16), Museo Casa de Piedra (mile 16), Teotihuacan (mile 71), Tula (mile 120), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 165), Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro (mile 296), Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares (mile 296)
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.
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.
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.
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.
Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro
Pátzcuaro's basilica (Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Salud) rises on pre-Hispanic platforms beside its own plaza. Bishop Vasco de Quiroga planned it as a five-nave cathedral, only one nave was finished, and his remains rest inside.
Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares
Housed in an 18th-century building adapted from the Colegio de San Nicolás, which Vasco de Quiroga founded in the 16th century, this INAH museum in Pátzcuaro shows Purépecha pottery, textiles, woodwork and lacquerware.
More drives to Santa Clara del Cobre
- Tepatitlán to Santa Clara del Cobre
- Tequila to Santa Clara del Cobre
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Santa Clara del Cobre
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Santa Clara del Cobre
- Zacatecas to Santa Clara del Cobre
- Jerez, Zacatecas to Santa Clara del Cobre
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 Santa Clara del Cobre?
About 5 h 6 min of driving without stops, over 306 miles.
How far is Santa Clara del Cobre from Huamantla by car?
About 306 miles (493 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 Santa Clara del Cobre?
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 Santa Clara del Cobre?
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; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Huamantla to Santa Clara del Cobre use?
In order: MEX-136, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D and MEX-120. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Huamantla and Santa Clara del Cobre?
Closest to the road: Tula (archaeological site, mile 120, 1 mi from the route); Tula National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 120, 1 mi from the route); Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares (museum, mile 296, 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.