Huamantla to Tlalpujahua Road Trip: Route, Stops & Safety

By admin, 3 October, 2026

The Wayro route from Huamantla to Tlalpujahua is 193 miles (310 km), about 3 h 18 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 Caution; Michoacán — Level 4, Do Not TravelAdvisory issued May 29, 2026; checked September 29, 2026. Michoacán is the Mexican state that contains Tlalpujahua. This route passes through a state at the advisory's highest level. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive.
Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, ApizacoMuseo Casa de PiedraAqueduct of Padre TemblequeTeotihuacanMuseo Arqueológico de ApaxcoAtlantean figuresTula National ParkCathedral of AtlacomulcoHuamantlaTlalpujahua
Route from Huamantla to Tlalpujahua with the 8 stops listed below (blue dots).
Distance193 mi (310 km)
Driving time, no stops3 h 18 min
Main roads, in orderMEX-136 → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D
Mexican states on the routeTlaxcala (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Michoacán (Level 4)
Toll roadsMEX-M40D, MEX-15D
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 7.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below8

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 Tlalpujahua is like

MEX-M40D (121 mi) and MEX-136 (43 mi) carry about 85% of the 193 miles. MEX-M40D, MEX-15D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-136 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 4 states: Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán. None of the 8 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.

The route from Huamantla to Tlalpujahua, road by road

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miState
MEX-1360–4343Tlaxcala
MEX-M40D43–164121Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico
connecting roads164–1651State of Mexico
MEX-15D165–18520State of Mexico, Michoacán
local roads185–1938Michoacán
  • 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 Tlalpujahua

  • Nature and outdoors: Tula National Park (mile 120)
  • Museums and history: Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Apizaco (mile 16), Museo Casa de Piedra (mile 16), Teotihuacan (mile 71), Museo Arqueológico de Apaxco (mile 104), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 165)

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 69 · Aqueduct · 2 mi from the route

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.

Teotihuacan

Mile 71 · Historic site · 13 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

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.

Museo Arqueológico de Apaxco

Mile 104 · Museum · 3 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

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.

Atlantean figures

Mile 120 · Atlantean figures · 1 mi from the route

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

Mile 120 · National Park of Mexico · 1 mi from the route

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

Mile 165 · Catholic cathedral · 2 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

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.

When you get to Tlalpujahua

Museo del Ferrocarril del Oro

Museum · in Tlalpujahua

The Museo del Ferrocarril is in El Oro de Hidalgo, State of Mexico, a town seen as an important part of Mexico's mining and railroad history and named a Pueblo Mágico in 2011.

Rayón National Park

National Park of Mexico · in Tlalpujahua

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.

More drives to Tlalpujahua

From Huamantla to other places in Mexico

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from Huamantla to Tlalpujahua?

About 3 h 18 min of driving without stops, over 193 miles.

How far is Tlalpujahua from Huamantla by car?

About 193 miles (310 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 Tlalpujahua?

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 Tlalpujahua?

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 Tlalpujahua use?

In order: MEX-136, MEX-M40D and MEX-15D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.

What are good stops between Huamantla and Tlalpujahua?

Closest to the road: Museo Casa de Piedra (railway museum, mile 16, 2 mi from the route); 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). 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.