Plan on about 7 h 30 min of driving for the 443-mile (713 km) trip from Huasca de Ocampo to Barra de Potosí, before any stops.
| Total distance | 443 mi (713 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 30 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-105 → MEX-85 → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → MEX-37D → MEX-14D → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Guerrero |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D, MEX-14D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.7 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 Huasca de Ocampo to Barra de Potosí is like
MEX-37D (155 mi) and MEX-15D (90 mi) carry about 55% of the 443 miles. It runs through 4 states: Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Guerrero. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-M40D, MEX-15D and MEX-37D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Huasca de Ocampo to Barra de Potosí, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–6 | 6 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 6–15 | 9 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 15–22 | 7 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 22–33 | 11 | Hidalgo |
| connecting roads | 33–34 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-M40D | 34–113 | 79 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 113–114 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 114–204 | 90 | State of Mexico, Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 204–243 | 39 | Michoacán |
| MEX-14D | 243–271 | 28 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 271–272 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 272–388 | 116 | Michoacán, Guerrero |
| MEX-200 | 388–437 | 49 | Guerrero |
| local roads | 437–443 | 6 | Guerrero |
- Mile 39 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 53 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 83 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 132 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 368 of this route: Michoacán → Guerrero (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Huasca de Ocampo and Barra de Potosí
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): El Hiloche (mile 11), Museo de Mineralogía de la UAEH (mile 16), Bioparque de Convivencia en Pachuca, Hidalgo (mile 17)
- Nature and outdoors: El Chico National Park (mile 11), El Hiloche (mile 11), Barranca del Cupatitzio National Park (mile 272)
- Museums and history: Museo de Mineralogía de la UAEH (mile 16), Tula (mile 69), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 114), Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 153), Historic Centre of Morelia (mile 217)
- With kids: Bioparque de Convivencia en Pachuca, Hidalgo (mile 17)
El Chico National Park
In Hidalgo, El Chico National Park is known for towering cliffs such as Las Ventanas and Peña del Cuervo, popular with climbers, and forest wildlife including gray foxes, ringtails, armadillos, hawks, falcons and woodpeckers.
El Hiloche
Bosque El Hiloche is a state park of about 100 hectares of forest in Mineral del Monte, Hidalgo, and one of the geosites of the Comarca Minera Geopark.
Museo de Mineralogía de la UAEH
Inside the central building of the state university in downtown Pachuca, the UAEH Mineralogy Museum displays minerals and rocks and is one of the longest-running museums of its kind in Mexico.
Bioparque de Convivencia en Pachuca, Hidalgo
Pachuca's Bioparque de Convivencia is a rescue and recovery center for wild, exotic and endemic animals saved from abuse, abandonment or risk, housing a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation unit.
Tula
Basalt warrior figures over four meters (13 feet) tall, the Atlantes, crown the main pyramid at Tula. Visitors can also explore a ball court, the Burnt Palace and the Coatepantli wall.
Cathedral of Atlacomulco
The seat of the Diocese of Atlacomulco is the Catedral de la Divina Providencia, which serves as the main Catholic church in town and takes its dedication from Divine Providence.
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.
Historic Centre of Morelia
Morelia's old core, founded in the 16th century as Valladolid, keeps more than 200 historic buildings in the region's pink stone around its cathedral and checkerboard streets. UNESCO added it to the World Heritage List in 1991.
Barranca del Cupatitzio National Park
In Michoacán, Barranca del Cupatitzio National Park follows the headwaters of the Cupatitzio River, which bubbles up from an underground spring and carves a small ravine as it starts to flow.
More drives to Barra de Potosí
- Malinalco to Barra de Potosí
- Tonatico to Barra de Potosí
- Sayula to Barra de Potosí
- Mexico City to Barra de Potosí
- Tapalpa to Barra de Potosí
- Amatitán to Barra de Potosí
From Huasca de Ocampo to other places in Mexico
- Huasca de Ocampo to Pacanda
- Huasca de Ocampo to Temacapulín
- Huasca de Ocampo to Boca de Pascuales
- Huasca de Ocampo to Chacala
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Huasca de Ocampo to Barra de Potosí?
About 7 h 30 min of driving without stops, over 443 miles.
What is the driving distance from Huasca de Ocampo to Barra de Potosí?
About 443 miles (713 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 Huasca de Ocampo to Barra de Potosí?
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 Huasca de Ocampo to Barra de Potosí?
The U.S. State Department rates Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; Guerrero Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Huasca de Ocampo to Barra de Potosí?
In order: MEX-105, MEX-85, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D, MEX-14D and MEX-200. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Huasca de Ocampo and Barra de Potosí?
Closest to the road: El Hiloche (state park, mile 11, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo de Mineralogía de la UAEH (mineralogical museum, mile 16, 0.1 mi from the route); Bioparque de Convivencia en Pachuca, Hidalgo (zoo, mile 17, 0.1 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 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: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place 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.