The Wayro route from Huasca de Ocampo to Pacanda is 253 miles (407 km), about 4 h 29 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 253 mi (407 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 29 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-105 → MEX-85 → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → MEX-37D |
| Mexican states on the route | Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Michoacán (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.1 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 Pacanda is like
MEX-15D (90 mi) and MEX-M40D (79 mi) carry about 67% of the 253 miles. MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-105, MEX-85 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Huasca de Ocampo to Pacanda, 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 | 204–242 | 38 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 242–247 | 5 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 247–253 | 6 | Michoacán |
- 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)
Stops between Huasca de Ocampo and Pacanda
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo de Medicina Laboral y Centro Cultural Nicolás Zavala (mile 11), Monumental Clock of Pachuca (mile 16), Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (mile 16), Museo El Rehilete (mile 20)
- Nature and outdoors: El Chico National Park (mile 11), Rayón National Park (mile 135)
- Museums and history: Museo de Medicina Laboral y Centro Cultural Nicolás Zavala (mile 11), Monumental Clock of Pachuca (mile 16), Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (mile 16), Museo El Rehilete (mile 20), Tula (mile 69), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 114), Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro (mile 244)
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.
Museo de Medicina Laboral y Centro Cultural Nicolás Zavala
Occupational medicine and mining history are the focus of this museum in Mineral del Monte, Hidalgo, which keeps the original facilities, furniture and medical equipment. Pachuca's mining archive and museum runs it.
Monumental Clock of Pachuca
Rising over Plaza Independencia in Pachuca's historic center, the Monumental Clock tower was built between 1904 and 1910 to mark the centennial of Mexico's War of Independence.
Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
Known locally as La Villita, the Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe is a Catholic basilica dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe in Pachuca.
Museo El Rehilete
Kids head to Pachuca's interactive museum El Rehilete for its planetarium, observatory, dinosaur park, botanical garden and archaeological walk, plus a historic DC-3 airplane and a fire truck they can explore.
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.
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.
When you get to Pacanda
Lake Pátzcuaro
Boats leave the shore of Lake Pátzcuaro for its islands, including Janitzio, topped by a statue of José María Morelos. Purépecha fishers here are known for butterfly-shaped nets, and whitefish is the local specialty.
Ihuatzio
On the shore of Lake Pátzcuaro, Ihuatzio was one of three main Purépecha power centers. Visitors can see raised walkways and two semicircular pyramids called yácatas; excavations here also turned up Chac Mool and coyote sculptures carved from volcanic rock.
More drives to Pacanda
- Amatitán to Pacanda
- Tequila to Pacanda
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Pacanda
- Real de Asientos to Pacanda
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Pacanda
- Zacatecas to Pacanda
From Huasca de Ocampo to other places in Mexico
- Huasca de Ocampo to Temacapulín
- Huasca de Ocampo to Boca de Pascuales
- Huasca de Ocampo to Chacala
- Huasca de Ocampo to Barra de Potosí
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Huasca de Ocampo to Pacanda?
About 4 h 29 min of driving without stops, over 253 miles.
How far is Pacanda from Huasca de Ocampo by car?
About 253 miles (407 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 Pacanda?
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 Pacanda?
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 (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Huasca de Ocampo to Pacanda use?
In order: MEX-105, MEX-85, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D and MEX-37D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Huasca de Ocampo and Pacanda?
Closest to the road: Monumental Clock of Pachuca (monument, mile 16, 0.1 mi from the route); Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (basilica, mile 16, 0.1 mi from the route); Museo El Rehilete (museum, mile 20, 0.3 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.