The Wayro route from Huauchinango to Ajijic is 405 miles (652 km), about 6 h 57 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 405 mi (652 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 57 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-132D → MEX-132 → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → JAL 122 → MEX-35 → MEX-23 |
| Mexican states on the route | Puebla (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Michoacán (Level 4), Jalisco (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-132D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.2 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 Huauchinango to Ajijic is like
MEX-15D (203 mi) and MEX-M40D (94 mi) carry about 73% of the 405 miles. MEX-132D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-132, MEX-35, MEX-23 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 5 states: Puebla, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco. None of the 9 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Huauchinango to Ajijic, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Puebla |
| MEX-132D | 3–32 | 29 | Puebla, Hidalgo |
| MEX-132 | 32–55 | 23 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-M40D | 55–149 | 94 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 149–352 | 203 | State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco |
| JAL 122 | 352–357 | 5 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 357–358 | 1 | Jalisco |
| MEX-35 | 358–388 | 30 | Jalisco |
| MEX-23 | 388–405 | 17 | Jalisco |
- Mile 7 of this route: Puebla → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 73 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 88 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 117 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 167 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 335 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
Stops between Huauchinango and Ajijic
- Nature and outdoors: Tula National Park (mile 104), Rayón National Park (mile 170)
- Museums and history: Tulancingo Cathedral (mile 26), Museo del Ferrocarril (mile 26), Teotihuacan (mile 55), Museo Arqueológico de Apaxco (mile 88), Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 188)
Tulancingo Cathedral
Tulancingo Cathedral grew from a 16th-century Franciscan mission. The present church, designed by architect José Damián Ortiz de Castro and consecrated in 1806, has an unusual Neoclassical portico with Ionic columns and a triangular pediment.
Museo del Ferrocarril
This former railway station on the old Hidalgo Railroad line to Mexico City now works as a museum, with photographs of its construction and the office and bookkeeping objects used in its day.
Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
More drives to Ajijic
- Calvillo to Ajijic
- Jerez, Zacatecas to Ajijic
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Ajijic
- Fresnillo to Ajijic
- El Rosario, Sinaloa to Ajijic
- Sombrerete to Ajijic
From Huauchinango to other places in Mexico
- Huauchinango to Omitlán
- Huauchinango to Otumba
- Huauchinango to Actopan
- Huauchinango to Calpulalpan
- Huauchinango to Metztitlán
- Huauchinango to Chipilo
Continue Your Adventure
- Huauchinango to Mineral de Pozos Road Trip: Route & Stops
- Huauchinango to Mazamitla Road Trip: Where to Stop on the Way
- Huauchinango to Amealco Road Trip: Stops, Tolls & Drive Time
- Huauchinango to Ihuatzio Road Trip: Distance, Time & Stops
- Huauchinango to Pedro Escobedo Road Trip: Route, Tolls & Stops
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Huauchinango to Ajijic?
About 6 h 57 min of driving without stops, over 405 miles.
How far is Ajijic from Huauchinango by car?
About 405 miles (652 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 Huauchinango to Ajijic?
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 Huauchinango to Ajijic?
The U.S. State Department rates Puebla 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; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Huauchinango to Ajijic use?
In order: MEX-132D, MEX-132, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, JAL 122, MEX-35 and MEX-23. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Huauchinango and Ajijic?
Closest to the road: Tula National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 104, 1 mi from the route); Atlantean figures (atlantean figures, mile 104, 1 mi from the route); Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (opera house, mile 188, 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.