The Wayro route from Huauchinango to El Oro is 173 miles (278 km), about 3 h 4 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 173 mi (278 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 4 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-132D → MEX-132 → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → MEX-561 → EM 5 |
| Mexican states on the route | Puebla (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-132D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 6.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
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 El Oro is like
MEX-M40D (94 mi) and MEX-132D (29 mi) carry about 71% of the 173 miles. MEX-132D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-132, MEX-561 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Puebla, Hidalgo, State of Mexico. None of the 8 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Huauchinango to El Oro, 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 | 149–160 | 11 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-561 | 160–165 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| EM 5 | 165–173 | 8 | State of Mexico |
- 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)
Stops between Huauchinango and El Oro
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.
Church and former convent of Todos los Santos
Franciscan friars built this fortress-style convent in Zempoala, and the complex still keeps the classic layout of atrium, church, open chapel and cloister. It pairs well with a drive through the area's old pulque haciendas.
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
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.
Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl
The Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl is an archaeological museum located in Tula de Allende, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
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.
When you get to El Oro
Museo del Ferrocarril del Oro
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
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 El Oro
- Amatitán to El Oro
- Pabellón de Arteaga to El Oro
- Tequila to El Oro
- Calvillo to El Oro
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to El Oro
- Zacatecas to El Oro
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
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Huauchinango to El Oro?
About 3 h 4 min of driving without stops, over 173 miles.
How far is El Oro from Huauchinango by car?
About 173 miles (278 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 El Oro?
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 El Oro?
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 (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Huauchinango to El Oro use?
In order: MEX-132D, MEX-132, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-561 and EM 5. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Huauchinango and El Oro?
Closest to the road: Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque (aqueduct, mile 53, 2 mi from the route); Tula (archaeological site, mile 104, 1 mi from the route); Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl (museum, mile 104, 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.