The Wayro route from Huauchinango to Zirahuén is 294 miles (473 km), about 4 h 51 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 294 mi (473 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 51 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-132D → MEX-132 → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → MEX-37D → MEX-14D |
| Mexican states on the route | Puebla (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Michoacán (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-132D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D, MEX-14D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.8 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 Zirahuén is like
MEX-M40D (94 mi) and MEX-15D (90 mi) carry about 63% of the 294 miles. MEX-132D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D, MEX-14D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-132 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 4 states: Puebla, 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 Huauchinango to Zirahuén, 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 | 149–239 | 90 | State of Mexico, Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 239–278 | 39 | Michoacán |
| MEX-14D | 278–290 | 12 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 290–294 | 4 | Michoacán |
- 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)
Stops between Huauchinango and Zirahuén
- Nature and outdoors: Rayón National Park (mile 170)
- Museums and history: El Santo Museum (mile 26), Teotihuacan (mile 55), Tula (mile 104), Jorge R. Acosta Museum (mile 104), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 150), Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro (mile 281)
El Santo Museum
Wrestling fans can stop in Tulancingo, birthplace of the masked luchador El Santo, where this museum opened in 1985. Displays include original masks and ring outfits, movie promotional material and photos from his career and private life.
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.
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.
Jorge R. Acosta Museum
Next to the Tula ruins, the Museo de Sitio Jorge R. Acosta traces the rise and decline of the Toltecs and their city, Tollan Xicocotitlan. It moved into new facilities in 1982 and covers nearly 20 years of digs led by archaeologist Jorge R. Acosta.
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.
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.
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 Zirahuén
Lake Zirahuén
Small and deep, Lake Zirahuén is a mountain lake in the Santa Clara del Cobre municipality of Michoacán, with a sandy bottom partly covered in mud and no outlet to the sea.
More drives to Zirahuén
- Amatitán to Zirahuén
- Tequila to Zirahuén
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Zirahuén
- Pabellón de Hidalgo to Zirahuén
- San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes to Zirahuén
- Calvillo to Zirahuén
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 Zirahuén?
About 4 h 51 min of driving without stops, over 294 miles.
How far is Zirahuén from Huauchinango by car?
About 294 miles (473 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 Zirahuén?
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 Zirahuén?
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 (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Huauchinango to Zirahuén use?
In order: MEX-132D, MEX-132, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D and MEX-14D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Huauchinango and Zirahuén?
Closest to the road: Tula (archaeological site, mile 104, 1 mi from the route); Jorge R. Acosta Museum (museum, mile 104, 1 mi from the route); Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro (minor basilica, mile 281, 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.