The Wayro route from Huejotzingo to Zimapán is 159 miles (256 km), about 3 h 23 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 159 mi (256 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 23 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-M40D → HGO 30 → MEX-85 |
| Mexican states on the route | Puebla (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 6.4 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 Huejotzingo to Zimapán is like
MEX-M40D (85 mi) and HGO 30 (30 mi) carry about 72% of the 159 miles. MEX-M40D is a toll highway (cuota); MEX-85 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 4 states: Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Huejotzingo to Zimapán, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–10 | 10 | Puebla |
| MEX-M40D | 10–95 | 85 | Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 95–96 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| HGO 30 | 96–126 | 30 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 126–155 | 29 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 155–159 | 4 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 14 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 37 of this route: Tlaxcala → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 45 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 57 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 74 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 88 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
Stops between Huejotzingo and Zimapán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Church of San Miguel Arcángel (mile 130), Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (mile 130)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque nacional Xicoténcatl (mile 15), Tula National Park (mile 96)
- Museums and history: Teotihuacan (mile 56), Museo Arqueológico de Apaxco (mile 89), Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (mile 130)
Exconvent of Santa María Magdalena
The former convent of Santa María Magdalena (Exconvento de Santa María Magdalena) is a 17th-century Baroque church built by the Dieguino friars, still in use as a Catholic temple of the Archdiocese of Puebla.
Parque nacional Xicoténcatl
Covering roughly 600 hectares in central Tlaxcala, Xicohténcatl National Park takes in the historic center of Tlaxcala city plus Quiahuixtlán, Ocotelulco and Tepeticpac, which correspond to three of the old Tlaxcalan lordships.
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.
Hacienda Demiñho
Near Tunititlán in the Mezquital Valley, Hacienda Demiñho is a former Spanish-era estate that once ran cattle, farmed and rented land, becoming one of the region's important haciendas.
Church of San Miguel Arcángel
Ixmiquilpan's 16th-century Church of San Miguel Arcángel is known for its murals with religious and secular scenes, and for a design that blends European and Indigenous traditions.
Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital
In Ixmiquilpan, Hidalgo, the Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital works as both a museum and a cultural center.
More drives to Zimapán
- Celaya to Zimapán
- Tlalpujahua to Zimapán
- Moroleón to Zimapán
- Pénjamo to Zimapán
- Zitácuaro to Zimapán
- Cuitzeo to Zimapán
From Huejotzingo to other places in Mexico
- Huejotzingo to Otumba
- Huejotzingo to Omitlán
- Huejotzingo to Huasca de Ocampo
- Huejotzingo to Jilotepec
- Huejotzingo to Malinalco
- Huejotzingo to Valle de Bravo
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Huejotzingo to Zimapán?
About 3 h 23 min of driving without stops, over 159 miles.
How far is Zimapán from Huejotzingo by car?
About 159 miles (256 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 Huejotzingo to Zimapán?
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 Huejotzingo to Zimapán?
The U.S. State Department rates Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala 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 Huejotzingo to Zimapán use?
In order: MEX-M40D, HGO 30 and MEX-85. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Huejotzingo and Zimapán?
Closest to the road: Exconvent of Santa María Magdalena (convent, mile 10, 1 mi from the route); Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (museum, mile 130, 0.1 mi from the route); Church of San Miguel Arcángel (convent, mile 130, 0.4 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.