Plan on about 9 h 11 min of driving for the 547-mile (880 km) trip from Ihuatzio to Capulalpam de Méndez, before any stops.
| Distance by road | 547 mi (880 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 11 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-37D → MEX-15D → MEX-M40D → MEX-150D → MEX-135D → MEX-190 → MEX-175 |
| Mexican states on the route | Michoacán, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala, Puebla, Oaxaca |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-150D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.9 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.
On the road from Ihuatzio to Capulalpam de Méndez
MEX-135D (151 mi) and MEX-M40D (140 mi) carry about 53% of the 547 miles. It runs through 6 states: Michoacán, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala, Puebla, Oaxaca. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-37D, MEX-15D and MEX-M40D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Ihuatzio to Capulalpam de Méndez
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 3–8 | 5 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 8–45 | 37 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 45–46 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 46–137 | 91 | Michoacán, State of Mexico |
| MEX-M40D | 137–277 | 140 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| MEX-150D | 277–346 | 69 | Puebla |
| MEX-135D | 346–497 | 151 | Puebla, Oaxaca |
| MEX-190 | 497–507 | 10 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-175 | 507–541 | 34 | Oaxaca |
| local roads | 541–547 | 6 | Oaxaca |
- Mile 119 of this route: Michoacán → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 168 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 199 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 213 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 229 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 242 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 250 of this route: Hidalgo → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 272 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 398 of this route: Puebla → Oaxaca (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Atlantean figures (mile 181), Suchilquitongo (mile 485), Graphic Arts Institute of Oaxaca (mile 504)
- Nature and outdoors: Rayón National Park (mile 115), La Malinche National Park (mile 304), Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve (mile 388)
- Museums and history: Historic Centre of Morelia (mile 34), Teotihuacan (mile 230), Museo Bello (mile 296), Suchilquitongo (mile 485), Graphic Arts Institute of Oaxaca (mile 504)
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.
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.
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.
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 Bello
Puebla's Museo José Luis Bello y González shows the collection of industrialist José Luis Bello y González and his son: paintings, Talavera, featherwork, furniture, porcelain, ivory, glass and metalwork from America, Europe and Asia.
La Malinche National Park
Pine, oak and fir forests cover the slopes of the inactive Matlalcuéyetl volcano, the centerpiece of La Malinche National Park in Tlaxcala.
Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve
In 2018 UNESCO inscribed the arid Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley, which spans Puebla and Oaxaca, as a mixed World Heritage site. A major center of cactus diversity, it also keeps ancient canals, terraces and dams.
Suchilquitongo
Tomb 5 at Cerro de la Campana, excavated in 1985, holds murals and stucco carvings ranked among the finest funerary art of ancient Mexico. The Zapotec site crowns a hill in the northern Etla Valley.
Graphic Arts Institute of Oaxaca
Founded by artist Francisco Toledo, the Graphic Arts Institute of Oaxaca is an art school in Oaxaca de Juárez that holds a large collection of Latin American artwork.
More drives to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Tehuacán to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Orizaba to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Huamantla to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Ixtenco to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Puebla to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Chipilo to Capulalpam de Méndez
From Ihuatzio to other places in Mexico
- Ihuatzio to Mineral de Pozos
- Ihuatzio to Omitlán
- Ihuatzio to Huasca de Ocampo
- Ihuatzio to Metztitlán
- Ihuatzio to Pinal de Amoles
- Ihuatzio to Ixcateopan
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Ihuatzio to Capulalpam de Méndez?
About 9 h 11 min of driving without stops, over 547 miles.
How far is Capulalpam de Méndez from Ihuatzio by car?
About 547 miles (880 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 Ihuatzio to Capulalpam de Méndez?
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 Ihuatzio to Capulalpam de Méndez?
The U.S. State Department rates Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Oaxaca Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Ihuatzio to Capulalpam de Méndez use?
In order: MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-150D, MEX-135D, MEX-190 and MEX-175. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Ihuatzio to Capulalpam de Méndez?
Closest to the road: Atlantean figures (sculptures, mile 181, 1 mi from the route); Suchilquitongo (archaeological site, mile 485, 0.3 mi from the route); Graphic Arts Institute of Oaxaca (art museum, mile 504, 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 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: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place 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.