The Wayro route from Ihuatzio to Huasca de Ocampo is 252 miles (405 km), about 4 h 21 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 252 mi (405 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 21 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-37D → MEX-15D → MEX-M40D → MEX-85 → MEX-105 |
| Mexican states on the route | Michoacán (Level 4), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.1 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 Ihuatzio to Huasca de Ocampo is like
MEX-15D (91 mi) and MEX-M40D (79 mi) carry about 67% of the 252 miles. MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-85, MEX-105 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Michoacán, State of Mexico, Hidalgo. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Ihuatzio to Huasca de Ocampo, road by road
| 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 | 137–216 | 79 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 216–228 | 12 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 228–236 | 8 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 236–246 | 10 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 246–252 | 6 | Hidalgo |
- 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)
Stops between Ihuatzio and Huasca de Ocampo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Atlantean figures (mile 181), Museo El Rehilete (mile 229), La Dificultad Mine Museum (mile 242)
- Nature and outdoors: Rayón National Park (mile 115), El Chico National Park (mile 241)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 135), Museo El Rehilete (mile 229), La Dificultad Mine Museum (mile 242)
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.
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.
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.
Museo El Rehilete
Kids head to Pachuca's interactive museum El Rehilete for its planetarium, observatory, dinosaur park, botanical garden and archaeological walk, plus a historic DC-3 airplane and a fire truck they can explore.
Teatro Hidalgo Bartolomé de Medina
The Teatro Hidalgo Bartolomé de Medina is a theater in the city of Pachuca de Soto, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
El Chico National Park
In Hidalgo, El Chico National Park is known for towering cliffs such as Las Ventanas and Peña del Cuervo, popular with climbers, and forest wildlife including gray foxes, ringtails, armadillos, hawks, falcons and woodpeckers.
La Dificultad Mine Museum
At the La Dificultad mine in Mineral del Monte, a site museum and interpretation center tells the area's mining and hospital history, showing how the mines moved from steam power to electricity.
When you get to Huasca de Ocampo
Basaltic Prisms of Santa María Regla
Basalt columns more than 40 meters tall line a ravine near Huasca de Ocampo, formed when lava cooled quickly on contact with water. Alexander von Humboldt described the Basaltic Prisms (Prismas Basálticos) after his visit in 1803.
More drives to Huasca de Ocampo
- Actopan to Huasca de Ocampo
- Otumba to Huasca de Ocampo
- Tepotzotlán to Huasca de Ocampo
- Mexico City to Huasca de Ocampo
- Jilotepec to Huasca de Ocampo
- Zimapán to Huasca de Ocampo
From Ihuatzio to other places in Mexico
- Ihuatzio to Mineral de Pozos
- Ihuatzio to Omitlán
- Ihuatzio to Metztitlán
- Ihuatzio to Pinal de Amoles
- Ihuatzio to Ixcateopan
- Ihuatzio to Boca de Pascuales
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Ihuatzio to Huasca de Ocampo?
About 4 h 21 min of driving without stops, over 252 miles.
How far is Huasca de Ocampo from Ihuatzio by car?
About 252 miles (405 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 Huasca de Ocampo?
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 Huasca de Ocampo?
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 (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Ihuatzio to Huasca de Ocampo use?
In order: MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-85 and MEX-105. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Ihuatzio and Huasca de Ocampo?
Closest to the road: Atlantean figures (atlantean figures, mile 181, 1 mi from the route); Museo El Rehilete (museum, mile 229, 0.1 mi from the route); La Dificultad Mine Museum (museum, mile 242, 0.5 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.