Ixtepec to Zimapán is about 547 road miles (881 km): roughly 9 h 56 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance by road | 547 mi (881 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 56 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-185D → MEX-185 → MEX-145D → MEX-150D → MEX-M40D → HGO 30 → MEX-85 |
| Mexican states on the route | Oaxaca, Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-185D, MEX-145D, MEX-150D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.9 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.
Driving Ixtepec to Zimapán: the shape of the trip
MEX-150D (157 mi) and MEX-145D (118 mi) carry about 50% of the 547 miles. It runs through 6 states: Oaxaca, Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-185D, MEX-145D and MEX-150D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Ixtepec to Zimapán
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-185D | 2–16 | 14 | Oaxaca |
| connecting roads | 16–17 | 1 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-185 | 17–39 | 22 | Oaxaca |
| local roads | 39–44 | 5 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-185 | 44–61 | 17 | Oaxaca |
| local roads | 61–64 | 3 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-185 | 64–122 | 58 | Oaxaca, Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 122–123 | 1 | Veracruz |
| MEX-145D | 123–241 | 118 | Veracruz |
| MEX-150D | 241–398 | 157 | Veracruz, Puebla |
| MEX-M40D | 398–483 | 85 | Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 483–485 | 2 | Hidalgo |
| HGO 30 | 485–514 | 29 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 514–543 | 29 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 543–547 | 4 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 81 of this route: Oaxaca → Veracruz (state line)
- Mile 309 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 403 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 426 of this route: Tlaxcala → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 433 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 446 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 462 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 477 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
Stops between Ixtepec and Zimapán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 296), Church of San Miguel Arcángel (mile 518), Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (mile 518)
- Nature and outdoors: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 296)
- Museums and history: Museo Bello (mile 378), Cacaxtla (mile 393), Xochitecatl (mile 393), Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (mile 518)
Cañón del Río Blanco National Park
Veracruz is home to Cañón del Río Blanco National Park, a natural area that the Mexican government has set aside for protection.
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.
Cacaxtla
Built on a hill rising above the Tlaxcala-Puebla valley, Cacaxtla is known for its pre-Hispanic murals on the Gran Basamento, a large platform now sheltered under a roof. INAH manages it together with nearby Xochitécatl.
Xochitecatl
Xochitécatl is a pre-Hispanic archaeological site in the state of Tlaxcala. INAH runs it together with nearby Cacaxtla as a single zone, and the Xochitécatl site museum displays finds from the area.
Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque
Running more than 48 km between Zempoala and Otumba, Padre Tembleque's 16th-century water system has been on UNESCO's list since 2015. The friar built it from 1554 to 1572.
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 Ixtepec to other places in Mexico
- Ixtepec to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Ixtepec to San Miguel, Morelos
- Ixtepec to Tetela del Volcán
- Ixtepec to Otumba
- Ixtepec to Atlatlahucan
- Ixtepec to Tepoztlán
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Ixtepec to Zimapán?
About 9 h 56 min of driving without stops, over 547 miles.
What is the driving distance from Ixtepec to Zimapán?
About 547 miles (881 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 Ixtepec 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 Ixtepec to Zimapán?
The U.S. State Department rates Oaxaca Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; 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.
Which highways go from Ixtepec to Zimapán?
In order: MEX-185D, MEX-185, MEX-145D, MEX-150D, MEX-M40D, HGO 30 and MEX-85. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Ixtepec and Zimapán?
Closest to the road: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (national park, mile 296, 0.5 mi from the route); Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (museum, mile 518, 0.2 mi from the route); Church of San Miguel Arcángel (convent, mile 518, 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.