Jilotepec to Otumba Road Trip: Stops, Tolls & Drive Time

By admin, 3 October, 2026

The Wayro route from Jilotepec to Otumba is 77 miles (124 km), about 1 h 22 min of driving without stops.

U.S. State Department travel advisory: State of Mexico — Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo — Level 2, Exercise Increased CautionAdvisory issued May 29, 2026; checked September 29, 2026. State of Mexico is the Mexican state that contains Otumba. See the full advisory for current details.
TulaMuseo Arqueológico de ApaxcoChurch and former convent of Todos los SantosAqueduct of Padre TemblequeJilotepecOtumba
Route from Jilotepec to Otumba with the 4 stops listed below (blue dots).
Distance77 mi (124 km)
Driving time, no stops1 h 22 min
Main roads, in orderMEX-M40D → MEX-132
Mexican states on the routeState of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2)
Toll roadsMEX-M40D
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 3.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below4

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 insuranceRequired 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 Jilotepec to Otumba is like

MEX-M40D (64 mi) and MEX-132 (7 mi) carry about 92% of the 77 miles. MEX-M40D is a toll highway (cuota); MEX-132 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 2 states: State of Mexico, Hidalgo. None of the 4 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.

The route from Jilotepec to Otumba, road by road

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miState
local roads0–22State of Mexico
MEX-M40D2–6664State of Mexico, Hidalgo
MEX-13266–737State of Mexico
local roads73–774State of Mexico
  • Mile 4 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
  • Mile 34 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
  • Mile 48 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
  • Mile 65 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)

Stops between Jilotepec and Otumba

Tula

Mile 17 · Archaeological site · 1 mi from the route

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.

Museo Arqueológico de Apaxco

Mile 33 · Museum · 3 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

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.

Church and former convent of Todos los Santos

Mile 63 · Convent · 5 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Franciscan friars built this fortress-style convent in Zempoala, and the complex still keeps the classic layout of atrium, church, open chapel and cloister. It pairs well with a drive through the area's old pulque haciendas.

Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque

Mile 66 · Aqueduct · 3 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

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.

When you get to Otumba

Pyramid of the Sun

Temple · about 6 mi from Otumba

Rising along the Avenue of the Dead between the Pyramid of the Moon and the Ciudadela, the Pyramid of the Sun is the largest building in Teotihuacan, believed to date to about AD 200.

Museo del Ferrocarril en Otumba

Museum · in Otumba

The Museo del Ferrocarril en Otumba is a museum in the town of Otumba de Gómez Farías devoted, as its name says, to the railroad.

Teotihuacan

Historic site · about 6 mi from Otumba

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.

More drives to Otumba

From Jilotepec to other places in Mexico

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from Jilotepec to Otumba?

About 1 h 22 min of driving without stops, over 77 miles.

How far is Otumba from Jilotepec by car?

About 77 miles (124 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 Jilotepec to Otumba?

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 Jilotepec to Otumba?

The U.S. State Department rates 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 Jilotepec to Otumba use?

In order: MEX-M40D and MEX-132. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.

What are good stops between Jilotepec and Otumba?

Closest to the road: Tula (archaeological site, mile 17, 1 mi from the route); Museo Arqueológico de Apaxco (museum, mile 33, 3 mi from the route); Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque (aqueduct, mile 66, 3 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.