The Wayro route from Mexico City to Actopan is 74 miles (119 km), about 1 h 48 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 74 mi (119 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 1 h 48 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-85 |
| Mexican states on the route | Mexico City (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2) |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 3.0 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 Mexico City to Actopan is like
MEX-85 (69 mi) carries about 93% of the 74 miles. The route stays on free federal roads (libre): MEX-85. It runs through 3 states: Mexico City, State of Mexico, Hidalgo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Mexico City to Actopan, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Mexico City |
| MEX-85 | 4–73 | 69 | Mexico City, State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| local roads | 73–74 | 1 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 9 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 32 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
Stops between Mexico City and Actopan
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): El Tepeyac National Park (mile 7), Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral, Ecatepec (mile 15), Casa de Morelos, Ecatepec (mile 16), Museo El Rehilete (mile 54)
- Nature and outdoors: El Tepeyac National Park (mile 7), Parque Cultural Hidalguense (mile 55), El Chico National Park (mile 58)
- Museums and history: Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral, Ecatepec (mile 15), Casa de Morelos, Ecatepec (mile 16), Mexican Air Force Museum (mile 25), Teotihuacan (mile 27), Museo El Rehilete (mile 54)
El Tepeyac National Park
Decreed in 1937 on reforested slopes of the Sierra de Guadalupe, including Cerro del Tepeyac, this national park was created for rest and recreation, with views toward Mexico City and the old Lake Texcoco plain.
Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral, Ecatepec
The Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral, also called Ecatepec Cathedral, is the main Catholic church and seat of the Diocese of Ecatepec in Mexico, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Casa de Morelos, Ecatepec
Also called the Centro Comunitario Casa de Morelos, the Casa de Morelos is a museum in the municipality of Ecatepec de Morelos dedicated to José María Morelos y Pavón.
Mexican Air Force Museum
At Santa Lucía Air Base, the Military Aviation Museum, run by the Secretariat of National Defense, displays historical material from the Mexican Air Force.
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.
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.
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.
Parque Cultural Hidalguense
Formerly Parque David Ben Gurión, Pachuca's Parque Cultural Hidalguense reopened in 2025 after a major renovation, with a monumental chess board, an artificial lake with fountains, a skate park and Byron Gálvez's restored artwork known as el Pisal.
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.
More drives to Actopan
- Tulancingo to Actopan
- Tepotzotlán to Actopan
- Tequisquiapan to Actopan
- Toluca to Actopan
- Cuernavaca to Actopan
- Querétaro to Actopan
From Mexico City to other places in Mexico
- Mexico City to Metepec
- Mexico City to Toluca
- Mexico City to Cuernavaca
- Mexico City to Atlatlahucan
- Mexico City to Malinalco
- Mexico City to Cuautla
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Mexico City to Actopan?
About 1 h 48 min of driving without stops, over 74 miles.
How far is Actopan from Mexico City by car?
About 74 miles (119 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 Mexico City to Actopan?
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 Mexico City to Actopan?
The U.S. State Department rates Mexico City Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; 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 are good stops between Mexico City and Actopan?
Closest to the road: El Tepeyac National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 7, 0.4 mi from the route); Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral, Ecatepec (cathedral, mile 15, 0.6 mi from the route); Casa de Morelos, Ecatepec (museum, mile 16, 0.2 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.