The Wayro route from Mexico City to Zimapán is 122 miles (196 km), about 3 h 4 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 122 mi (196 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 4 min |
| Main roads, in order | Viaducto → Periférico → MEX-57 → MEX-11 → MEX-45 → 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 4.9 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.
What the drive from Mexico City to Zimapán is like
MEX-57 (21 mi) and MEX-85 (19 mi) carry about 33% of the 122 miles. The route stays on free federal roads (libre): MEX-57, MEX-11, MEX-45, MEX-85. It runs through 3 states: Mexico City, State of Mexico, Hidalgo. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Mexico City to Zimapán, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Mexico City |
| Viaducto | 2–6 | 4 | Mexico City |
| Periférico | 6–24 | 18 | Mexico City, State of Mexico |
| MEX-57 | 24–45 | 21 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| connecting roads | 45–46 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-11 | 46–50 | 4 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 50–93 | 43 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-45 | 93–98 | 5 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 98–117 | 19 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 117–122 | 5 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 9 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 41 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
Stops between Mexico City and Zimapán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Soumaya (mile 9), Tula (mile 60), Jorge R. Acosta Museum (mile 60)
- Nature and outdoors: Los Remedios National Park (mile 12), Parque Tezozómoc (mile 14), Parque Espejo de los Lirios (mile 26)
- Museums and history: Museo Soumaya (mile 9), Tlalnepantla Cathedral (mile 17), Cristo Rey (mile 19), Tula (mile 60), Jorge R. Acosta Museum (mile 60)
Museo Soumaya
Museo Soumaya is a private, nonprofit art museum in Mexico City with two buildings, Plaza Loreto and Plaza Carso. Its collection spans pre-Hispanic sculpture, Mexican art and European masters such as Rodin, Dalí and Tintoretto.
Los Remedios National Park
Los Remedios National Park, created by federal decree in 1938, covers about 400 hectares on the far western side of Naucalpan, just northwest of Mexico City.
Parque Tezozómoc
A large park in the Azcapotzalco borough, Parque Tezozómoc offers open green space in the northwestern part of Mexico City.
Tlalnepantla Cathedral
Consecrated on August 23, 1964, Tlalnepantla's Corpus Christi Cathedral stands where Franciscans founded the Convent of San Francisco in 1525.
Cristo Rey
Begun in 1975 and inaugurated in 1981, this colossal Cristo Rey statue stands on Cerro Cola de Caballo in the Sierra de Guadalupe, within the Jardines del Recuerdo cemetery in Tlalnepantla.
Parque Espejo de los Lirios
Espejo de los Lirios is a lake park in Cuautitlán Izcalli, opened as a park in 1973 and declared a protected natural area in 2009 along with the city's Central Park.
Tula
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.
Jorge R. Acosta Museum
Next to the Tula ruins, the Museo de Sitio Jorge R. Acosta traces the rise and decline of the Toltecs and their city, Tollan Xicocotitlan. It moved into new facilities in 1982 and covers nearly 20 years of digs led by archaeologist Jorge R. Acosta.
More drives to Zimapán
- Celaya to Zimapán
- Tlalpujahua to Zimapán
- Moroleón to Zimapán
- Pénjamo to Zimapán
- Zitácuaro to Zimapán
- Cuitzeo to Zimapán
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 Zimapán?
About 3 h 4 min of driving without stops, over 122 miles.
How far is Zimapán from Mexico City by car?
About 122 miles (196 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 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 Mexico City to Zimapán?
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 roads does the drive from Mexico City to Zimapán use?
In order: Viaducto, Periférico, MEX-57, MEX-11, MEX-45 and MEX-85. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Mexico City and Zimapán?
Closest to the road: Museo Soumaya (museum network, mile 9, 0.6 mi from the route); Jorge R. Acosta Museum (museum, mile 60, 0.4 mi from the route); Tula (archaeological site, mile 60, 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.