The Wayro route from Otumba to Mineral de Pozos is 193 miles (311 km), about 3 h 29 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 193 mi (311 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 29 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-132 → MEX-M40D → MEX-57D → MEX-57 → GTO 100 |
| Mexican states on the route | State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), Querétaro (Level 2), Guanajuato (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-M40D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.7 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 Otumba to Mineral de Pozos is like
MEX-57D (87 mi) and MEX-M40D (60 mi) carry about 76% of the 193 miles. MEX-M40D, MEX-57D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-132, MEX-57 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Querétaro, Guanajuato. None of the 9 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Otumba to Mineral de Pozos, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-132 | 4–11 | 7 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-M40D | 11–71 | 60 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| connecting roads | 71–72 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-57D | 72–159 | 87 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro |
| MEX-57 | 159–180 | 21 | Querétaro, Guanajuato |
| local roads | 180–184 | 4 | Guanajuato |
| GTO 100 | 184–193 | 9 | Guanajuato |
- Mile 13 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 30 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 43 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 73 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 106 of this route: State of Mexico → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 167 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
Stops between Otumba and Mineral de Pozos
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro de las Campanas (mile 147)
- Museums and history: Museo Arqueológico de Apaxco (mile 44), Tula (mile 60), Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl (mile 60), Former hacienda of Chichimequillas (mile 152)
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.
Church and former convent of Todos los Santos
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.
Museo Arqueológico de Apaxco
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.
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.
Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl
The Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl is an archaeological museum located in Tula de Allende, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
Historic Monuments Zone of Querétaro
Querétaro's historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996, pairs the Spaniards' grid of streets with the winding lanes of the old Indigenous quarters. Walk it for Baroque churches and mansions of the 17th and 18th centuries and the city's landmark aqueduct.
Casa de la Corregidora
Completed in 1770 as Querétaro's royal houses and town hall, the Casa de la Corregidora is where Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez, held there in 1810, sent word of danger to Miguel Hidalgo. After independence it became the state government palace.
Cerro de las Campanas
Rising within Querétaro City, the Cerro de las Campanas is a hill that is protected as a Mexican national park.
Former hacienda of Chichimequillas
Discalced Carmelite friars founded this hacienda around 1690 to shelter travelers on the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro and to farm. Its two-story stone and lime main house, finished in 1813, wraps around a central courtyard beside a chapel.
More drives to Mineral de Pozos
- Celaya to Mineral de Pozos
- Salvatierra to Mineral de Pozos
- León to Mineral de Pozos
- Salamanca to Mineral de Pozos
- Irapuato to Mineral de Pozos
- Moroleón to Mineral de Pozos
From Otumba to other places in Mexico
- Otumba to Atlatlahucan
- Otumba to Malinalco
- Otumba to Tonatico
- Otumba to Amealco
- Otumba to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Otumba to Ihuatzio
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Otumba to Mineral de Pozos?
About 3 h 29 min of driving without stops, over 193 miles.
How far is Mineral de Pozos from Otumba by car?
About 193 miles (311 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 Otumba to Mineral de Pozos?
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 Otumba to Mineral de Pozos?
The U.S. State Department rates State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Otumba to Mineral de Pozos use?
In order: MEX-132, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-57 and GTO 100. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Otumba and Mineral de Pozos?
Closest to the road: Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque (aqueduct, mile 11, 3 mi from the route); Tula (archaeological site, mile 60, 1 mi from the route); Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl (museum, mile 60, 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.