The Wayro route from Pachuca to Apatzingán is 313 miles (504 km), about 5 h 12 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 313 mi (504 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 12 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-85 → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → MEX-37D → MEX-14D → MEX-120 |
| Mexican states on the route | Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Michoacán (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D, MEX-14D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.5 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 Pachuca to Apatzingán is like
MEX-15D (89 mi) and MEX-M40D (79 mi) carry about 54% of the 313 miles. MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D, MEX-14D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-85, MEX-120 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán. None of the 8 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Pachuca to Apatzingán, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–6 | 6 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 6–18 | 12 | Hidalgo |
| connecting roads | 18–19 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-M40D | 19–98 | 79 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 98–99 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 99–188 | 89 | State of Mexico, Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 188–189 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 189–227 | 38 | Michoacán |
| MEX-14D | 227–255 | 28 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 255–256 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 256–292 | 36 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 292–293 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-120 | 293–312 | 19 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 312–313 | 1 | Michoacán |
- Mile 23 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 37 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 67 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 117 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
Stops between Pachuca and Apatzingán
- Nature and outdoors: Barranca del Cupatitzio National Park (mile 257)
- Museums and history: Teotihuacan (mile 18), Jorge R. Acosta Museum (mile 53), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 99), Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 137), Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro (mile 231), Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares (mile 231)
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.
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.
Cathedral of Atlacomulco
Atlacomulco's cathedral, the Catedral de la Divina Providencia, is the seat of the Diocese of Atlacomulco and is dedicated to Divine Providence, making it the town's principal Catholic church.
Teatro Morelos de Maravatío
Maravatío's Teatro Morelos is a late-19th-century theater in a French-influenced neoclassical style, designed by architect Rafael Guerrero Torres. It opened on January 11, 1879, with a performance by opera singer Ángela Peralta.
Historic Centre of Morelia
Morelia's old core, founded in the 16th century as Valladolid, keeps more than 200 historic buildings in the region's pink stone around its cathedral and checkerboard streets. UNESCO added it to the World Heritage List in 1991.
Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro
Pátzcuaro's basilica (Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Salud) rises on pre-Hispanic platforms beside its own plaza. Bishop Vasco de Quiroga planned it as a five-nave cathedral, only one nave was finished, and his remains rest inside.
Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares
Housed in an 18th-century building adapted from the Colegio de San Nicolás, which Vasco de Quiroga founded in the 16th century, this INAH museum in Pátzcuaro shows Purépecha pottery, textiles, woodwork and lacquerware.
Barranca del Cupatitzio National Park
In Michoacán, Barranca del Cupatitzio National Park follows the headwaters of the Cupatitzio River, which bubbles up from an underground spring and carves a small ravine as it starts to flow.
When you get to Apatzingán
Apatzingán Cathedral
In the city of Apatzingán, Michoacán, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral is a Modernist building that serves as the seat of the local Catholic diocese.
More drives to Apatzingán
- San Juan del Río to Apatzingán
- Mexico City to Apatzingán
- San Luis Potosí to Apatzingán
- Cuautla to Apatzingán
- Iguala to Apatzingán
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Apatzingán
From Pachuca to other places in Mexico
- Pachuca to Jilotepec
- Pachuca to Metepec
- Pachuca to Atlatlahucan
- Pachuca to Malinalco
- Pachuca to Amealco
- Pachuca to Cuautla
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Pachuca to Apatzingán?
About 5 h 12 min of driving without stops, over 313 miles.
How far is Apatzingán from Pachuca by car?
About 313 miles (504 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 Pachuca to Apatzingán?
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 Pachuca to Apatzingán?
The U.S. State Department rates Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Pachuca to Apatzingán use?
In order: MEX-85, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D, MEX-14D and MEX-120. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Pachuca and Apatzingán?
Closest to the road: Jorge R. Acosta Museum (museum, mile 53, 1 mi from the route); Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (opera house, mile 137, 1 mi from the route); Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares (museum, mile 231, 1 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.