The Wayro route from Pachuca to Zacatelco is 86 miles (139 km), about 1 h 36 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 86 mi (139 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 1 h 36 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-88 → MEX-132 → MEX-M40D → MEX-117D → MEX-119 |
| Mexican states on the route | Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-M40D, MEX-117D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 3.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
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 Zacatelco is like
MEX-M40D (44 mi) and MEX-88 (16 mi) carry about 70% of the 86 miles. MEX-M40D, MEX-117D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-88, MEX-132, MEX-119 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Tlaxcala, Puebla. Of the 6 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Pachuca to Zacatelco, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-88 | 2–18 | 16 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-132 | 18–22 | 4 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| MEX-M40D | 22–66 | 44 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| MEX-117D | 66–80 | 14 | Puebla, Tlaxcala |
| connecting roads | 80–81 | 1 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-119 | 81–86 | 5 | Tlaxcala |
- Mile 21 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 34 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 41 of this route: Hidalgo → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 64 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 68 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
Stops between Pachuca and Zacatelco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Church and former convent of Todos los Santos (mile 16)
- Museums and history: Teotihuacan (mile 22), Museo Nacional de Antropología e Historia de Tlaxcala (mile 77)
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.
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.
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.
Exconvent of Santa María Magdalena
The former convent of Santa María Magdalena (Exconvento de Santa María Magdalena) is a 17th-century Baroque church built by the Dieguino friars, still in use as a Catholic temple of the Archdiocese of Puebla.
Teatro Xicohténcatl
Tlaxcala's Teatro Xicohténcatl opened in 1873 and was reopened in 1888 after remodeling. Look up to see John Fulton's ceiling mural of the nine muses, painted in Art Nouveau style against a Tlaxcalan landscape.
Museo Nacional de Antropología e Historia de Tlaxcala
Set in the cloisters of Tlaxcala's former Franciscan convent, founded in 1528, the regional museum (Museo Regional de Tlaxcala) traces the state from paleontology and pre-Hispanic cultures through the colonial era to the Revolution, with pottery, sculpture and paintings.
When you get to Zacatelco
Laguna de Acomulco
A quiet lagoon in the state of Tlaxcala, Laguna de Acomulco is surrounded by vegetation and rural scenery and works well for a short walk, landscape photos or a calm break in nature.
Parque ecológico Los Ladrillos
Opened on April 2, 2015, Los Ladrillos Ecological Park is a nature reserve in the municipality of Zacatelco, in Tlaxcala.
More drives to Zacatelco
- Huamantla to Zacatelco
- Cuautla to Zacatelco
- Tulancingo to Zacatelco
- Tepotzotlán to Zacatelco
- Cuernavaca to Zacatelco
- Toluca to Zacatelco
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
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Pachuca to Zacatelco?
About 1 h 36 min of driving without stops, over 86 miles.
How far is Zacatelco from Pachuca by car?
About 86 miles (139 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 Zacatelco?
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 Zacatelco?
The U.S. State Department rates Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Pachuca to Zacatelco use?
In order: MEX-88, MEX-132, MEX-M40D, MEX-117D and MEX-119. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Pachuca and Zacatelco?
Closest to the road: Church and former convent of Todos los Santos (convent, mile 16, 0.6 mi from the route); Teatro Xicohténcatl (theatre building, mile 77, 1 mi from the route); Museo Nacional de Antropología e Historia de Tlaxcala (museum, mile 77, 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.