The Wayro route from Papantla to Jilotepec is 203 miles (326 km), about 3 h 32 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 203 mi (326 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 32 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-127 → MEX-130 → MEX-132D → MEX-132 → MEX-M40D |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-130D, MEX-132D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.1 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 Papantla to Jilotepec is like
MEX-132D (88 mi) and MEX-M40D (64 mi) carry about 75% of the 203 miles. MEX-132D, MEX-M40D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-127, MEX-130, MEX-132 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: Veracruz, Puebla, Hidalgo, State of Mexico. None of the 8 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Papantla to Jilotepec, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Veracruz |
| MEX-127 | 4–15 | 11 | Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 15–16 | 1 | Veracruz |
| MEX-130 | 16–25 | 9 | Veracruz |
| MEX-132D | 25–113 | 88 | Veracruz, Puebla, Hidalgo |
| MEX-132 | 113–136 | 23 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-M40D | 136–200 | 64 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| local roads | 200–203 | 3 | State of Mexico |
- Mile 34 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 89 of this route: Puebla → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 155 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 169 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 199 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
Stops between Papantla and Jilotepec
Tulancingo Cathedral
Tulancingo Cathedral grew from a 16th-century Franciscan mission. The present church, designed by architect José Damián Ortiz de Castro and consecrated in 1806, has an unusual Neoclassical portico with Ionic columns and a triangular pediment.
Museo de Datos Históricos
Tulancingo's first station of the Hidalgo and Northeast Railroad, built in 1893, now houses the Museo de Datos Históricos, with regional archaeological pieces such as the Huapalcalco feline, traditional clothing from Santa Ana Hueytlalpan and a historical photo archive.
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.
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.
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 Jilotepec
- Mexico City to Jilotepec
- Cuernavaca to Jilotepec
- Cuautla to Jilotepec
- Taxco to Jilotepec
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Jilotepec
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Jilotepec
From Papantla to other places in Mexico
- Papantla to Tlaxcala
- Papantla to Calpulalpan
- Papantla to Actopan
- Papantla to Zacatelco
- Papantla to Tepotzotlán
- Papantla to Zimapán
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Papantla to Jilotepec?
About 3 h 32 min of driving without stops, over 203 miles.
How far is Jilotepec from Papantla by car?
About 203 miles (326 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 Papantla to Jilotepec?
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 Papantla to Jilotepec?
The U.S. State Department rates Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Papantla to Jilotepec use?
In order: MEX-127, MEX-130, MEX-132D, MEX-132 and MEX-M40D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Papantla and Jilotepec?
Closest to the road: Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque (aqueduct, mile 135, 2 mi from the route); Tula (archaeological site, mile 186, 1 mi from the route); Jorge R. Acosta Museum (museum, mile 186, 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.