The Wayro route from Papantla to Zimapán is 212 miles (341 km), about 4 h 39 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 212 mi (341 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 39 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-127 → MEX-130 → MEX-132D → MEX-85 |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-130D, MEX-132D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.5 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 Papantla to Zimapán is like
MEX-132D (88 mi) and MEX-85 (49 mi) carry about 65% of the 212 miles. MEX-132D is a toll highway (cuota); MEX-127, MEX-130, MEX-85 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Veracruz, Puebla, Hidalgo. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Papantla to Zimapán, 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-130 | 113–132 | 19 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 132–159 | 27 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 159–208 | 49 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 208–212 | 4 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 34 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 89 of this route: Puebla → Hidalgo (state line)
Stops between Papantla and Zimapán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Huapalcalco (mile 105), Church of San Miguel Arcángel (mile 182), Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (mile 182)
- Nature and outdoors: El Hiloche (mile 133)
- Museums and history: Huapalcalco (mile 105), Tulancingo Cathedral (mile 107), Templo y exconvento de San Andrés Apóstol (mile 124), Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (mile 182)
- With kids: Bioparque de Convivencia en Pachuca, Hidalgo (mile 137)
Huapalcalco
About 5 kilometers north of Tulancingo, the pre-Columbian site of Huapalcalco sits on the western slope of a hill called Tecolote.
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.
Templo y exconvento de San Andrés Apóstol
Augustinian friars raised this 16th-century church and convent in Epazoyucan, Hidalgo; the complex keeps its posa chapels, open chapel and atrium, and its stonework mixes Plateresque carving with Indigenous tequitqui craftsmanship.
El Hiloche
Bosque El Hiloche is a state park of about 100 hectares of forest in Mineral del Monte, Hidalgo, and one of the geosites of the Comarca Minera Geopark.
Bioparque de Convivencia en Pachuca, Hidalgo
Pachuca's Bioparque de Convivencia is a rescue and recovery center for wild, exotic and endemic animals saved from abuse, abandonment or risk, housing a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation unit.
Teatro Hidalgo Bartolomé de Medina
The Teatro Hidalgo Bartolomé de Medina is a theater in the city of Pachuca de Soto, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
Church of San Miguel Arcángel
Ixmiquilpan's 16th-century Church of San Miguel Arcángel is known for its murals with religious and secular scenes, and for a design that blends European and Indigenous traditions.
Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital
In Ixmiquilpan, Hidalgo, the Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital works as both a museum and a cultural center.
More drives to Zimapán
- Celaya to Zimapán
- Tlalpujahua to Zimapán
- Moroleón to Zimapán
- Pénjamo to Zimapán
- Zitácuaro to Zimapán
- Cuitzeo to Zimapán
From Papantla to other places in Mexico
- Papantla to Tlaxcala
- Papantla to Calpulalpan
- Papantla to Actopan
- Papantla to Zacatelco
- Papantla to Tepotzotlán
- Papantla to Jilotepec
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Papantla to Zimapán?
About 4 h 39 min of driving without stops, over 212 miles.
How far is Zimapán from Papantla by car?
About 212 miles (341 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 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 Papantla to Zimapán?
The U.S. State Department rates Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla 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 Papantla to Zimapán use?
In order: MEX-127, MEX-130, MEX-132D and MEX-85. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Papantla and Zimapán?
Closest to the road: Huapalcalco (archaeological site, mile 105, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (museum, mile 182, 0.2 mi from the route); Church of San Miguel Arcángel (convent, mile 182, 0.3 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.