The Wayro route from Poza Rica to Lagos de Moreno is 385 miles (619 km), about 6 h 17 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 385 mi (619 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 17 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-130 → MEX-132D → MEX-132 → MEX-M40D → MEX-57D → MEX-47D → MEX-45D → JAL 302 |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Querétaro (Level 2), Guanajuato (Level 3), Jalisco (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-130D, MEX-132D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.4 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 Poza Rica to Lagos de Moreno is like
MEX-45D (106 mi) and MEX-132D (88 mi) carry about 50% of the 385 miles. MEX-132D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-130, MEX-132 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 7 states: Veracruz, Puebla, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato, Jalisco. None of the 9 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Poza Rica to Lagos de Moreno, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Veracruz |
| MEX-130 | 2–11 | 9 | Veracruz |
| MEX-132D | 11–99 | 88 | Veracruz, Puebla, Hidalgo |
| MEX-132 | 99–122 | 23 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-M40D | 122–182 | 60 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 182–183 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-57D | 183–218 | 35 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro |
| MEX-47D | 218–271 | 53 | Querétaro, Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 271–377 | 106 | Guanajuato, Jalisco |
| JAL 302 | 377–384 | 7 | Jalisco |
| local roads | 384–385 | 1 | Jalisco |
- Mile 20 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 75 of this route: Puebla → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 140 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 155 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 184 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 217 of this route: State of Mexico → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 258 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 368 of this route: Guanajuato → Jalisco (state line)
Stops between Poza Rica and Lagos de Moreno
- Nature and outdoors: Tula National Park (mile 171), El Cimatario National Park (mile 254), Cerro de las Campanas (mile 259)
- Museums and history: Tulancingo Cathedral (mile 93), Museo del Ferrocarril (mile 93), Teotihuacan (mile 122), Tula (mile 171)
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 del Ferrocarril
This former railway station on the old Hidalgo Railroad line to Mexico City now works as a museum, with photographs of its construction and the office and bookkeeping objects used in its day.
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.
Tula National Park
This park protects the ruins of Tula, ancient capital of the Toltecs. Walk up to the main pyramid to stand beside the Atlantes, basalt warrior figures more than four meters tall, and look for the Coatepantli wall's reliefs of snakes devouring skeletons.
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.
El Cimatario National Park
El Cimatario National Park protects about 24 square kilometers of land just south of the city of Santiago de Querétaro.
Cerro de las Campanas
Rising within Querétaro City, the Cerro de las Campanas is a hill that is protected as a Mexican national park.
When you get to Lagos de Moreno
Teatro José Rosas Moreno
Construction of the Teatro José Rosas Moreno in Lagos de Moreno began in 1867, and the theater opened on May 5, 1907. It is named for Jalisco writer José Rosas Moreno.
Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera
The Museo Casa Agustín Rivera Altos de Jalisco is a museum you'll find in the town of Lagos de Moreno, in the state of Jalisco.
More drives to Lagos de Moreno
- Zacatecas to Lagos de Moreno
- Mexico City to Lagos de Moreno
- Cuernavaca to Lagos de Moreno
- Cuautla to Lagos de Moreno
- Cholula to Lagos de Moreno
- Iguala to Lagos de Moreno
From Poza Rica to other places in Mexico
- Poza Rica to Actopan
- Poza Rica to Metztitlán
- Poza Rica to Huejotzingo
- Poza Rica to Atlixco
- Poza Rica to Jilotepec
- Poza Rica to Zimapán
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Poza Rica to Lagos de Moreno?
About 6 h 17 min of driving without stops, over 385 miles.
How far is Lagos de Moreno from Poza Rica by car?
About 385 miles (619 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 Poza Rica to Lagos de Moreno?
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 Poza Rica to Lagos de Moreno?
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; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Poza Rica to Lagos de Moreno use?
In order: MEX-130, MEX-132D, MEX-132, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D and JAL 302. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Poza Rica and Lagos de Moreno?
Closest to the road: Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque (aqueduct, mile 121, 2 mi from the route); Tula National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 171, 1 mi from the route); Tula (archaeological site, mile 171, 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.