The Wayro route from Poza Rica to Zimapán is 198 miles (318 km), about 4 h 17 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 198 mi (318 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 17 min |
| Main roads, in order | 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 7.9 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 Zimapán is like
MEX-132D (88 mi) and MEX-85 (48 mi) carry about 69% of the 198 miles. MEX-132D is a toll highway (cuota); MEX-130, MEX-85 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Veracruz, Puebla, Hidalgo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Poza Rica to Zimapán, 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-130 | 99–118 | 19 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 118–145 | 27 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 145–193 | 48 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 193–198 | 5 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 20 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 75 of this route: Puebla → Hidalgo (state line)
Stops between Poza Rica and Zimapán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Huapalcalco (mile 91), Church of San Miguel Arcángel (mile 168), Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (mile 168)
- Nature and outdoors: El Hiloche (mile 119), El Chico National Park (mile 124)
- Museums and history: Huapalcalco (mile 91), Tulancingo Cathedral (mile 93), Templo y exconvento de San Andrés Apóstol (mile 110), Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (mile 122), Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (mile 168)
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.
Teatro de la Ciudad San Francisco
The Teatro de la Ciudad San Francisco is a theater in the historic center of Pachuca de Soto, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
Known locally as La Villita, the Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe is a Catholic basilica dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe in Pachuca.
El Chico National Park
In Hidalgo, El Chico National Park is known for towering cliffs such as Las Ventanas and Peña del Cuervo, popular with climbers, and forest wildlife including gray foxes, ringtails, armadillos, hawks, falcons and woodpeckers.
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 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 San Miguel, Morelos
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Poza Rica to Zimapán?
About 4 h 17 min of driving without stops, over 198 miles.
How far is Zimapán from Poza Rica by car?
About 198 miles (318 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 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 Poza Rica 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 Poza Rica to Zimapán use?
In order: 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 Poza Rica and Zimapán?
Closest to the road: Huapalcalco (archaeological site, mile 91, 0.3 mi from the route); Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (museum, mile 168, 0.2 mi from the route); Church of San Miguel Arcángel (convent, mile 168, 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.