The Wayro route from Puebla to Apatzingán is 377 miles (606 km), about 6 h 5 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 377 mi (606 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 5 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-150D → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → MEX-37D → MEX-14D → MEX-120 |
| Mexican states on the route | Puebla (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Michoacán (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-150D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D, MEX-14D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.1 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 Puebla to Apatzingán is like
MEX-M40D (140 mi) and MEX-15D (90 mi) carry about 61% of the 377 miles. MEX-150D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D, MEX-14D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-120 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 5 states: Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán. None of the 9 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Puebla to Apatzingán, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Puebla |
| MEX-150D | 4–22 | 18 | Puebla |
| MEX-M40D | 22–162 | 140 | Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 162–252 | 90 | State of Mexico, Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 252–253 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 253–291 | 38 | Michoacán |
| MEX-14D | 291–319 | 28 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 319–320 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 320–356 | 36 | Michoacán |
| MEX-120 | 356–376 | 20 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 376–377 | 1 | Michoacán |
- Mile 27 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 50 of this route: Tlaxcala → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 58 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 70 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 87 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 101 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 131 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 180 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
Stops between Puebla and Apatzingán
- Nature and outdoors: Rayón National Park (mile 183), Barranca del Cupatitzio National Park (mile 321)
- Museums and history: Cacaxtla (mile 17), Xochitecatl (mile 18), Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl (mile 118), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 163), Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares (mile 295)
Cacaxtla
Built on a hill rising above the Tlaxcala-Puebla valley, Cacaxtla is known for its pre-Hispanic murals on the Gran Basamento, a large platform now sheltered under a roof. INAH manages it together with nearby Xochitécatl.
Xochitecatl
Xochitécatl is a pre-Hispanic archaeological site in the state of Tlaxcala. INAH runs it together with nearby Cacaxtla as a single zone, and the Xochitécatl site museum displays finds from the area.
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.
Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl
The Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl is an archaeological museum located in Tula de Allende, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
Cathedral of Atlacomulco
Atlacomulco's cathedral, the Catedral de la Divina Providencia, is the seat of the Diocese of Atlacomulco and is dedicated to Divine Providence, making it the town's principal Catholic church.
Rayón National Park
Just outside Tlalpujahua, Rayón National Park (Parque Nacional Rayón) marks the start of the area's famous butterfly reserve country, which stretches south and west from here.
Historic Centre of Morelia
Morelia's old core, founded in the 16th century as Valladolid, keeps more than 200 historic buildings in the region's pink stone around its cathedral and checkerboard streets. UNESCO added it to the World Heritage List in 1991.
Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares
Housed in an 18th-century building adapted from the Colegio de San Nicolás, which Vasco de Quiroga founded in the 16th century, this INAH museum in Pátzcuaro shows Purépecha pottery, textiles, woodwork and lacquerware.
Barranca del Cupatitzio National Park
In Michoacán, Barranca del Cupatitzio National Park follows the headwaters of the Cupatitzio River, which bubbles up from an underground spring and carves a small ravine as it starts to flow.
When you get to Apatzingán
Apatzingán Cathedral
In the city of Apatzingán, Michoacán, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral is a Modernist building that serves as the seat of the local Catholic diocese.
More drives to Apatzingán
- San Juan del Río to Apatzingán
- Mexico City to Apatzingán
- Pachuca to Apatzingán
- San Luis Potosí to Apatzingán
- Cuautla to Apatzingán
- Iguala to Apatzingán
From Puebla to other places in Mexico
- Puebla to Calpulalpan
- Puebla to Cuautla
- Puebla to Otumba
- Puebla to Atlatlahucan
- Puebla to Cuernavaca
- Puebla to Omitlán
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Puebla to Apatzingán?
About 6 h 5 min of driving without stops, over 377 miles.
How far is Apatzingán from Puebla by car?
About 377 miles (606 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 Puebla to Apatzingán?
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 Puebla to Apatzingán?
The U.S. State Department rates Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Puebla to Apatzingán use?
In order: MEX-150D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D, MEX-14D and MEX-120. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Puebla and Apatzingán?
Closest to the road: Xochitecatl (archaeological site, mile 18, 2 mi from the route); Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl (museum, mile 118, 1 mi from the route); Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares (museum, mile 295, 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.