The Wayro route from Puebla to Zamora is 343 miles (552 km), about 5 h 29 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 343 mi (552 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 29 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-150D → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D |
| 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 |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.7 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 Zamora is like
MEX-15D (166 mi) and MEX-M40D (140 mi) carry about 89% of the 343 miles. MEX-150D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D are toll highways (cuota). 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 Zamora, 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 | 162–328 | 166 | State of Mexico, Michoacán |
| local roads | 328–343 | 15 | 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 Zamora
- Nature and outdoors: Parque nacional Xicoténcatl (mile 16), Tula National Park (mile 117), Rayón National Park (mile 183)
- Museums and history: Xochitecatl (mile 18), Museo Arqueológico de Apaxco (mile 101), Tula (mile 117), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 163), Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 201)
Parque nacional Xicoténcatl
Covering roughly 600 hectares in central Tlaxcala, Xicohténcatl National Park takes in the historic center of Tlaxcala city plus Quiahuixtlán, Ocotelulco and Tepeticpac, which correspond to three of the old Tlaxcalan lordships.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Teatro Morelos de Maravatío
Maravatío's Teatro Morelos is a late-19th-century theater in a French-influenced neoclassical style, designed by architect Rafael Guerrero Torres. It opened on January 11, 1879, with a performance by opera singer Ángela Peralta.
When you get to Zamora
Zamora de Hidalgo Cathedral
Zamora's Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is a 19th-century Catholic church in the Michoacán city of Zamora de Hidalgo, attributed to the Celaya architect Eduardo Tresguerras.
More drives to Zamora
- Fresnillo to Zamora
- Mazatlán to Zamora
- Durango to Zamora
- Culiacán to Zamora
- Salamanca to Zamora
- San Juan del Río to Zamora
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 Zamora?
About 5 h 29 min of driving without stops, over 343 miles.
How far is Zamora from Puebla by car?
About 343 miles (552 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 Zamora?
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 Zamora?
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 Zamora use?
In order: MEX-150D, MEX-M40D and MEX-15D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Puebla and Zamora?
Closest to the road: Tula (archaeological site, mile 117, 1 mi from the route); Tula National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 117, 1 mi from the route); Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (opera house, mile 201, 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.