The Wayro route from Puebla to Zimapán is 172 miles (277 km), about 3 h 34 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 172 mi (277 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 34 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-150D → MEX-M40D → HGO 30 → MEX-85 |
| Mexican states on the route | Puebla (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-150D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 6.9 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 Puebla to Zimapán is like
MEX-M40D (86 mi) and MEX-85 (30 mi) carry about 67% of the 172 miles. MEX-150D, MEX-M40D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-85 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 4 states: Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Puebla to Zimapán, 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 | 22–108 | 86 | Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 108–109 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| HGO 30 | 109–138 | 29 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 138–168 | 30 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 168–172 | 4 | Hidalgo |
- 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)
Stops between Puebla and Zimapán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Church of San Miguel Arcángel (mile 142), Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (mile 142)
- Nature and outdoors: Tula National Park (mile 109)
- Museums and history: Cacaxtla (mile 17), Xochitecatl (mile 18), Teotihuacan (mile 69), Museo Arqueológico de Apaxco (mile 101), Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (mile 142)
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.
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.
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 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.
Hacienda Demiñho
Near Tunititlán in the Mezquital Valley, Hacienda Demiñho is a former Spanish-era estate that once ran cattle, farmed and rented land, becoming one of the region's important haciendas.
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 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 Zimapán?
About 3 h 34 min of driving without stops, over 172 miles.
How far is Zimapán from Puebla by car?
About 172 miles (277 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 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 Puebla to Zimapán?
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 (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Puebla to Zimapán use?
In order: MEX-150D, MEX-M40D, HGO 30 and MEX-85. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Puebla and Zimapán?
Closest to the road: Xochitecatl (archaeological site, mile 18, 2 mi from the route); Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (museum, mile 142, 0.2 mi from the route); Church of San Miguel Arcángel (convent, mile 142, 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.