The Wayro route from Salamanca to Actopan is 173 miles (279 km), about 3 h 9 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 173 mi (279 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 9 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-45D → MEX-47D → MEX-57D → MEX-M40D → HGO 17 → HGO 30 |
| Mexican states on the route | Guanajuato (Level 3), Querétaro (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 6.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
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 Salamanca to Actopan is like
MEX-47D (52 mi) and MEX-45D (37 mi) carry about 51% of the 173 miles. MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D, MEX-M40D are toll highways (cuota). It runs through 4 states: Guanajuato, Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo. Of the 6 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Salamanca to Actopan, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 2–39 | 37 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-47D | 39–91 | 52 | Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 91–127 | 36 | Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| MEX-M40D | 127–144 | 17 | Hidalgo |
| HGO 17 | 144–147 | 3 | Hidalgo |
| HGO 30 | 147–157 | 10 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 157–173 | 16 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 52 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 93 of this route: Querétaro → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 126 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
Stops between Salamanca and Actopan
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Tula National Park (mile 139)
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro de las Campanas (mile 50), El Cimatario National Park (mile 56), Tula National Park (mile 139)
- Museums and history: Celaya Cathedral (mile 27), Jorge R. Acosta Museum (mile 139)
Celaya Cathedral
Celaya's main Catholic church, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, occupies the space of a former chapel that was annexed to the neighboring Temple of St. Francis.
Cerro de las Campanas
Rising within Querétaro City, the Cerro de las Campanas is a hill that is protected as a Mexican national park.
El Cimatario National Park
El Cimatario National Park protects about 24 square kilometers of land just south of the city of Santiago de Querétaro.
Jorge R. Acosta Museum
Next to the Tula ruins, the Museo de Sitio Jorge R. Acosta traces the rise and decline of the Toltecs and their city, Tollan Xicocotitlan. It moved into new facilities in 1982 and covers nearly 20 years of digs led by archaeologist Jorge R. Acosta.
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.
More drives to Actopan
- Tulancingo to Actopan
- Tepotzotlán to Actopan
- Mexico City to Actopan
- Tequisquiapan to Actopan
- Toluca to Actopan
- Cuernavaca to Actopan
From Salamanca to other places in Mexico
- Salamanca to Zamora
- Salamanca to Cotija
- Salamanca to Temacapulín
- Salamanca to Pabellón de Arteaga
- Salamanca to Pinos
- Salamanca to Pabellón de Hidalgo
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Salamanca to Actopan?
About 3 h 9 min of driving without stops, over 173 miles.
How far is Actopan from Salamanca by car?
About 173 miles (279 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 Salamanca to Actopan?
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 Salamanca to Actopan?
The U.S. State Department rates Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico 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 Salamanca to Actopan use?
In order: MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D, MEX-M40D, HGO 17 and HGO 30. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Salamanca and Actopan?
Closest to the road: Jorge R. Acosta Museum (museum, mile 139, 1 mi from the route); Tula National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 139, 1 mi from the route); Hacienda Demiñho (plantation, mile 154, 2 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.