The Wayro route from Salvatierra to Otumba is 187 miles (301 km), about 3 h 28 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 187 mi (301 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 28 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-51 → MEX-61 → MEX-15D → MEX-M40D → MEX-132 |
| Mexican states on the route | Guanajuato (Level 3), Michoacán (Level 4), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-15D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.5 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 Salvatierra to Otumba is like
MEX-M40D (93 mi) and MEX-15D (41 mi) carry about 72% of the 187 miles. MEX-15D, MEX-M40D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-51, MEX-61, MEX-132 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: Guanajuato, Michoacán, State of Mexico, Hidalgo. None of the 8 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Salvatierra to Otumba, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-51 | 1–20 | 19 | Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 20–21 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-61 | 21–42 | 21 | Guanajuato, Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 42–83 | 41 | Michoacán, State of Mexico |
| MEX-M40D | 83–176 | 93 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| MEX-132 | 176–183 | 7 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 183–187 | 4 | State of Mexico |
- Mile 39 of this route: Guanajuato → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 65 of this route: Michoacán → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 114 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 144 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 158 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 175 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
Stops between Salvatierra and Otumba
- Nature and outdoors: Rayón National Park (mile 61)
- Museums and history: Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 43), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 81), Tula (mile 127), Jorge R. Acosta Museum (mile 127), Museo Arqueológico de Apaxco (mile 143)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
When you get to Otumba
Pyramid of the Sun
Rising along the Avenue of the Dead between the Pyramid of the Moon and the Ciudadela, the Pyramid of the Sun is the largest building in Teotihuacan, believed to date to about AD 200.
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 del Ferrocarril en Otumba
The Museo del Ferrocarril en Otumba is a museum in the town of Otumba de Gómez Farías devoted, as its name says, to the railroad.
More drives to Otumba
- Mexico City to Otumba
- Tepotzotlán to Otumba
- Toluca to Otumba
- Metepec to Otumba
- Jilotepec to Otumba
- Cuernavaca to Otumba
From Salvatierra to other places in Mexico
- Salvatierra to Temacapulín
- Salvatierra to Pinos
- Salvatierra to Calvillo
- Salvatierra to Real de Asientos
- Salvatierra to Amatitán
- Salvatierra to Tequila
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Salvatierra to Otumba?
About 3 h 28 min of driving without stops, over 187 miles.
How far is Otumba from Salvatierra by car?
About 187 miles (301 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 Salvatierra to Otumba?
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 Salvatierra to Otumba?
The U.S. State Department rates Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; 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 Salvatierra to Otumba use?
In order: MEX-51, MEX-61, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D and MEX-132. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Salvatierra and Otumba?
Closest to the road: Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (opera house, mile 43, 1 mi from the route); Tula (archaeological site, mile 127, 1 mi from the route); Jorge R. Acosta Museum (museum, mile 127, 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.