The Wayro route from Sayula to Otumba is 415 miles (668 km), about 6 h 56 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 415 mi (668 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 56 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-54 → MEX-54D → MEX-GUA 10D → MEX-35 → JAL 122 → MEX-15D → MEX-M40D → MEX-132 |
| Mexican states on the route | Jalisco (Level 3), Michoacán (Level 4), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-54D, MEX-GUA 10D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.6 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 Sayula to Otumba is like
MEX-15D (204 mi) and MEX-M40D (94 mi) carry about 72% of the 415 miles. MEX-54D, MEX-GUA 10D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-54, MEX-35, MEX-132 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico, Hidalgo. Of the 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Sayula to Otumba, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Jalisco |
| MEX-54 | 1–5 | 4 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 5–7 | 2 | Jalisco |
| MEX-54D | 7–48 | 41 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 48–49 | 1 | Jalisco |
| MEX-GUA 10D | 49–71 | 22 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 71–72 | 1 | Jalisco |
| MEX-35 | 72–101 | 29 | Jalisco |
| JAL 122 | 101–107 | 6 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 107–311 | 204 | Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico |
| MEX-M40D | 311–405 | 94 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| MEX-132 | 405–411 | 6 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 411–415 | 4 | State of Mexico |
- Mile 124 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 293 of this route: Michoacán → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 342 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 372 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 386 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 403 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
Stops between Sayula and Otumba
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Tula National Park (mile 355)
- Nature and outdoors: Rayón National Park (mile 289), Tula National Park (mile 355)
- Museums and history: Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 271), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 309), Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl (mile 355), Museo Arqueológico de Apaxco (mile 371)
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.
Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl
The Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl is an archaeological museum located in Tula de Allende, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
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.
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.
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.
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.
More drives to Otumba
- Mexico City to Otumba
- Tepotzotlán to Otumba
- Toluca to Otumba
- Metepec to Otumba
- Jilotepec to Otumba
- Cuernavaca to Otumba
From Sayula to other places in Mexico
- Sayula to Amatitán
- Sayula to Temacapulín
- Sayula to Nochistlán
- Sayula to Jalpa de Cánovas
- Sayula to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Sayula to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Sayula to Otumba?
About 6 h 56 min of driving without stops, over 415 miles.
How far is Otumba from Sayula by car?
About 415 miles (668 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 Sayula 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 Sayula to Otumba?
The U.S. State Department rates Jalisco 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 Sayula to Otumba use?
In order: MEX-54, MEX-54D, MEX-GUA 10D, MEX-35, JAL 122, 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 Sayula and Otumba?
Closest to the road: Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (opera house, mile 271, 1 mi from the route); Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl (museum, mile 355, 1 mi from the route); Tula National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 355, 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.