The Wayro route from Tetela de Ocampo to Ihuatzio is 331 miles (533 km), about 5 h 44 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 331 mi (533 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 44 min |
| Main roads, in order | PUE 148 → MEX-119D → MEX-132D → MEX-132 → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → MEX-37D |
| Mexican states on the route | Puebla (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Michoacán (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-119D, MEX-132D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.3 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 Tetela de Ocampo to Ihuatzio is like
MEX-M40D (93 mi) and MEX-15D (90 mi) carry about 55% of the 331 miles. MEX-119D, MEX-132D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-132 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 4 states: Puebla, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Tetela de Ocampo to Ihuatzio, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Puebla |
| PUE 148 | 1–29 | 28 | Puebla |
| connecting roads | 29–34 | 5 | Puebla |
| MEX-119D | 34–52 | 18 | Puebla, Hidalgo |
| connecting roads | 52–54 | 2 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-132D | 54–78 | 24 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-132 | 78–101 | 23 | Hidalgo |
| connecting roads | 101–102 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-M40D | 102–195 | 93 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 195–196 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 196–286 | 90 | State of Mexico, Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 286–323 | 37 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 323–328 | 5 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 328–331 | 3 | Michoacán |
- Mile 49 of this route: Puebla → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 121 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 134 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 165 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 214 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
Stops between Tetela de Ocampo and Ihuatzio
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Santuario de Nuestro Padre Jesús de Aquixtla (mile 27), Huapalcalco (mile 71)
- Nature and outdoors: Rayón National Park (mile 217)
- Museums and history: Huapalcalco (mile 71), El Santo Museum (mile 73), Tula (mile 151), Jorge R. Acosta Museum (mile 151), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 196)
Santuario de Nuestro Padre Jesús de Aquixtla
In the Sierra Norte de Puebla, the sanctuary of Nuestro Padre Jesús in Aquixtla draws thousands of pilgrims during the year who come to give thanks for favors received.
Huapalcalco
About 5 kilometers north of Tulancingo, the pre-Columbian site of Huapalcalco sits on the western slope of a hill called Tecolote.
El Santo Museum
Wrestling fans can stop in Tulancingo, birthplace of the masked luchador El Santo, where this museum opened in 1985. Displays include original masks and ring outfits, movie promotional material and photos from his career and private life.
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.
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.
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.
Historic Centre of Morelia
Morelia's old core, founded in the 16th century as Valladolid, keeps more than 200 historic buildings in the region's pink stone around its cathedral and checkerboard streets. UNESCO added it to the World Heritage List in 1991.
When you get to Ihuatzio
Lake Pátzcuaro
Boats leave the shore of Lake Pátzcuaro for its islands, including Janitzio, topped by a statue of José María Morelos. Purépecha fishers here are known for butterfly-shaped nets, and whitefish is the local specialty.
Tzintzuntzan
Once the political and economic capital of the Purépecha empire, governed by a hereditary line of uacúsecha, or 'eagle lords,' Tzintzuntzan preserves its yácatas, temple bases that combine rectangular and semicircular platforms around ritual plazas.
Ihuatzio
On the shore of Lake Pátzcuaro, Ihuatzio was one of three main Purépecha power centers. Visitors can see raised walkways and two semicircular pyramids called yácatas; excavations here also turned up Chac Mool and coyote sculptures carved from volcanic rock.
More drives to Ihuatzio
- Amatitán to Ihuatzio
- Tequila to Ihuatzio
- Pabellón de Hidalgo to Ihuatzio
- Calvillo to Ihuatzio
- Real de Asientos to Ihuatzio
- Zacatecas to Ihuatzio
From Tetela de Ocampo to other places in Mexico
- Tetela de Ocampo to Huasca de Ocampo
- Tetela de Ocampo to Omitlán
- Tetela de Ocampo to Metztitlán
- Tetela de Ocampo to Bernal
- Tetela de Ocampo to Mineral de Pozos
- Tetela de Ocampo to Santa Fe de la Laguna
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tetela de Ocampo to Ihuatzio?
About 5 h 44 min of driving without stops, over 331 miles.
How far is Ihuatzio from Tetela de Ocampo by car?
About 331 miles (533 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 Tetela de Ocampo to Ihuatzio?
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 Tetela de Ocampo to Ihuatzio?
The U.S. State Department rates Puebla 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 Tetela de Ocampo to Ihuatzio use?
In order: PUE 148, MEX-119D, MEX-132D, MEX-132, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D and MEX-37D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Tetela de Ocampo and Ihuatzio?
Closest to the road: Santuario de Nuestro Padre Jesús de Aquixtla (sanctuary, mile 27, 0.7 mi from the route); Huapalcalco (archaeological site, mile 71, 0.3 mi from the route); Tula (archaeological site, mile 151, 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.