The Wayro route from Tetela de Ocampo to Zirahuén is 341 miles (548 km), about 5 h 48 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 341 mi (548 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 48 min |
| Main roads, in order | PUE 148 → MEX-119D → MEX-132D → MEX-132 → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → MEX-37D → MEX-14D |
| 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, MEX-14D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.6 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 Zirahuén is like
MEX-M40D (93 mi) and MEX-15D (90 mi) carry about 54% of the 341 miles. MEX-119D, MEX-132D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D, MEX-14D 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, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Tetela de Ocampo to Zirahuén, 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 | 286–324 | 38 | Michoacán |
| MEX-14D | 324–337 | 13 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 337–341 | 4 | 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 Zirahuén
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Santuario de Nuestro Padre Jesús de Aquixtla (mile 27)
- Nature and outdoors: Tula National Park (mile 150), Rayón National Park (mile 217)
- Museums and history: Tulancingo Cathedral (mile 73), El Santo Museum (mile 73), Teotihuacan (mile 102), Tula (mile 151), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 196), Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares (mile 328)
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.
Tulancingo Cathedral
Tulancingo Cathedral grew from a 16th-century Franciscan mission. The present church, designed by architect José Damián Ortiz de Castro and consecrated in 1806, has an unusual Neoclassical portico with Ionic columns and a triangular pediment.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares
Housed in an 18th-century building adapted from the Colegio de San Nicolás, which Vasco de Quiroga founded in the 16th century, this INAH museum in Pátzcuaro shows Purépecha pottery, textiles, woodwork and lacquerware.
When you get to Zirahuén
Lake Zirahuén
Small and deep, Lake Zirahuén is a mountain lake in the Santa Clara del Cobre municipality of Michoacán, with a sandy bottom partly covered in mud and no outlet to the sea.
More drives to Zirahuén
- Amatitán to Zirahuén
- Tequila to Zirahuén
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Zirahuén
- Pabellón de Hidalgo to Zirahuén
- San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes to Zirahuén
- Calvillo to Zirahuén
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
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tetela de Ocampo to Zirahuén?
About 5 h 48 min of driving without stops, over 341 miles.
How far is Zirahuén from Tetela de Ocampo by car?
About 341 miles (548 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 Zirahuén?
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 Zirahuén?
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 Zirahuén use?
In order: PUE 148, MEX-119D, MEX-132D, MEX-132, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D and MEX-14D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Tetela de Ocampo and Zirahuén?
Closest to the road: Santuario de Nuestro Padre Jesús de Aquixtla (sanctuary, mile 27, 0.7 mi from the route); Tula National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 150, 1 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.