The Wayro route from Tlaxco to Zimapán is 137 miles (221 km), about 3 h 45 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 137 mi (221 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 45 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-88 → MEX-85 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2) |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 5.5 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 Tlaxco to Zimapán is like
MEX-85 (48 mi) and MEX-88 (22 mi) carry about 51% of the 137 miles. The route stays on free federal roads (libre): MEX-88, MEX-85. It runs through 2 states: Tlaxcala, Hidalgo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Tlaxco to Zimapán, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–37 | 37 | Tlaxcala, Hidalgo |
| connecting roads | 37–38 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-88 | 38–60 | 22 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 60–85 | 25 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 85–133 | 48 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 133–137 | 4 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 14 of this route: Tlaxcala → Hidalgo (state line)
Stops between Tlaxco and Zimapán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo del Ferrocarril de Apan (mile 24), San Francisco Convent in Tepeapulco, Hidalgo (mile 34), Church and former convent of Todos los Santos (mile 47), Church of San Miguel Arcángel (mile 107), Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (mile 107)
- Nature and outdoors: El Chico National Park (mile 64)
- Museums and history: Museo del Ferrocarril de Apan (mile 24), Teotihuacan (mile 42), Museo de Mineralogía de la UAEH (mile 62), Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (mile 107)
Museo del Ferrocarril de Apan
Set in Apan's old train station on the former Mexico City–Veracruz line, this railroad museum preserves the town's history.
San Francisco Convent in Tepeapulco, Hidalgo
Tepeapulco's church and former convent of San Francisco (Templo y Exconvento de San Francisco) belongs to the group of mendicant buildings raised by Franciscan friars in Hidalgo in the 16th century.
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.
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.
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.
Museo de Mineralogía de la UAEH
Inside the central building of the state university in downtown Pachuca, the UAEH Mineralogy Museum displays minerals and rocks and is one of the longest-running museums of its kind in Mexico.
El Chico National Park
In Hidalgo, El Chico National Park is known for towering cliffs such as Las Ventanas and Peña del Cuervo, popular with climbers, and forest wildlife including gray foxes, ringtails, armadillos, hawks, falcons and woodpeckers.
Church of San Miguel Arcángel
Ixmiquilpan's 16th-century Church of San Miguel Arcángel is known for its murals with religious and secular scenes, and for a design that blends European and Indigenous traditions.
Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital
In Ixmiquilpan, Hidalgo, the Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital works as both a museum and a cultural center.
More drives to Zimapán
- Celaya to Zimapán
- Tlalpujahua to Zimapán
- Moroleón to Zimapán
- Pénjamo to Zimapán
- Zitácuaro to Zimapán
- Cuitzeo to Zimapán
From Tlaxco to other places in Mexico
- Tlaxco to Chipilo
- Tlaxco to Otumba
- Tlaxco to Omitlán
- Tlaxco to Atlatlahucan
- Tlaxco to Jilotepec
- Tlaxco to Malinalco
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tlaxco to Zimapán?
About 3 h 45 min of driving without stops, over 137 miles.
How far is Zimapán from Tlaxco by car?
About 137 miles (221 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 Tlaxco to Zimapán?
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 Tlaxco to Zimapán?
The U.S. State Department rates Tlaxcala 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 Tlaxco to Zimapán use?
In order: MEX-88 and MEX-85. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Tlaxco and Zimapán?
Closest to the road: San Francisco Convent in Tepeapulco, Hidalgo (convent, mile 34, 0.1 mi from the route); Church of San Miguel Arcángel (convent, mile 107, 0.3 mi from the route); Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (museum, mile 107, 0.3 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.