The Wayro route from Toluca to Actopan is 111 miles (179 km), about 2 h 28 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 111 mi (179 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 2 h 28 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15 → MEX-15D → Circuito Interior → MEX-85 |
| Mexican states on the route | State of Mexico (Level 2), Mexico City (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 4.5 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 Toluca to Actopan is like
MEX-85 (71 mi) and MEX-15D (20 mi) carry about 82% of the 111 miles. MEX-15D is a toll highway (cuota); MEX-15, MEX-85 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: State of Mexico, Mexico City, Hidalgo. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Toluca to Actopan, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-15 | 0–11 | 11 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 11–31 | 20 | State of Mexico, Mexico City |
| MEX-15 | 31–35 | 4 | Mexico City |
| Circuito Interior | 35–40 | 5 | Mexico City |
| MEX-85 | 40–111 | 71 | Mexico City, State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
- Mile 23 of this route: State of Mexico → Mexico City (state line)
- Mile 46 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 69 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
Stops between Toluca and Actopan
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Desierto de los Leones National Park (mile 24), Papalote Museo del Niño (mile 34), Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 43)
- Nature and outdoors: Desierto de los Leones National Park (mile 24), Fuentes Brotantes de Tlalpan National Park (mile 28), Lomas de Padierna National Park (mile 28), El Chico National Park (mile 95)
- Museums and history: Papalote Museo del Niño (mile 34), Casa Estudio Leonora Carrington (mile 37), Laboratorio Arte Alameda (mile 38), Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 43)
Desierto de los Leones National Park
Declared a national park in 1917, this fir, ash and oak forest in Mexico City's Cuajimalpa and Álvaro Obregón boroughs surrounds a former Carmelite monastery. Locals come to hike, run and cycle, and more than 100 bird species live here.
Fuentes Brotantes de Tlalpan National Park
In southern Mexico City's Tlalpan borough, Fuentes Brotantes de Tlalpan was declared a national park on September 28, 1936, on land once called the Barranca de los Manantiales.
Lomas de Padierna National Park
Lomas de Padierna National Park lies in the Cerro del Judío ecological reserve in La Magdalena Contreras, on the southwest side of Mexico City.
Papalote Museo del Niño
In Chapultepec's woods, Papalote Museo del Niño is a children's museum with interactive exhibits on science, technology and art built around learning and teamwork.
Casa Estudio Leonora Carrington
In Roma Norte at Chihuahua Street 194, this was the home and studio of British surrealist painter and writer Leonora Carrington.
Laboratorio Arte Alameda
Laboratorio Arte Alameda is a space for exhibiting, documenting, producing and researching art practices that use technology and explore the relationship between art and technology.
Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe
The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, at the foot of Tepeyac Hill in Mexico City's Gustavo A. Madero borough, is a Catholic basilica dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe within the Primate Archdiocese of 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.
More drives to Actopan
- Tulancingo to Actopan
- Tepotzotlán to Actopan
- Mexico City to Actopan
- Tequisquiapan to Actopan
- Cuernavaca to Actopan
- Querétaro to Actopan
From Toluca to other places in Mexico
- Toluca to Salvatierra
- Toluca to Celaya
- Toluca to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Toluca to Tócuaro
- Toluca to Pénjamo
- Toluca to Cotija
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Toluca to Actopan?
About 2 h 28 min of driving without stops, over 111 miles.
How far is Actopan from Toluca by car?
About 111 miles (179 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 Toluca to Actopan?
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 Toluca to Actopan?
The U.S. State Department rates State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Mexico City 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 Toluca to Actopan use?
In order: MEX-15, MEX-15D, Circuito Interior and MEX-85. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Toluca and Actopan?
Closest to the road: Desierto de los Leones National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 24, 1 mi from the route); Papalote Museo del Niño (museum building, mile 34, 0.3 mi from the route); Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe (catholic parish church, mile 43, 0.5 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.