The Wayro route from Toluca to Tulancingo is 111 miles (179 km), about 2 h 22 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 111 mi (179 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 2 h 22 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15 → MEX-15D → Circuito Interior → MEX-85 → MEX-132D → MEX-132 → MEX-130 |
| Mexican states on the route | State of Mexico (Level 2), Mexico City (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-15D, MEX-132D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 4.4 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 Tulancingo is like
MEX-132 (40 mi) and MEX-15D (20 mi) carry about 54% of the 111 miles. MEX-15D, MEX-132D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-15, MEX-85, MEX-132, MEX-130 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: State of Mexico, Mexico City, Hidalgo. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Toluca to Tulancingo, 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 | 40–53 | 13 | Mexico City, State of Mexico |
| MEX-132D | 53–65 | 12 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-132 | 65–105 | 40 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| MEX-130 | 105–109 | 4 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 109–111 | 2 | 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 83 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
Stops between Toluca and Tulancingo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Desierto de los Leones National Park (mile 24), Angel of Independence (mile 37)
- 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)
- Museums and history: Angel of Independence (mile 37), Old Customs Building, Mexico City (mile 40), Museo de la Mujer (mile 40)
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.
Angel of Independence
Officially the Monumento a la Independencia, El Ángel is a victory column on Paseo de la Reforma, built in 1910 by architect Antonio Rivas Mercado for the centennial of the start of the War of Independence.
Old Customs Building, Mexico City
The Old Customs Building stands on the east side of Santo Domingo Plaza, just north of Mexico City's main plaza, on land that once belonged to several nobles, including the Marquis of Villamayor.
Museo de la Mujer
Run by the National Autonomous University of Mexico, the Museo de la Mujer highlights the role women have played in building Mexico throughout its history.
Pyramid of the Moon
In the western part of ancient Teotihuacan, in present-day San Martín de las Pirámides, the Pyramid of the Moon mimics the contours of Cerro Gordo, the mountain just north of the site.
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.
When you get to Tulancingo
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.
Museo del Ferrocarril
This former railway station on the old Hidalgo Railroad line to Mexico City now works as a museum, with photographs of its construction and the office and bookkeeping objects used in its day.
Museo de Datos Históricos
Tulancingo's first station of the Hidalgo and Northeast Railroad, built in 1893, now houses the Museo de Datos Históricos, with regional archaeological pieces such as the Huapalcalco feline, traditional clothing from Santa Ana Hueytlalpan and a historical photo archive.
More drives to Tulancingo
- Mexico City to Tulancingo
- Cuernavaca to Tulancingo
- Cuautla to Tulancingo
- Zamora to Tulancingo
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Tulancingo
- Zacatecas to Tulancingo
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 Tulancingo?
About 2 h 22 min of driving without stops, over 111 miles.
How far is Tulancingo 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 Tulancingo?
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 Tulancingo?
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 Tulancingo use?
In order: MEX-15, MEX-15D, Circuito Interior, MEX-85, MEX-132D, MEX-132 and MEX-130. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Toluca and Tulancingo?
Closest to the road: Desierto de los Leones National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 24, 1 mi from the route); Angel of Independence (monument, mile 37, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo de la Mujer (museum, mile 40, 2 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.