The Wayro route from Toluca to Zacatlán is 154 miles (248 km), about 3 h 9 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 154 mi (248 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 9 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15 → MEX-15D → Circuito Interior → MEX-85 → MEX-132D → MEX-132 → MEX-119D → MEX-119 |
| Mexican states on the route | State of Mexico (Level 2), Mexico City (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-15D, MEX-132D, MEX-119D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 6.2 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 Toluca to Zacatlán is like
MEX-132 (40 mi) and MEX-132D (37 mi) carry about 50% of the 154 miles. MEX-15D, MEX-132D, MEX-119D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-15, MEX-85, MEX-132, MEX-119 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: State of Mexico, Mexico City, Hidalgo, Puebla. Of the 9 stops listed below, 6 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Toluca to Zacatlán, 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-132D | 105–130 | 25 | Hidalgo |
| connecting roads | 130–132 | 2 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-119D | 132–144 | 12 | Hidalgo, Puebla |
| connecting roads | 144–145 | 1 | Puebla |
| MEX-119 | 145–154 | 9 | Puebla |
- 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)
- Mile 135 of this route: Hidalgo → Puebla (state line)
Stops between Toluca and Zacatlán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Papalote Museo del Niño (mile 34), Chapultepec Zoo (mile 35), Museo Nacional de San Carlos (mile 38), Museo de Geología de la UNAM (mile 39), Museo de los Ferrocarrileros (mile 42), Huapalcalco (mile 113)
- Museums and history: Papalote Museo del Niño (mile 34), Museo Nacional de San Carlos (mile 38), Museo de Geología de la UNAM (mile 39), Museo de los Ferrocarrileros (mile 42), Catedral de Teotihuacán (mile 65), Huapalcalco (mile 113)
- With kids: Chapultepec Zoo (mile 35)
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.
Chapultepec Zoo
Founded on July 6, 1923, by biologist Alfonso Luis Herrera, Chapultepec Zoo sits inside Mexico City's Chapultepec Park.
Museo Nacional de San Carlos
Mexico City's Museo Nacional de San Carlos, in the Cuauhtémoc borough, is a national art museum devoted to European art.
Museo de Geología de la UNAM
In the Santa María la Ribera neighborhood, UNAM's Museo de Geología displays the geological collections of the university's Institute of Geology.
Museo de los Ferrocarrileros
In the former La Villa train station in northern Mexico City, this museum opened in 2006 and tells the story of Mexico's railroads and the railroad workers' social movements.
Catedral de Teotihuacán
In Teotihuacán de Arista, the town at the heart of the municipality, the Cathedral Sanctuary of the Divine Redeemer serves as the seat of the Diocese of Teotihuacán.
Temple of the Feathered Serpent, Teotihuacan
The Temple of the Feathered Serpent is a pyramid at Teotihuacan, a pre-Columbian city in central Mexico that rose around the 1st or 2nd century BC and was occupied into the 600s or 700s.
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.
Huapalcalco
About 5 kilometers north of Tulancingo, the pre-Columbian site of Huapalcalco sits on the western slope of a hill called Tecolote.
More drives to Zacatlán
- Chiautempan to Zacatlán
- Zacatelco to Zacatlán
- Pachuca to Zacatlán
- Cholula to Zacatlán
- Atlixco to Zacatlán
- Mexico City to Zacatlán
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 Zacatlán?
About 3 h 9 min of driving without stops, over 154 miles.
How far is Zacatlán from Toluca by car?
About 154 miles (248 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 Zacatlán?
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 Zacatlán?
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; Puebla 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 Zacatlán use?
In order: MEX-15, MEX-15D, Circuito Interior, MEX-85, MEX-132D, MEX-132, MEX-119D and MEX-119. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Toluca and Zacatlán?
Closest to the road: Papalote Museo del Niño (museum building, mile 34, 0.3 mi from the route); Museo de Geología de la UNAM (museum, mile 39, 0.4 mi from the route); Huapalcalco (archaeological site, mile 113, 0.2 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.