The Wayro route from Tonatico to Huasca de Ocampo is 148 miles (238 km), about 3 h 3 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 148 mi (238 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 3 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-55D → MEX-A10D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → Circuito Interior → MEX-85 → MEX-105 |
| Mexican states on the route | State of Mexico (Level 2), Mexico City (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-55D, MEX-A10D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 5.9 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 Tonatico to Huasca de Ocampo is like
MEX-85 (49 mi) and MEX-55D (24 mi) carry about 49% of the 148 miles. MEX-55D, MEX-A10D, MEX-15D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-15, MEX-85, MEX-105 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 Tonatico to Huasca de Ocampo, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 4–28 | 24 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 28–31 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-A10D | 31–43 | 12 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 43–45 | 2 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 45–65 | 20 | State of Mexico, Mexico City |
| MEX-15 | 65–69 | 4 | Mexico City |
| connecting roads | 69–70 | 1 | Mexico City |
| Circuito Interior | 70–75 | 5 | Mexico City |
| MEX-85 | 75–124 | 49 | Mexico City, State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| local roads | 124–132 | 8 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 132–142 | 10 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 142–148 | 6 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 57 of this route: State of Mexico → Mexico City (state line)
- Mile 80 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 103 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
Stops between Tonatico and Huasca de Ocampo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Desierto de los Leones National Park (mile 58), Museo de Historia Natural (mile 68), Museo de los Ferrocarrileros (mile 76)
- Nature and outdoors: Desierto de los Leones National Park (mile 58), Fuentes Brotantes de Tlalpan National Park (mile 62), Museo de Historia Natural (mile 68), El Chico National Park (mile 137)
- Museums and history: Museo de Historia Natural (mile 68), Salón de la Plástica Mexicana (mile 71), Borda House, Mexico City (mile 72), Museo de los Ferrocarrileros (mile 76)
Ciénegas del Lerma
These marshes in the Toluca Valley are three lakes left from a wetland of about 27,000 hectares in the late 19th century. A Ramsar site since 2004, they hold dozens of endemic and threatened species and are a key stop for migratory species.
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.
Museo de Historia Natural
In the second section of Chapultepec Park, the Museo de Historia Natural y Cultura Ambiental displays mounted animals, fossils, rocks, minerals, sculptures and models about life on Earth and Mexico's biodiversity.
Salón de la Plástica Mexicana
Established in 1949 to expand the market for Mexican art, the Salón de la Plástica Mexicana is an institution devoted to promoting contemporary Mexican art.
Borda House, Mexico City
The Borda House on Madero Street in Mexico City's historic center first belonged to Frenchman José de la Borda, one of New Spain's richest men in the 18th century, and stands out for its sculpted stone details on the ground floor.
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.
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.
When you get to Huasca de Ocampo
Basaltic Prisms of Santa María Regla
Basalt columns more than 40 meters tall line a ravine near Huasca de Ocampo, formed when lava cooled quickly on contact with water. Alexander von Humboldt described the Basaltic Prisms (Prismas Basálticos) after his visit in 1803.
More drives to Huasca de Ocampo
- Actopan to Huasca de Ocampo
- Otumba to Huasca de Ocampo
- Tepotzotlán to Huasca de Ocampo
- Mexico City to Huasca de Ocampo
- Jilotepec to Huasca de Ocampo
- Zimapán to Huasca de Ocampo
From Tonatico to other places in Mexico
- Tonatico to El Oro
- Tonatico to Bernal
- Tonatico to Mineral de Pozos
- Tonatico to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Tonatico to Cuanajo
- Tonatico to Tócuaro
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tonatico to Huasca de Ocampo?
About 3 h 3 min of driving without stops, over 148 miles.
How far is Huasca de Ocampo from Tonatico by car?
About 148 miles (238 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 Tonatico to Huasca de Ocampo?
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 Tonatico to Huasca de Ocampo?
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 Tonatico to Huasca de Ocampo use?
In order: MEX-55D, MEX-A10D, MEX-15D, MEX-15, Circuito Interior, MEX-85 and MEX-105. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Tonatico and Huasca de Ocampo?
Closest to the road: Desierto de los Leones National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 58, 1 mi from the route); Museo de Historia Natural (museum, mile 68, 0.2 mi from the route); Museo de los Ferrocarrileros (railway museum, mile 76, 0.7 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.