The Wayro route from Tulancingo to Barra de Navidad is 544 miles (875 km), about 10 h 0 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 544 mi (875 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 0 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-130 → MEX-132 → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → MEX-110 → MEX-15 → MEX-54 → MEX-54D → MEX-200D → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Michoacán (Level 4), Jalisco (Level 3), Colima (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-54D, MEX-200D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.8 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 Tulancingo to Barra de Navidad is like
MEX-15D (188 mi) and MEX-110 (107 mi) carry about 54% of the 544 miles. MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-54D, MEX-200D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-130, MEX-132, MEX-110, MEX-15, MEX-54, MEX-200 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 5 states: Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco, Colima. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Tulancingo to Barra de Navidad, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-130 | 2–6 | 4 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-132 | 6–29 | 23 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-M40D | 29–122 | 93 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 122–123 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 123–311 | 188 | State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 311–316 | 5 | Jalisco |
| MEX-110 | 316–334 | 18 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 334–340 | 6 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 340–342 | 2 | Michoacán |
| MEX-110 | 342–406 | 64 | Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-54 | 406–416 | 10 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 416–419 | 3 | Jalisco |
| MEX-54D | 419–443 | 24 | Jalisco, Colima |
| MEX-54 | 443–450 | 7 | Colima |
| MEX-110 | 450–475 | 25 | Colima |
| connecting roads | 475–477 | 2 | Colima |
| MEX-200D | 477–514 | 37 | Colima |
| MEX-200 | 514–542 | 28 | Colima, Jalisco |
| local roads | 542–544 | 2 | Jalisco |
- Mile 48 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 62 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 92 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 141 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 309 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 316 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 365 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 434 of this route: Jalisco → Colima (state line)
- Mile 530 of this route: Colima → Jalisco (state line)
Stops between Tulancingo and Barra de Navidad
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Comunitario de la Sal (mile 487)
- Nature and outdoors: Rayón National Park (mile 144), Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park (mile 429)
- Museums and history: Teotihuacan (mile 30), Museo Universitario de Artes Populares María Teresa Pomar (mile 448), Cathedral Basilica of Colima (mile 449), Museo Comunitario de la Sal (mile 487)
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.
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.
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.
Atlantean figures
Crowning the main pyramid at the Tula archaeological zone, these basalt sculptures of Toltec warriors stand more than four meters tall in what was once the Toltec capital; the nearby Wall of Snakes shows carved serpents devouring skeletons.
Rayón National Park
Just outside Tlalpujahua, Rayón National Park (Parque Nacional Rayón) marks the start of the area's famous butterfly reserve country, which stretches south and west from here.
Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park
This national park in western Mexico protects the upper slopes of two volcanic peaks, Volcán de Colima and Nevado de Colima, in the states of Jalisco and Colima.
Museo Universitario de Artes Populares María Teresa Pomar
Founded by collector María Teresa Pomar and run by the University of Colima, this museum is dedicated to Mexican folk art and handcrafts (artesanía), with pieces from across the country as well as the traditions of Colima state.
Cathedral Basilica of Colima
Colima Cathedral, the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, stands at a corner of the Jardín Libertad in the city center. Pope John Paul II named it a minor basilica on October 12, 1998.
Museo Comunitario de la Sal
Set in an old warehouse in Cuyutlán, the community Salt Museum (Museo Comunitario de la Sal) explains how local salt has been harvested, from the old tapeixtle technique to modern methods, with historic photos of the salt works.
More drives to Barra de Navidad
- Cotija to Barra de Navidad
- Tepatitlán to Barra de Navidad
- San Juan de los Lagos to Barra de Navidad
- Nochistlán to Barra de Navidad
- Jalpa to Barra de Navidad
- Pátzcuaro to Barra de Navidad
From Tulancingo to other places in Mexico
- Tulancingo to Tepotzotlán
- Tulancingo to Zimapán
- Tulancingo to Metepec
- Tulancingo to Atlatlahucan
- Tulancingo to Malinalco
- Tulancingo to Tonatico
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tulancingo to Barra de Navidad?
About 10 h 0 min of driving without stops, over 544 miles.
How far is Barra de Navidad from Tulancingo by car?
About 544 miles (875 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 Tulancingo to Barra de Navidad?
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 Tulancingo to Barra de Navidad?
The U.S. State Department rates Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Colima Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Tulancingo to Barra de Navidad use?
In order: MEX-130, MEX-132, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-110, MEX-15, MEX-54, MEX-54D, MEX-200D and MEX-200. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Tulancingo and Barra de Navidad?
Closest to the road: Atlantean figures (atlantean figures, mile 78, 1 mi from the route); Museo Universitario de Artes Populares María Teresa Pomar (art gallery, mile 448, 1 mi from the route); Museo Comunitario de la Sal (museum, mile 487, 0.4 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.