The Wayro route from Tulancingo to General Zaragoza is 474 miles (763 km), about 9 h 51 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 474 mi (763 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 51 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-130 → MEX-132 → MEX-M40D → MEX-57D → MEX-57 → SLP 29 → NL 3 |
| Mexican states on the route | Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, Nuevo León |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-M40D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.0 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.
The Tulancingo–General Zaragoza drive in a few lines
MEX-57 (172 mi) and MEX-57D (135 mi) carry about 65% of the 474 miles. It runs through 6 states: Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, Nuevo León. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-M40D and MEX-57D. None of the 9 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Which roads connect Tulancingo and General Zaragoza
| 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 | 29–89 | 60 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 89–90 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-57D | 90–177 | 87 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro |
| MEX-57 | 177–274 | 97 | Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| connecting roads | 274–275 | 1 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 275–317 | 42 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 317–392 | 75 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 392–398 | 6 | San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 29 | 398–427 | 29 | San Luis Potosí, Nuevo León |
| NL 3 | 427–432 | 5 | Nuevo León |
| local roads | 432–474 | 42 | Nuevo León |
- Mile 48 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 62 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 91 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 124 of this route: State of Mexico → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 184 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 237 of this route: Guanajuato → San Luis Potosí (state line)
- Mile 406 of this route: San Luis Potosí → Nuevo León (state line)
Stops between Tulancingo and General Zaragoza
- Nature and outdoors: El Cimatario National Park (mile 157)
- Museums and history: Jorge R. Acosta Museum (mile 78), Casa de la Corregidora (mile 162), Former hacienda of Chichimequillas (mile 170), San Luis Potosí Cathedral (mile 283), Matehuala Cathedral (mile 397)
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
Running more than 48 km between Zempoala and Otumba, Padre Tembleque's 16th-century water system has been on UNESCO's list since 2015. The friar built it from 1554 to 1572.
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.
Jorge R. Acosta Museum
Next to the Tula ruins, the Museo de Sitio Jorge R. Acosta traces the rise and decline of the Toltecs and their city, Tollan Xicocotitlan. It moved into new facilities in 1982 and covers nearly 20 years of digs led by archaeologist Jorge R. Acosta.
El Cimatario National Park
El Cimatario National Park protects about 24 square kilometers of land just south of the city of Santiago de Querétaro.
Casa de la Corregidora
Completed in 1770 as Querétaro's royal houses and town hall, the Casa de la Corregidora is where Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez, held there in 1810, sent word of danger to Miguel Hidalgo. After independence it became the state government palace.
Former hacienda of Chichimequillas
Discalced Carmelite friars founded this hacienda around 1690 to shelter travelers on the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro and to farm. Its two-story stone and lime main house, finished in 1813, wraps around a central courtyard beside a chapel.
San Luis Potosí Cathedral
A parish church from 1609 once stood where San Luis Potosí's cathedral rose between 1701 and 1728. Today the Baroque building serves as the seat of the archdiocese.
Matehuala Cathedral
In Matehuala, San Luis Potosí, the Diocese of Matehuala has its seat at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, a Catholic church that remains open to worshippers.
More drives to General Zaragoza
- Jerez, Zacatecas to General Zaragoza
- Pabellón de Hidalgo to General Zaragoza
- Celaya to General Zaragoza
- Salvatierra to General Zaragoza
- Tlalpujahua to General Zaragoza
- Angangueo to General Zaragoza
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 General Zaragoza?
About 9 h 51 min of driving without stops, over 474 miles.
How far is General Zaragoza from Tulancingo by car?
About 474 miles (763 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 General Zaragoza?
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 General Zaragoza?
The U.S. State Department rates Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Nuevo León Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Tulancingo to General Zaragoza use?
In order: MEX-130, MEX-132, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-57, SLP 29 and NL 3. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Tulancingo and General Zaragoza?
Closest to the road: Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque (aqueduct, mile 28, 2 mi from the route); Atlantean figures (sculptures, mile 78, 1 mi from the route); Jorge R. Acosta Museum (museum, mile 78, 1 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 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: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place 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.