The Wayro route from Tulancingo to Ixcateopan is 195 miles (314 km), about 4 h 36 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 195 mi (314 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 36 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-130 → MEX-132 → MEX-132D → MEX-142 → EM 12 → Viaducto → MEX-95D → MEX-95 → MEX-92D |
| Mexican states on the route | Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Mexico City (Level 2), Morelos (Level 3), Guerrero (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-132D, MEX-95D, MEX-92D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
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 Ixcateopan is like
MEX-132 (41 mi) and MEX-95 (37 mi) carry about 40% of the 195 miles. MEX-132D, MEX-95D, MEX-92D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-130, MEX-132, MEX-142, MEX-95 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 5 states: Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Mexico City, Morelos, Guerrero. None of the 7 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Tulancingo to Ixcateopan, 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 | 6–47 | 41 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| MEX-132D | 47–52 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 52–53 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-142 | 53–57 | 4 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 57–58 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| EM 12 | 58–66 | 8 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 66–70 | 4 | State of Mexico, Mexico City |
| connecting roads | 70–76 | 6 | Mexico City |
| local roads | 76–83 | 7 | Mexico City |
| Viaducto | 83–86 | 3 | Mexico City |
| MEX-95D | 86–107 | 21 | Mexico City, Morelos |
| connecting roads | 107–117 | 10 | Morelos |
| MEX-95 | 117–126 | 9 | Morelos |
| MEX-95D | 126–137 | 11 | Morelos |
| MEX-95 | 137–165 | 28 | Morelos, Guerrero |
| connecting roads | 165–168 | 3 | Guerrero |
| MEX-92D | 168–173 | 5 | Guerrero |
| local roads | 173–195 | 22 | Guerrero |
- Mile 29 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 67 of this route: State of Mexico → Mexico City (state line)
- Mile 103 of this route: Mexico City → Morelos (state line)
- Mile 160 of this route: Morelos → Guerrero (state line)
Stops between Tulancingo and Ixcateopan
- Nature and outdoors: Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park (mile 162)
- Museums and history: Colegio de Santa Cruz de Tlatelolco (mile 70), Valvanera Cathedral, Mexico City (mile 75), Palace of Iturbide (mile 76), Frida Kahlo Museum (mile 80), Teopanzolco (mile 123)
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.
Colegio de Santa Cruz de Tlatelolco
Established by Franciscans in Tlatelolco on January 6, 1536, the Colegio de Santa Cruz was an early school of higher learning that trained Indigenous students and interpreters.
Valvanera Cathedral, Mexico City
Southeast of the Zócalo at Correo Mayor and República de Uruguay, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Valvanera once belonged to the Convent of Santo Niño Perdido, founded in 1573.
Palace of Iturbide
Built by the Count of San Mateo Valparaíso as a wedding gift for his daughter, the Palace of Iturbide is a grand residence at Madero 17 in Mexico City's historic center.
Frida Kahlo Museum
Known as the Blue House for its cobalt-blue walls, the Frida Kahlo Museum in Coyoacán is a historic house and art museum devoted to the life and work of the painter.
Teopanzolco
Now surrounded by the city of Cuernavaca, Teopanzolco preserves a Late Postclassic pyramid base that once carried twin temples to Tlaloc and Huitzilopochtli, a layout closely tied to Tenochtitlan's sacred precinct.
Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park
Protected as a national park since 1936, this area near Taxco centers on the Cacahuamilpa caverns, where a guided route of about 4 km passes chambers up to 80 meters high, decorated with flowstone and floor-to-ceiling columns.
When you get to Ixcateopan
Ixcateopan
Some 36 kilometers from Taxco in the rugged mountains of northern Guerrero, the ruins at Ixcateopan de Cuauhtémoc belong to a city that served as an important regional ceremonial center.
More drives to Ixcateopan
- Tlaltizapán to Ixcateopan
- Tepoztlán to Ixcateopan
- Metepec to Ixcateopan
- Oaxtepec to Ixcateopan
- Tlayacapan to Ixcateopan
- Zacualpan de Amilpas to Ixcateopan
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 Ixcateopan?
About 4 h 36 min of driving without stops, over 195 miles.
How far is Ixcateopan from Tulancingo by car?
About 195 miles (314 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 Ixcateopan?
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 Ixcateopan?
The U.S. State Department rates Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Mexico City Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Morelos Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Guerrero 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 Ixcateopan use?
In order: MEX-130, MEX-132, MEX-132D, MEX-142, EM 12, Viaducto, MEX-95D, MEX-95 and MEX-92D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Tulancingo and Ixcateopan?
Closest to the road: Valvanera Cathedral, Mexico City (cathedral, mile 75, 2 mi from the route); Frida Kahlo Museum (art museum, mile 80, 1 mi from the route); Teopanzolco (archaeological site, mile 123, 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 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.