The Wayro route from Tulancingo to Zimapán is 104 miles (168 km), about 2 h 49 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 104 mi (168 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 2 h 49 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-130 → MEX-85 |
| Mexican states on the route | Hidalgo (Level 2) |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 4.2 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 Tulancingo to Zimapán is like
MEX-85 (48 mi) and MEX-130 (23 mi) carry about 68% of the 104 miles. The route stays on free federal roads (libre): MEX-130, MEX-85. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Tulancingo to Zimapán, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-130 | 2–25 | 23 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 25–52 | 27 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 52–100 | 48 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 100–104 | 4 | Hidalgo |
Stops between Tulancingo and Zimapán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Church of San Miguel Arcángel (mile 75), Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (mile 75)
- Nature and outdoors: El Hiloche (mile 25), El Chico National Park (mile 32)
- Museums and history: Templo y exconvento de San Andrés Apóstol (mile 17), Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (mile 75)
- With kids: Bioparque de Convivencia en Pachuca, Hidalgo (mile 29)
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.
Templo y exconvento de San Andrés Apóstol
Augustinian friars raised this 16th-century church and convent in Epazoyucan, Hidalgo; the complex keeps its posa chapels, open chapel and atrium, and its stonework mixes Plateresque carving with Indigenous tequitqui craftsmanship.
El Hiloche
Bosque El Hiloche is a state park of about 100 hectares of forest in Mineral del Monte, Hidalgo, and one of the geosites of the Comarca Minera Geopark.
Teatro de la Ciudad San Francisco
The Teatro de la Ciudad San Francisco is a theater in the historic center of Pachuca de Soto, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
Bioparque de Convivencia en Pachuca, Hidalgo
Pachuca's Bioparque de Convivencia is a rescue and recovery center for wild, exotic and endemic animals saved from abuse, abandonment or risk, housing a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation unit.
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.
Church of San Miguel Arcángel
Ixmiquilpan's 16th-century Church of San Miguel Arcángel is known for its murals with religious and secular scenes, and for a design that blends European and Indigenous traditions.
Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital
In Ixmiquilpan, Hidalgo, the Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital works as both a museum and a cultural center.
More drives to Zimapán
- Celaya to Zimapán
- Tlalpujahua to Zimapán
- Moroleón to Zimapán
- Pénjamo to Zimapán
- Zitácuaro to Zimapán
- Cuitzeo to Zimapán
From Tulancingo to other places in Mexico
- Tulancingo to Tepotzotlán
- Tulancingo to Metepec
- Tulancingo to Atlatlahucan
- Tulancingo to Malinalco
- Tulancingo to Tonatico
- Tulancingo to El Oro
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tulancingo to Zimapán?
About 2 h 49 min of driving without stops, over 104 miles.
How far is Zimapán from Tulancingo by car?
About 104 miles (168 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 Zimapán?
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 Zimapán?
The U.S. State Department rates Hidalgo 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 Zimapán use?
In order: MEX-130 and MEX-85. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Tulancingo and Zimapán?
Closest to the road: Bioparque de Convivencia en Pachuca, Hidalgo (zoo, mile 29, 2 mi from the route); Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (museum, mile 75, 0.1 mi from the route); Church of San Miguel Arcángel (convent, mile 75, 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.