The Wayro route from Tulancingo to Zitácuaro is 167 miles (269 km), about 3 h 7 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 167 mi (269 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 7 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-130 → MEX-132 → MEX-132D → MEX-85D → EM 10 → MEX-134D → MEX-A6D → MEX-A7D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 |
| Mexican states on the route | Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Mexico City (Level 2), Michoacán (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-132D, MEX-85D, MEX-134D, MEX-A6D, MEX-A7D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 6.7 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 Zitácuaro is like
MEX-132 (41 mi) and MEX-A7D (34 mi) carry about 45% of the 167 miles. MEX-132D, MEX-85D, MEX-134D, MEX-A6D, MEX-A7D, MEX-15D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-130, MEX-132, MEX-15 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Mexico City, Michoacán. None of the 9 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Tulancingo to Zitácuaro, 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 | 47–58 | 11 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-85D | 58–66 | 8 | State of Mexico |
| EM 10 | 66–70 | 4 | Mexico City |
| connecting roads | 70–71 | 1 | Mexico City |
| local roads | 71–83 | 12 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-134D | 83–104 | 21 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-A6D | 104–120 | 16 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-A7D | 120–154 | 34 | State of Mexico, Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 154–162 | 8 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 162–165 | 3 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 165–167 | 2 | Michoacán |
- Mile 29 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 66 of this route: State of Mexico → Mexico City (state line)
- Mile 71 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 152 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
Stops between Tulancingo and Zitácuaro
- Nature and outdoors: Viveros de Coyoacán (mile 79), Lomas de Padierna National Park (mile 85), Desierto de los Leones National Park (mile 85), Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (mile 160)
- Museums and history: Catedral de Teotihuacán (mile 46), Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 66), Planetario Luis Enrique Erro (mile 69)
- With kids: Planetario Luis Enrique Erro (mile 69)
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.
Temple of the Feathered Serpent, Teotihuacan
The Temple of the Feathered Serpent is a pyramid at Teotihuacan, a pre-Columbian city in central Mexico that rose around the 1st or 2nd century BC and was occupied into the 600s or 700s.
Catedral de Teotihuacán
In Teotihuacán de Arista, the town at the heart of the municipality, the Cathedral Sanctuary of the Divine Redeemer serves as the seat of the Diocese of Teotihuacán.
Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe
The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, at the foot of Tepeyac Hill in Mexico City's Gustavo A. Madero borough, is a Catholic basilica dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe within the Primate Archdiocese of Mexico.
Planetario Luis Enrique Erro
Run by the National Polytechnic Institute, the Planetario Luis Enrique Erro in Mexico City is a planetarium open to the public and one of the longest-running in Latin America.
Viveros de Coyoacán
Part tree nursery, part public park, Viveros de Coyoacán covers 96 acres and was founded in the early 20th century by Miguel Ángel de Quevedo to grow seedlings for reforesting Mexico's forests.
Lomas de Padierna National Park
Lomas de Padierna National Park lies in the Cerro del Judío ecological reserve in La Magdalena Contreras, on the southwest side of Mexico City.
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.
Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve
Every fall, millions of monarch butterflies from across North America return to the oyamel fir forests about 100 km northwest of Mexico City, clustering so densely they bend branches. The reserve became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008.
More drives to Zitácuaro
- San Juan del Río to Zitácuaro
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Zitácuaro
- Zacatecas to Zitácuaro
- Fresnillo to Zitácuaro
- Durango to Zitácuaro
- Mazatlán to Zitácuaro
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 Zitácuaro?
About 3 h 7 min of driving without stops, over 167 miles.
How far is Zitácuaro from Tulancingo by car?
About 167 miles (269 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 Zitácuaro?
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 Zitácuaro?
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; Michoacán 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 Zitácuaro use?
In order: MEX-130, MEX-132, MEX-132D, MEX-85D, EM 10, MEX-134D, MEX-A6D, MEX-A7D, MEX-15D and MEX-15. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Tulancingo and Zitácuaro?
Closest to the road: Temple of the Feathered Serpent, Teotihuacan (step pyramid, mile 44, 1 mi from the route); Catedral de Teotihuacán (catholic cathedral, mile 46, 2 mi from the route); Planetario Luis Enrique Erro (science museum, mile 69, 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.