The Wayro route from Zacatelco to Actopan is 106 miles (171 km), about 2 h 7 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 106 mi (171 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 2 h 7 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-119 → MEX-117D → MEX-M40D → MEX-132 → MEX-88 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-117D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 4.3 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 Zacatelco to Actopan is like
MEX-M40D (42 mi) and MEX-88 (16 mi) carry about 55% of the 106 miles. MEX-117D, MEX-M40D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-119, MEX-132, MEX-88 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: Tlaxcala, Puebla, Hidalgo, State of Mexico. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Zacatelco to Actopan, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-119 | 0–6 | 6 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-117D | 6–21 | 15 | Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| MEX-M40D | 21–63 | 42 | Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 63–64 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-132 | 64–67 | 3 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| connecting roads | 67–68 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-88 | 68–84 | 16 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 84–106 | 22 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 19 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 23 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 45 of this route: Tlaxcala → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 53 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 65 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
Stops between Zacatelco and Actopan
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Church and former convent of Todos los Santos (mile 71)
- Nature and outdoors: El Chico National Park (mile 88)
- Museums and history: Museo de Sitio de Ocotelulco (mile 9), Museo Miguel N. Lira (mile 9), Teotihuacan (mile 63), Cuartel del Arte en Pachuca, Hidalgo (mile 84), Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (mile 85)
Museo de Sitio de Ocotelulco
Ocotelulco was the principal Tlaxcalan lordship in 1519; its site museum displays about 750 excavated objects beside temple remains painted with Tezcatlipoca and the fire serpent, and an ethnobotanical garden surrounds the building.
Museo Miguel N. Lira
Downtown Tlaxcala's Museo Miguel N. Lira fills the old State Printing Office, linked to the writer and poet. Visitors see his manuscripts, family photos and personal belongings, plus the original linotype machines and the press that printed his work.
Exconvent of Santa María Magdalena
The former convent of Santa María Magdalena (Exconvento de Santa María Magdalena) is a 17th-century Baroque church built by the Dieguino friars, still in use as a Catholic temple of the Archdiocese of Puebla.
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.
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.
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.
Cuartel del Arte en Pachuca, Hidalgo
In downtown Pachuca, the Cuartel del Arte is an art gallery presenting painting and sculpture exhibitions by Mexican and international artists.
Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
Known locally as La Villita, the Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe is a Catholic basilica dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe in Pachuca.
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.
More drives to Actopan
- Tulancingo to Actopan
- Tepotzotlán to Actopan
- Mexico City to Actopan
- Tequisquiapan to Actopan
- Toluca to Actopan
- Cuernavaca to Actopan
From Zacatelco to other places in Mexico
- Zacatelco to Tlaxco
- Zacatelco to Calpulalpan
- Zacatelco to Otumba
- Zacatelco to Atlatlahucan
- Zacatelco to Omitlán
- Zacatelco to Huasca de Ocampo
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Zacatelco to Actopan?
About 2 h 7 min of driving without stops, over 106 miles.
How far is Actopan from Zacatelco by car?
About 106 miles (171 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 Zacatelco to Actopan?
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 Zacatelco to Actopan?
The U.S. State Department rates Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Zacatelco to Actopan use?
In order: MEX-119, MEX-117D, MEX-M40D, MEX-132 and MEX-88. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Zacatelco and Actopan?
Closest to the road: Museo de Sitio de Ocotelulco (museum, mile 9, 1 mi from the route); Museo Miguel N. Lira (museum, mile 9, 1 mi from the route); Church and former convent of Todos los Santos (convent, mile 71, 0.6 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.