The Wayro route from Zacatelco to Comala is 488 miles (785 km), about 8 h 44 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 488 mi (785 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 44 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-119 → MEX-117D → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → MEX-110 → MEX-15 → MEX-54 → MEX-54D |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Michoacán (Level 4), Jalisco (Level 3), Colima (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-117D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-54D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.5 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 Comala is like
MEX-15D (188 mi) and MEX-M40D (136 mi) carry about 66% of the 488 miles. MEX-117D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-54D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-119, MEX-110, MEX-15, MEX-54 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 7 states: Tlaxcala, Puebla, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco, Colima. None of the 9 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Zacatelco to Comala, 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 | 21–157 | 136 | Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 157–158 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 158–346 | 188 | State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 346–351 | 5 | Jalisco |
| MEX-110 | 351–369 | 18 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 369–375 | 6 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 375–377 | 2 | Michoacán |
| MEX-110 | 377–441 | 64 | Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-54 | 441–451 | 10 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 451–454 | 3 | Jalisco |
| MEX-54D | 454–478 | 24 | Jalisco, Colima |
| MEX-54 | 478–481 | 3 | Colima |
| local roads | 481–488 | 7 | Colima |
- 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 66 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 83 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 96 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 127 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 176 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 344 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 351 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 400 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 469 of this route: Jalisco → Colima (state line)
Stops between Zacatelco and Comala
- Nature and outdoors: Rayón National Park (mile 179), Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park (mile 464)
- Museums and history: Museo de Sitio de Ocotelulco (mile 9), Museo Miguel N. Lira (mile 9), Teotihuacan (mile 65)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Rayón National Park
Just outside Tlalpujahua, Rayón National Park (Parque Nacional Rayón) marks the start of the area's famous butterfly reserve country, which stretches south and west from here.
Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park
This national park in western Mexico protects the upper slopes of two volcanic peaks, Volcán de Colima and Nevado de Colima, in the states of Jalisco and Colima.
When you get to Comala
Museo Universitario Alejandro Rangel Hidalgo
Founded in 1996 in the village of Nogueras, in Comala, this university museum honors painter Alejandro Rangel Hidalgo and forms part of the Nogueras cultural complex.
El Chanal
North of Colima city, this Postclassic settlement straddles the Colima River. Its ceremonial core holds temples, palaces, altars and a ballcourt, and digs revealed copper, silver and gold metalwork along with pottery and obsidian tools.
More drives to Comala
- Tepatitlán to Comala
- San Juan de los Lagos to Comala
- Nochistlán to Comala
- Jalpa to Comala
- Lagos de Moreno to Comala
- León to Comala
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
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Zacatelco to Comala?
About 8 h 44 min of driving without stops, over 488 miles.
How far is Comala from Zacatelco by car?
About 488 miles (785 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 Comala?
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 Comala?
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; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Colima Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Zacatelco to Comala use?
In order: MEX-119, MEX-117D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-110, MEX-15, MEX-54 and MEX-54D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Zacatelco and Comala?
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); Atlantean figures (atlantean figures, mile 113, 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.