The Wayro route from Zacatelco to Sayula is 469 miles (755 km), about 7 h 42 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 469 mi (755 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 42 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-119 → MEX-117D → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → JAL 122 → MEX-35 → MEX-GUA 10D → MEX-54D → MEX-54 |
| 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) |
| Toll roads | MEX-117D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-GUA 10D, MEX-54D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.8 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 Zacatelco to Sayula is like
MEX-15D (203 mi) and MEX-M40D (136 mi) carry about 72% of the 469 miles. MEX-117D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-GUA 10D, MEX-54D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-119, MEX-35, MEX-54 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 6 states: Tlaxcala, Puebla, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco. None of the 8 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Zacatelco to Sayula, 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 | 158–361 | 203 | State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 361–362 | 1 | Jalisco |
| JAL 122 | 362–367 | 5 | Jalisco |
| MEX-35 | 367–397 | 30 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 397–398 | 1 | Jalisco |
| MEX-GUA 10D | 398–420 | 22 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 420–421 | 1 | Jalisco |
| MEX-54D | 421–462 | 41 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 462–464 | 2 | Jalisco |
| MEX-54 | 464–467 | 3 | Jalisco |
| local roads | 467–469 | 2 | Jalisco |
- 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)
Stops between Zacatelco and Sayula
Museo Nacional de Antropología e Historia de Tlaxcala
Set in the cloisters of Tlaxcala's former Franciscan convent, founded in 1528, the regional museum (Museo Regional de Tlaxcala) traces the state from paleontology and pre-Hispanic cultures through the colonial era to the Revolution, with pottery, sculpture and paintings.
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.
Museo Arqueológico de Apaxco
Founded in 1985, the Museo Arqueológico de Apaxco sits across from the parish church of San Francisco de Asís and beside the town hall in Apaxco, State of Mexico.
Tula
Once the Toltec capital, the Tula archaeological zone is best known for its Atlantes, basalt warrior figures over four meters (13 feet) tall crowning the main pyramid. Visitors also see a ball court, the Burnt Palace and the Coatepantli wall, carved with snakes devouring skeletons.
Jorge R. Acosta Museum
Next to the Tula ruins, the Museo de Sitio Jorge R. Acosta traces the rise and decline of the Toltecs and their city, Tollan Xicocotitlan. It moved into new facilities in 1982 and covers nearly 20 years of digs led by archaeologist Jorge R. Acosta.
Teatro Morelos de Maravatío
Maravatío's Teatro Morelos is a late-19th-century theater in a French-influenced neoclassical style, designed by architect Rafael Guerrero Torres. It opened on January 11, 1879, with a performance by opera singer Ángela Peralta.
More drives to Sayula
- Tepatitlán to Sayula
- San Juan de los Lagos to Sayula
- Lagos de Moreno to Sayula
- León to Sayula
- Aguascalientes to Sayula
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Sayula
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 Sayula?
About 7 h 42 min of driving without stops, over 469 miles.
How far is Sayula from Zacatelco by car?
About 469 miles (755 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 Sayula?
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 Sayula?
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 (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Zacatelco to Sayula use?
In order: MEX-119, MEX-117D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, JAL 122, MEX-35, MEX-GUA 10D, MEX-54D and MEX-54. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Zacatelco and Sayula?
Closest to the road: Museo Nacional de Antropología e Historia de Tlaxcala (museum, mile 9, 1 mi from the route); Tula (archaeological site, mile 113, 1 mi from the route); Jorge R. Acosta Museum (museum, 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.