The Wayro route from Zacatlán to Otumba is 83 miles (133 km), about 1 h 43 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 83 mi (133 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 1 h 43 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-119 → MEX-119D → MEX-132D → MEX-132 |
| Mexican states on the route | Puebla (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-119D, MEX-132D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 3.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
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 Zacatlán to Otumba is like
MEX-132 (29 mi) and MEX-132D (24 mi) carry about 64% of the 83 miles. MEX-119D, MEX-132D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-119, MEX-132 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Puebla, Hidalgo, State of Mexico. Of the 4 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Zacatlán to Otumba, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Puebla |
| MEX-119 | 1–9 | 8 | Puebla |
| connecting roads | 9–11 | 2 | Puebla |
| MEX-119D | 11–22 | 11 | Puebla, Hidalgo |
| connecting roads | 22–25 | 3 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-132D | 25–49 | 24 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-132 | 49–78 | 29 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 78–79 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 79–83 | 4 | State of Mexico |
- Mile 19 of this route: Puebla → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 71 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
Stops between Zacatlán and Otumba
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Huapalcalco (mile 41)
- Museums and history: Huapalcalco (mile 41), Museo de Datos Históricos (mile 43)
Huapalcalco
About 5 kilometers north of Tulancingo, the pre-Columbian site of Huapalcalco sits on the western slope of a hill called Tecolote.
Museo de Datos Históricos
Tulancingo's first station of the Hidalgo and Northeast Railroad, built in 1893, now houses the Museo de Datos Históricos, with regional archaeological pieces such as the Huapalcalco feline, traditional clothing from Santa Ana Hueytlalpan and a historical photo archive.
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.
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.
When you get to Otumba
Pyramid of the Sun
Rising along the Avenue of the Dead between the Pyramid of the Moon and the Ciudadela, the Pyramid of the Sun is the largest building in Teotihuacan, believed to date to about AD 200.
Museo del Ferrocarril en Otumba
The Museo del Ferrocarril en Otumba is a museum in the town of Otumba de Gómez Farías devoted, as its name says, to the railroad.
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.
More drives to Otumba
- Mexico City to Otumba
- Tepotzotlán to Otumba
- Toluca to Otumba
- Metepec to Otumba
- Jilotepec to Otumba
- Cuernavaca to Otumba
From Zacatlán to other places in Mexico
- Zacatlán to Chipilo
- Zacatlán to Omitlán
- Zacatlán to Actopan
- Zacatlán to Metztitlán
- Zacatlán to Jilotepec
- Zacatlán to Atlatlahucan
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Zacatlán to Otumba?
About 1 h 43 min of driving without stops, over 83 miles.
How far is Otumba from Zacatlán by car?
About 83 miles (133 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 Zacatlán to Otumba?
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 Zacatlán to Otumba?
The U.S. State Department rates 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 Zacatlán to Otumba use?
In order: MEX-119, MEX-119D, MEX-132D and MEX-132. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Zacatlán and Otumba?
Closest to the road: Huapalcalco (archaeological site, mile 41, 0.2 mi from the route); Museo de Datos Históricos (museum, mile 43, 2 mi from the route); Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque (aqueduct, mile 71, 2 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.