The Wayro route from Zamora to Tulancingo is 304 miles (490 km), about 4 h 57 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 304 mi (490 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 57 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15D → MEX-M40D → MEX-132 → MEX-130 |
| Mexican states on the route | Michoacán (Level 4), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-15D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.2 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 Zamora to Tulancingo is like
MEX-15D (166 mi) and MEX-M40D (94 mi) carry about 86% of the 304 miles. MEX-15D, MEX-M40D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-132, MEX-130 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Michoacán, State of Mexico, Hidalgo. Of the 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Zamora to Tulancingo, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–15 | 15 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 15–181 | 166 | Michoacán, State of Mexico |
| MEX-M40D | 181–275 | 94 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| connecting roads | 275–276 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-132 | 276–299 | 23 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| MEX-130 | 299–303 | 4 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 303–304 | 1 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 163 of this route: Michoacán → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 213 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 244 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 257 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 274 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 277 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
Stops between Zamora and Tulancingo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Atlantean figures (mile 226)
- Nature and outdoors: Rayón National Park (mile 160)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 180), Jorge R. Acosta Museum (mile 226), Museo Arqueológico de Apaxco (mile 242), Teotihuacan (mile 275)
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.
Cathedral of Atlacomulco
Atlacomulco's cathedral, the Catedral de la Divina Providencia, is the seat of the Diocese of Atlacomulco and is dedicated to Divine Providence, making it the town's principal Catholic church.
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.
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.
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.
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.
When you get to Tulancingo
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.
Tulancingo Cathedral
Tulancingo Cathedral grew from a 16th-century Franciscan mission. The present church, designed by architect José Damián Ortiz de Castro and consecrated in 1806, has an unusual Neoclassical portico with Ionic columns and a triangular pediment.
Huapalcalco
About 5 kilometers north of Tulancingo, the pre-Columbian site of Huapalcalco sits on the western slope of a hill called Tecolote.
More drives to Tulancingo
- Mexico City to Tulancingo
- Toluca to Tulancingo
- Cuernavaca to Tulancingo
- Cuautla to Tulancingo
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Tulancingo
- Zacatecas to Tulancingo
From Zamora to other places in Mexico
- Zamora to Amatitán
- Zamora to Tequila
- Zamora to Real de Asientos
- Zamora to Jerez, Zacatecas
- Zamora to El Rosario, Sinaloa
- Zamora to Nombre de Dios
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Zamora to Tulancingo?
About 4 h 57 min of driving without stops, over 304 miles.
How far is Tulancingo from Zamora by car?
About 304 miles (490 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 Zamora to Tulancingo?
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 Zamora to Tulancingo?
The U.S. State Department rates Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Zamora to Tulancingo use?
In order: MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-132 and MEX-130. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Zamora and Tulancingo?
Closest to the road: Atlantean figures (atlantean figures, mile 226, 1 mi from the route); Jorge R. Acosta Museum (museum, mile 226, 1 mi from the route); Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque (aqueduct, mile 277, 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.