The Wayro route from Zimapán to El Oro is 133 miles (214 km), about 3 h 3 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 133 mi (214 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 3 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-85 → MEX-45 → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → MEX-561 → EM 5 |
| Mexican states on the route | Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-M40D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 5.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
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 Zimapán to El Oro is like
MEX-M40D (43 mi) and MEX-85 (20 mi) carry about 47% of the 133 miles. MEX-M40D, MEX-15D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-85, MEX-45, MEX-561 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 2 states: Hidalgo, State of Mexico. Of the 3 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Zimapán to El Oro, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 4–24 | 20 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-45 | 24–29 | 5 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 29–66 | 37 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-M40D | 66–109 | 43 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 109–121 | 12 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-561 | 121–125 | 4 | State of Mexico |
| EM 5 | 125–133 | 8 | State of Mexico |
- Mile 78 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
Stops between Zimapán and El Oro
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Tula National Park (mile 63), Tula (mile 63)
- Nature and outdoors: Tula National Park (mile 63)
- Museums and history: Tula (mile 63), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 110)
Tula National Park
This park protects the ruins of Tula, ancient capital of the Toltecs. Walk up to the main pyramid to stand beside the Atlantes, basalt warrior figures more than four meters tall, and look for the Coatepantli wall's reliefs of snakes devouring skeletons.
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.
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.
When you get to El Oro
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.
Museo del Ferrocarril del Oro
The Museo del Ferrocarril is in El Oro de Hidalgo, State of Mexico, a town seen as an important part of Mexico's mining and railroad history and named a Pueblo Mágico in 2011.
More drives to El Oro
- Amatitán to El Oro
- Pabellón de Arteaga to El Oro
- Tequila to El Oro
- Calvillo to El Oro
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to El Oro
- Zacatecas to El Oro
From Zimapán to other places in Mexico
- Zimapán to Ihuatzio
- Zimapán to Cuanajo
- Zimapán to Tócuaro
- Zimapán to Pacanda
- Zimapán to Zirahuén
- Zimapán to Pinos
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Zimapán to El Oro?
About 3 h 3 min of driving without stops, over 133 miles.
How far is El Oro from Zimapán by car?
About 133 miles (214 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 Zimapán to El Oro?
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 Zimapán to El Oro?
The U.S. State Department rates 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 Zimapán to El Oro use?
In order: MEX-85, MEX-45, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-561 and EM 5. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Zimapán and El Oro?
Closest to the road: Tula National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 63, 0.3 mi from the route); Tula (archaeological site, mile 63, 0.3 mi from the route); Cathedral of Atlacomulco (catholic cathedral, mile 110, 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.