The Wayro route from Zimapán to Santa Fe de la Laguna is 237 miles (381 km), about 4 h 40 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 237 mi (381 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 40 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-85 → MEX-45 → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → MEX-37D → MEX-15 |
| Mexican states on the route | Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Michoacán (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
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 Santa Fe de la Laguna is like
MEX-15D (90 mi) and MEX-M40D (43 mi) carry about 56% of the 237 miles. MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-85, MEX-45, MEX-15 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán. Of the 6 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Zimapán to Santa Fe de la Laguna, 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 | 109–199 | 90 | State of Mexico, Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 199–221 | 22 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 221–236 | 15 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 236–237 | 1 | Michoacán |
- Mile 78 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 127 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
Stops between Zimapán and Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Atlantean figures (mile 63), Tula National Park (mile 63)
- Nature and outdoors: Tula National Park (mile 63), Rayón National Park (mile 130)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 110), Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 148)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Historic Centre of Morelia
Morelia's old core, founded in the 16th century as Valladolid, keeps more than 200 historic buildings in the region's pink stone around its cathedral and checkerboard streets. UNESCO added it to the World Heritage List in 1991.
When you get to Santa Fe de la Laguna
Tzintzuntzan
Once the political and economic capital of the Purépecha empire, governed by a hereditary line of uacúsecha, or 'eagle lords,' Tzintzuntzan preserves its yácatas, temple bases that combine rectangular and semicircular platforms around ritual plazas.
More drives to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Pedro Escobedo to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Amatitán to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Cadereyta to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Tequila to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Zacatecas to Santa Fe de la Laguna
From Zimapán to other places in Mexico
- Zimapán to El Oro
- Zimapán to Ihuatzio
- Zimapán to Cuanajo
- Zimapán to Tócuaro
- Zimapán to Pacanda
- Zimapán to Zirahuén
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Zimapán to Santa Fe de la Laguna?
About 4 h 40 min of driving without stops, over 237 miles.
How far is Santa Fe de la Laguna from Zimapán by car?
About 237 miles (381 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 Santa Fe de la Laguna?
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 Santa Fe de la Laguna?
The U.S. State Department rates Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Zimapán to Santa Fe de la Laguna use?
In order: MEX-85, MEX-45, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D and MEX-15. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Zimapán and Santa Fe de la Laguna?
Closest to the road: Tula National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 63, 0.3 mi from the route); Atlantean figures (atlantean figures, mile 63, 0.4 mi from the route); Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (opera house, mile 148, 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.