The Wayro route from Zirahuén to Huasca de Ocampo is 260 miles (419 km), about 4 h 25 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 260 mi (419 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 25 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-14D → MEX-37D → MEX-15D → MEX-M40D → MEX-85 → MEX-105 |
| Mexican states on the route | Michoacán (Level 4), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-14D, MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
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 Zirahuén to Huasca de Ocampo is like
MEX-15D (90 mi) and MEX-M40D (80 mi) carry about 65% of the 260 miles. MEX-14D, MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-85, MEX-105 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Michoacán, State of Mexico, Hidalgo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Zirahuén to Huasca de Ocampo, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Michoacán |
| MEX-14D | 4–16 | 12 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 16–54 | 38 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 54–55 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 55–145 | 90 | Michoacán, State of Mexico |
| MEX-M40D | 145–225 | 80 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| connecting roads | 225–226 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 226–237 | 11 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 237–245 | 8 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 245–255 | 10 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 255–260 | 5 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 127 of this route: Michoacán → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 177 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 208 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 222 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
Stops between Zirahuén and Huasca de Ocampo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Centro Interactivo Mundo Futbol (mile 239), Acosta Mine Museum (mile 252)
- Nature and outdoors: Rayón National Park (mile 124), El Chico National Park (mile 250)
- Museums and history: Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro (mile 12), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 145), Tula (mile 190), Centro Interactivo Mundo Futbol (mile 239), Monumental Clock of Pachuca (mile 245), Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (mile 245), Acosta Mine Museum (mile 252)
Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro
Pátzcuaro's basilica (Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Salud) rises on pre-Hispanic platforms beside its own plaza. Bishop Vasco de Quiroga planned it as a five-nave cathedral, only one nave was finished, and his remains rest inside.
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.
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.
Centro Interactivo Mundo Futbol
Centro Interactivo Mundo Fútbol is an interactive museum devoted to soccer, located in the city of Pachuca de Soto in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
Monumental Clock of Pachuca
Rising over Plaza Independencia in Pachuca's historic center, the Monumental Clock tower was built between 1904 and 1910 to mark the centennial of Mexico's War of Independence.
Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
Known locally as La Villita, the Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe is a Catholic basilica dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe in Pachuca.
El Chico National Park
In Hidalgo, El Chico National Park is known for towering cliffs such as Las Ventanas and Peña del Cuervo, popular with climbers, and forest wildlife including gray foxes, ringtails, armadillos, hawks, falcons and woodpeckers.
Acosta Mine Museum
In Mineral del Monte, Hidalgo, the Museo de Sitio Mina de Acosta is devoted to the history of mining and is run by Pachuca's Archivo Histórico y Museo de Minería.
When you get to Huasca de Ocampo
Basaltic Prisms of Santa María Regla
Basalt columns more than 40 meters tall line a ravine near Huasca de Ocampo, formed when lava cooled quickly on contact with water. Alexander von Humboldt described the Basaltic Prisms (Prismas Basálticos) after his visit in 1803.
More drives to Huasca de Ocampo
- Actopan to Huasca de Ocampo
- Otumba to Huasca de Ocampo
- Tepotzotlán to Huasca de Ocampo
- Mexico City to Huasca de Ocampo
- Jilotepec to Huasca de Ocampo
- Zimapán to Huasca de Ocampo
From Zirahuén to other places in Mexico
- Zirahuén to Mineral de Pozos
- Zirahuén to Omitlán
- Zirahuén to Aquismón
- Zirahuén to Chacala
- Zirahuén to San Francisco
- Zirahuén to Mismaloya
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Zirahuén to Huasca de Ocampo?
About 4 h 25 min of driving without stops, over 260 miles.
How far is Huasca de Ocampo from Zirahuén by car?
About 260 miles (419 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 Zirahuén to Huasca de Ocampo?
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 Zirahuén to Huasca de Ocampo?
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 Zirahuén to Huasca de Ocampo use?
In order: MEX-14D, MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-85 and MEX-105. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Zirahuén and Huasca de Ocampo?
Closest to the road: Tula (archaeological site, mile 190, 1 mi from the route); Centro Interactivo Mundo Futbol (museum, mile 239, 0.4 mi from the route); Acosta Mine Museum (museum, mile 252, 0.5 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.