Parks Manager

National parks near Chimalapa, Hidalgo

Chimalapa sits inside the Tulancingo area and reaches the same parks. See national parks near Tulancingo for the full write-up.

El Chico National Park is the closest national park to Chimalapa, Hidalgo — 59.6 km (37.1 mi) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 1 hr 16 min behind the wheel.

El Chico, Xicoténcatl, Molino de Flores Nezahualcóyotl, La Malinche, Iztaccíhuatl–Popocatépetl, Tula, El Tepeyac, Cofre de Perote, Sacromonte, and Cerro de la Estrella make a full day trip — leave early.

Chimalapa has a population of about 2,008.

National parks near Chimalapa

Parks ranked by distance from Chimalapa
ParkStraight-line distanceEstimated driveRealistic trip
El Chico National Park59.6 km (37.1 mi)1 hr 16 minDoable as a day trip
Xicoténcatl National Park98 km (60.9 mi)1 hr 53 minDoable as a day trip
Molino de Flores Nezahualcóyotl National Park103 km (64.2 mi)1 hr 58 minDoable as a day trip
La Malinche National Park106 km (66.1 mi)2 hr 1 minDoable as a day trip
Iztaccíhuatl–Popocatépetl National Park118 km (73.5 mi)2 hr 11 minDoable as a day trip
Tula National Park124 km (77.1 mi)2 hr 16 minDoable as a day trip
El Tepeyac National Park125 km (77.6 mi)2 hr 17 minDoable as a day trip
Cofre de Perote National Park131 km (81.4 mi)2 hr 23 minDoable as a day trip
Sacromonte National Park134 km (83.5 mi)2 hr 26 minDoable as a day trip
Cerro de la Estrella National Park135 km (84.1 mi)2 hr 26 minDoable as a day trip

When to make this trip

El Chico National Park is generally best December through April, the drier and less humid stretch, with May and November as the quieter shoulder either side.

June to November is the wet and hurricane season — heavy rain, high humidity, and occasional storm closures.

Heat and humidity are constant. Plan activity for early morning and carry more water than feels necessary.

Month-by-month detail for El Chico National Park

Seeing more than one

Several parks near Chimalapa are close enough to each other to combine on one trip, so the drive from home only has to happen once.

Distances between parks near Chimalapa
PairApartEstimated drive
Xicoténcatl → La Malinche22.2 km (13.8 mi)36 min
Molino de Flores Nezahualcóyotl → Iztaccíhuatl–Popocatépetl36 km (22.4 mi)50 min
Xicoténcatl → Iztaccíhuatl–Popocatépetl45.2 km (28.1 mi)1 hr
La Malinche → Iztaccíhuatl–Popocatépetl65.1 km (40.4 mi)1 hr 22 min

Planning a trip from Chimalapa

Distances here are straight-line and the drive estimate adds a road factor on top, but mountain passes and seasonal closures can change it a lot — a route that looks like three hours in June can be shut entirely in February. Confirm road status with the park before you commit to a date.

Read the El Chico National Park guide

Other towns in Acaxochitlán

Common questions

What is the closest national park to Chimalapa?

El Chico National Park. It is about 59.6 km (37.1 mi) from Chimalapa, roughly 1 hr 16 min of driving.

Can I do a national park day trip from Chimalapa?

Yes — El Chico National Park, Xicoténcatl National Park, Molino de Flores Nezahualcóyotl National Park, La Malinche National Park, Iztaccíhuatl–Popocatépetl National Park, Tula National Park, El Tepeyac National Park, Cofre de Perote National Park, Sacromonte National Park, and Cerro de la Estrella National Park are within about a three-hour drive.

How many national parks are near Chimalapa?

10 parks are within reach of Chimalapa, 10 of them close enough for a day trip.

When is the best time to visit the parks near Chimalapa?

For El Chico National Park, the closest one, generally December through April, the drier and less humid stretch. Either side of that, May and November stays quieter.