The short version
Tula sits in southern Hidalgo, roughly 75 to 90 km north of Mexico City — figure about 1.5 to 2 hours by road, mostly depending on how ugly it is getting out of the capital. Almost everyone does this as a day trip from Mexico City, not as a fly-in destination. The nearest airport is Felipe Ángeles (NLU) at Santa Lucía, which is geographically closer than Benito Juárez (MEX) but has no direct transit link to Tula, so it only helps if you happen to be landing there anyway. There is no reason to route a flight around Tula.
By bus
Without a car, the bus is the move. From the Central del Norte terminal (Terminal Central de Autobuses del Norte, on Metro Line 5) in Mexico City, the AVM / Ovnibus line runs to Tula frequently through the day. The ride is roughly 1.5 to 2 hours and the fare is modest — figure something in the low hundreds of pesos each way (approximate). It is a comfortable enough second-class coach; ask for the run that goes to “Tula centro” or the archaeological zone rather than one that only touches the edge of town.
One honest note: from Central del Norte you are on the northern edge of the city, so getting there from the south or center of CDMX eats time — build that into your morning if you want a gate-time arrival. This is not the big-name intercity operators’ route; you will not find ADO or ETN running it directly, so do not go hunting for those. AVM/Ovnibus is the workhorse here.
From the Tula bus station it is a short hop to the ruins — a cheap taxi, or about a 25 to 30 minute walk if you want it. Don’t overthink the last leg.
By car
Driving is the easiest option if you have a car. Take the México–Querétaro highway (the 57D toll road) north and branch off toward Tula; the signage is fine once you are within range, and the toll is minor. Roads are decent the whole way. There is parking near the site entrance for a small fee — bring cash for it, card acceptance is unreliable.
Comfort notes: the highway itself is flat, straight and easy — no mountain switchbacks, so no motion-sickness worries on this route. The one thing to plan around is leaving Mexico City. Hit the northern exits before rush hour or you will lose 45 minutes to nothing. Coming back, aim to leave Tula by early afternoon to beat the evening crush into the city. Night driving is fine on the toll road but there is no reason to be here after dark anyway — the site closes in late afternoon.
Getting around once you arrive
Simple. The archaeological zone is a compact, walkable loop — no internal transport, you cover it on foot. To move between the ruins and the town center of Tula de Allende, grab a local taxi; rides are short and cheap, a handful of minutes and a small fare. There is no need for ride apps, colectivos or bikes here; app coverage is thin and the distances are tiny. A friend who lives nearby would tell you the truth: it is a small place, one taxi or a short walk covers everything, and you will be back on the bus or in the car by mid-afternoon. Plan the day around the visiting info rather than the logistics — the logistics are the easy part.