The Wayro route from Actopan to Tlacotalpan is 322 miles (519 km), about 5 h 51 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 322 mi (519 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 51 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-85 → MEX-88 → MEX-132 → MEX-M40D → MEX-150D → MEX-175 |
| Mexican states on the route | Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Veracruz (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-M40D, MEX-150D, MEX-145D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.9 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 Actopan to Tlacotalpan is like
MEX-150D (152 mi) and MEX-M40D (46 mi) carry about 61% of the 322 miles. MEX-M40D, MEX-150D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-85, MEX-88, MEX-132, MEX-175 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 5 states: Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Tlaxcala, Puebla, Veracruz. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Actopan to Tlacotalpan, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 2–16 | 14 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 16–23 | 7 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-88 | 23–38 | 15 | Hidalgo |
| connecting roads | 38–39 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-132 | 39–42 | 3 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-M40D | 42–88 | 46 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| MEX-150D | 88–240 | 152 | Puebla, Veracruz |
| local roads | 240–292 | 52 | Veracruz |
| MEX-175 | 292–322 | 30 | Veracruz |
- Mile 42 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 54 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 62 of this route: Hidalgo → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 84 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 173 of this route: Puebla → Veracruz (state line)
Stops between Actopan and Tlacotalpan
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 185)
- Nature and outdoors: El Chico National Park (mile 19), Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 185)
- Museums and history: Museo del Ejercito, Puebla (mile 108), Orizaba Cathedral (mile 193), Veracruz State Art Museum (mile 195), Huatusco (mile 233)
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.
Exconvent of Santa María Magdalena
The former convent of Santa María Magdalena (Exconvento de Santa María Magdalena) is a 17th-century Baroque church built by the Dieguino friars, still in use as a Catholic temple of the Archdiocese of Puebla.
Museo del Ejercito, Puebla
On 4 Poniente in Puebla's historic center, beside the old Belén hospital church, this museum and library honors General Ignacio Zaragoza, the Battle of Puebla and the history of the Mexican Army.
Teatro de la Ciudad de Puebla
The Teatro de la Ciudad is a performance venue on the Portal Hidalgo, in the historic center of the city of Puebla.
Cañón del Río Blanco National Park
Cañón del Río Blanco National Park is a protected natural area in the Mexican state of Veracruz, set aside by the government as a national park.
Orizaba Cathedral
The Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel is the main Catholic church of Orizaba, in the state of Veracruz, and the seat of the Diocese of Orizaba.
Veracruz State Art Museum
Housed in Orizaba's 18th-century former Oratorio of San Felipe Neri, later a hospital and then a jail, the Veracruz State Art Museum (Museo de Arte del Estado) holds more than 700 works, including 36 by Diego Rivera.
Teatro Pedro Díaz
In downtown Córdoba, the Teatro Pedro Díaz was built in the late 19th century by Pedro Díaz to a design by engineer A. Durán; its facade was remodeled in 1905.
Huatusco
Above the Atoyac River in Carrillo Puerto, the ruins of Huatusco (Cuauhtochco) include a Mexica-era temple that still keeps original surface finishes. There are no visitor facilities; reaching it means crossing a suspension bridge and climbing a steep trail, ideally with a local guide.
More drives to Tlacotalpan
- Puebla to Tlacotalpan
- Cholula to Tlacotalpan
- Zacatelco to Tlacotalpan
- Chiautempan to Tlacotalpan
- Tlaxcala to Tlacotalpan
- Huejotzingo to Tlacotalpan
From Actopan to other places in Mexico
- Actopan to Otumba
- Actopan to Cadereyta
- Actopan to Ezequiel Montes
- Actopan to Amealco
- Actopan to Pedro Escobedo
- Actopan to El Oro
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Actopan to Tlacotalpan?
About 5 h 51 min of driving without stops, over 322 miles.
How far is Tlacotalpan from Actopan by car?
About 322 miles (519 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 Actopan to Tlacotalpan?
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 Actopan to Tlacotalpan?
The U.S. State Department rates Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Actopan to Tlacotalpan use?
In order: MEX-85, MEX-88, MEX-132, MEX-M40D, MEX-150D and MEX-175. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Actopan and Tlacotalpan?
Closest to the road: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 185, 0.5 mi from the route); Orizaba Cathedral (cathedral, mile 193, 1 mi from the route); Veracruz State Art Museum (art museum, mile 195, 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.