Apizaco to Balancán is about 521 road miles (839 km): roughly 9 h 50 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Total distance | 521 mi (839 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 50 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-136 → MEX-150D → MEX-145D → MEX-180D → MEX-180 → MEX-186 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala, Puebla, Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-150D, MEX-145D, MEX-180D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
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.
On the road from Apizaco to Balancán
MEX-186 (95 mi) and MEX-150D (82 mi) carry about 34% of the 521 miles. It runs through 5 states: Tlaxcala, Puebla, Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-150D, MEX-145D and MEX-180D. Of the 7 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Apizaco to Balancán, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-136 | 1–26 | 25 | Tlaxcala |
| local roads | 26–66 | 40 | Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| MEX-150D | 66–148 | 82 | Puebla, Veracruz |
| local roads | 148–258 | 110 | Veracruz |
| MEX-145D | 258–290 | 32 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 290–311 | 21 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180 | 311–329 | 18 | Veracruz, Tabasco |
| MEX-180D | 329–363 | 34 | Tabasco |
| MEX-180 | 363–402 | 39 | Tabasco |
| local roads | 402–406 | 4 | Tabasco |
| MEX-186 | 406–501 | 95 | Tabasco, Chiapas |
| local roads | 501–521 | 20 | Tabasco |
- Mile 27 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 80 of this route: Puebla → Veracruz (state line)
- Mile 328 of this route: Veracruz → Tabasco (state line)
- Mile 452 of this route: Tabasco → Chiapas (state line)
- Mile 495 of this route: Chiapas → Tabasco (state line)
Places worth a stop between Apizaco and Balancán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Nacional del Títere (mile 18), Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 93), Museo de Historia Natural José Narciso Rovirosa (mile 405)
- Nature and outdoors: La Malinche National Park (mile 14), Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 93), Museo de Historia Natural José Narciso Rovirosa (mile 405)
- Museums and history: Museo Nacional del Títere (mile 18), Cathedral of Córdoba, Veracruz (mile 114), Huatusco (mile 140), La Venta (mile 330), Museo de Historia Natural José Narciso Rovirosa (mile 405)
La Malinche National Park
Pine, oak and fir forests cover the slopes of the inactive Matlalcuéyetl volcano, the centerpiece of La Malinche National Park in Tlaxcala.
Museo Nacional del Títere
On the main square of Huamantla, the National Puppet Museum (Museo Nacional del Títere) fills eight galleries with puppets from Mexico and abroad, including pieces tied to the Rosete Aranda family, whose company toured Mexico for generations.
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.
Cathedral of Córdoba, Veracruz
An octagonal dome covered in tiles crowns Córdoba's Immaculate Conception Cathedral, the city's main church, finished in a neoclassical style.
Huatusco
Above the Atoyac River in Carrillo Puerto, Cuauhtochco has a Mexica-era temple that still keeps original surface finishes. Expect no visitor facilities, and consider hiring a local guide.
La Venta
More than 200 artifacts fill the site museum at La Venta, among them massive sandstone sculptures discovered at the base of the main pyramid. The once-important Olmec city lies in Tabasco, near Huimanguillo.
Museo de Historia Natural José Narciso Rovirosa
Opened in Villahermosa in 1988, this natural history museum honors José Narciso Rovirosa, the Tabasco naturalist, botanist and mapmaker who explored Tabasco and Chiapas documenting plants, climate and wildlife.
In Balancán itself
Museo de Balancán Dr. José Gómez Panaco
Museo de Balancán Dr. José Gómez Panaco is an archaeology museum in the town of Balancán de Domínguez, in the Mexican state of Tabasco.
More drives to Balancán
- Tuxtla to Balancán
- Córdoba, Mexico to Balancán
- Orizaba to Balancán
- Xico to Balancán
- Puebla to Balancán
- Cholula to Balancán
From Apizaco to other places in Mexico
- Apizaco to Omitlán
- Apizaco to Huasca de Ocampo
- Apizaco to Atlatlahucan
- Apizaco to Metepec
- Apizaco to Jilotepec
- Apizaco to Malinalco
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Apizaco to Balancán?
About 9 h 50 min of driving without stops, over 521 miles.
What is the driving distance from Apizaco to Balancán?
About 521 miles (839 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 Apizaco to Balancán?
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 Apizaco to Balancán?
The U.S. State Department rates Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tabasco Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Chiapas Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Apizaco to Balancán use?
In order: MEX-136, MEX-150D, MEX-145D, MEX-180D, MEX-180 and MEX-186. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Apizaco to Balancán?
Closest to the road: Museo Nacional del Títere (museum, mile 18, 0.9 mi from the route); Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (national park, mile 93, 0.5 mi from the route); Museo de Historia Natural José Narciso Rovirosa (museum, mile 405, 0.8 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 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: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place 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.