Balancán to Chipilo is about 514 road miles (828 km): roughly 9 h 6 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Total distance | 514 mi (828 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 6 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-186 → MEX-180 → MEX-180D → MEX-145D → MEX-150D |
| Mexican states on the route | Tabasco, Chiapas, Veracruz, Puebla |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-180D, MEX-145D, MEX-150D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.6 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.
Driving Balancán to Chipilo: the shape of the trip
MEX-145D (142 mi) and MEX-150D (132 mi) carry about 53% of the 514 miles. It runs through 4 states: Tabasco, Chiapas, Veracruz, Puebla. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-180D, MEX-145D and MEX-150D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Balancán to Chipilo: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–20 | 20 | Tabasco |
| MEX-186 | 20–115 | 95 | Tabasco, Chiapas |
| local roads | 115–119 | 4 | Tabasco |
| MEX-180 | 119–158 | 39 | Tabasco |
| MEX-180D | 158–191 | 33 | Tabasco |
| MEX-180 | 191–210 | 19 | Tabasco, Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 210–231 | 21 | Veracruz |
| MEX-145D | 231–373 | 142 | Veracruz |
| MEX-150D | 373–505 | 132 | Veracruz, Puebla |
| connecting roads | 505–509 | 4 | Puebla |
| local roads | 509–514 | 5 | Puebla |
- Mile 27 of this route: Tabasco → Chiapas (state line)
- Mile 69 of this route: Chiapas → Tabasco (state line)
- Mile 193 of this route: Tabasco → Veracruz (state line)
- Mile 442 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
What to see on the way from Balancán to Chipilo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Villahermosa Cathedral (mile 116), Casa Museo Cnel. Gregorio Méndez Magaña (mile 116), Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 429)
- Nature and outdoors: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 429), La Malinche National Park (mile 503)
- Museums and history: Villahermosa Cathedral (mile 116), Casa Museo Cnel. Gregorio Méndez Magaña (mile 116), La Venta (mile 191), Huatusco (mile 380), Cathedral of Córdoba, Veracruz (mile 406), Veracruz State Art Museum (mile 418), Orizaba Cathedral (mile 420)
Villahermosa Cathedral
Rising on Paseo Tabasco in Villahermosa, the Cathedral of the Lord of Tabasco has tall towers above a monumental facade. The current building dates from 1960–1963; an earlier cathedral was destroyed in the anticlerical campaigns of 1928–1934.
Casa Museo Cnel. Gregorio Méndez Magaña
Colonel Gregorio Méndez Magaña, a hero of the fight against the French intervention in Tabasco, was born in this house in Jalpa de Méndez in 1836; today it serves as a house museum in his honor.
La Venta
La Venta was an important city of the Olmec civilization, in Tabasco near Huimanguillo. Its site museum displays more than 200 artifacts, including monumental sandstone sculptures found at the foot of the main pyramid.
Huatusco
Getting to the ruins of Huatusco (Cuauhtochco) means crossing a suspension bridge and hiking a steep trail; a local guide is a good idea, and there are no visitor facilities. The Mexica-era temple keeps its original finishes.
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.
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.
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.
Cañón del Río Blanco National Park
Veracruz is home to Cañón del Río Blanco National Park, a natural area that the Mexican government has set aside for protection.
La Malinche National Park
Hiking trails, birdwatching, and stone cabins and campsites at the Malintzi Vacation Center draw visitors to La Malinche National Park in Tlaxcala.
In Chipilo itself
Convent Church of Nuestra Señora del Carmen, Puebla
An early 17th-century example of Puebla Baroque, the Church of the Virgin of Carmen has two richly decorated chapels and a neoclassical altarpiece holding an image of the Virgin by sculptor José Antonio Villegas Cora.
Fort Guadalupe
Fort Guadalupe is a fort you'll find in the city of Puebla, within the Mexican state of the same name.
Convent Church of San Francisco, Puebla
The Convent Church of San Francisco is a historic church that you'll find in the city of Puebla, in the Mexican state of Puebla.
More drives to Chipilo
- Apizaco to Chipilo
- Calpulalpan to Chipilo
- Pachuca to Chipilo
- Cuernavaca to Chipilo
- Tepotzotlán to Chipilo
- Actopan to Chipilo
From Balancán to other places in Mexico
- Balancán to Tlacotalpan
- Balancán to Ixtenco
- Balancán to Boca del Cielo
- Balancán to San José del Pacífico
- Balancán to El Castaño
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Balancán to Chipilo?
About 9 h 6 min of driving without stops, over 514 miles.
How far is Chipilo from Balancán by car?
About 514 miles (828 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 Balancán to Chipilo?
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 Balancán to Chipilo?
The U.S. State Department rates Tabasco Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Chiapas Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Balancán to Chipilo?
In order: MEX-186, MEX-180, MEX-180D, MEX-145D and MEX-150D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Balancán and Chipilo?
Closest to the road: Villahermosa Cathedral (cathedral, mile 116, 0.8 mi from the route); Casa Museo Cnel. Gregorio Méndez Magaña (museum, mile 116, 0.8 mi from the route); Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (national park, mile 429, 0.6 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.