Balancán to Ixtenco is about 511 road miles (822 km): roughly 9 h 11 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Total distance | 511 mi (822 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 11 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-186 → MEX-180 → MEX-180D → MEX-145D → MEX-150D → MEX-140D |
| Mexican states on the route | Tabasco, Chiapas, Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-180D, MEX-145D, MEX-150D, MEX-140D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.4 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.
What the drive from Balancán to Ixtenco is like
MEX-145D (142 mi) and MEX-186 (95 mi) carry about 46% of the 511 miles. It runs through 5 states: Tabasco, Chiapas, Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-180D, MEX-145D and MEX-150D. Of the 7 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Balancán to Ixtenco: 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 | 373–460 | 87 | Veracruz, Puebla |
| local roads | 460–503 | 43 | Puebla |
| MEX-140D | 503–509 | 6 | Puebla, Tlaxcala |
| local roads | 509–511 | 2 | Tlaxcala |
- 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)
- Mile 507 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
Places worth a stop between Balancán and Ixtenco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo de Historia de Tabasco Casa de los Azulejos (mile 116), Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 429)
- Nature and outdoors: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 429)
- Museums and history: Museo de Historia de Tabasco Casa de los Azulejos (mile 116), La Venta (mile 191), Huatusco (mile 380), Cathedral of Córdoba, Veracruz (mile 406), Veracruz State Art Museum (mile 418)
Museo de Historia de Tabasco Casa de los Azulejos
The Museo de Historia de Tabasco, housed in the Casa de los Azulejos, is a history museum in the historic center of Villahermosa, Tabasco.
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.
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.
Cathedral of Córdoba, Veracruz
Built in the first half of the 17th century, Córdoba's Immaculate Conception Cathedral is the city's main church; look up to see its octagonal dome covered in tiles, 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.
Teatro Llave
In central Orizaba, the Gran Teatro Ignacio de la Llave hosts artistic and cultural performances, and its exhibition room shows temporary collections, mostly by artists from the surrounding valley.
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.
When you get to Ixtenco
Museo Taurino de Huamantla
Next to Huamantla's La Taurina bullring, the Museo Taurino occupies an 18th-century building and since 1982 has displayed bullfighters' costumes, vintage posters, scale models of Mexican bullrings and murals about the Huamantlada.
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.
More drives to Ixtenco
- Huejotzingo to Ixtenco
- Otumba to Ixtenco
- Pachuca to Ixtenco
- Mexico City to Ixtenco
- Tepotzotlán to Ixtenco
- Actopan to Ixtenco
From Balancán to other places in Mexico
- Balancán to Tlacotalpan
- Balancán to Chipilo
- Balancán to Boca del Cielo
- Balancán to San José del Pacífico
- Balancán to El Castaño
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Balancán to Ixtenco?
About 9 h 11 min of driving without stops, over 511 miles.
What is the driving distance from Balancán to Ixtenco?
About 511 miles (822 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 Ixtenco?
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 Ixtenco?
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; Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Balancán to Ixtenco use?
In order: MEX-186, MEX-180, MEX-180D, MEX-145D, MEX-150D and MEX-140D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Balancán to Ixtenco?
Closest to the road: Museo de Historia de Tabasco Casa de los Azulejos (museum, mile 116, 0.7 mi from the route); Veracruz State Art Museum (art museum, mile 418, 1 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.