Plan on about 8 h 14 min of driving for the 469-mile (755 km) trip from Calpulalpan to Copainalá, before any stops.
| Total distance | 469 mi (755 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 14 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-136 → MEX-M40D → MEX-150D → MEX-145D → MEX-180D → MEX-180 → MEX-187D |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala, Puebla, Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-M40D, MEX-150D, MEX-145D, MEX-180D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.8 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 Calpulalpan to Copainalá is like
MEX-150D (152 mi) and MEX-187D (82 mi) carry about 50% of the 469 miles. It runs through 5 states: Tlaxcala, Puebla, Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-M40D, MEX-150D and MEX-145D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Calpulalpan to Copainalá
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-136 | 0–9 | 9 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-M40D | 9–27 | 18 | Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| connecting roads | 27–28 | 1 | Puebla |
| MEX-150D | 28–180 | 152 | Puebla, Veracruz |
| local roads | 180–290 | 110 | Veracruz |
| MEX-145D | 290–322 | 32 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 322–342 | 20 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180 | 342–347 | 5 | Veracruz |
| MEX-187D | 347–429 | 82 | Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas |
| local roads | 429–469 | 40 | Chiapas |
- Mile 24 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 112 of this route: Puebla → Veracruz (state line)
- Mile 409 of this route: Veracruz → Tabasco (state line)
- Mile 416 of this route: Tabasco → Chiapas (state line)
Places worth a stop between Calpulalpan and Copainalá
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 124)
- Nature and outdoors: La Malinche National Park (mile 56), Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 124)
- Museums and history: Cacaxtla (mile 33), Xochitecatl (mile 33), Museo Poblano de Arte Virreinal (mile 48), Orizaba Cathedral (mile 133), Veracruz State Art Museum (mile 135), Huatusco (mile 173)
Cacaxtla
Built on a hill rising above the Tlaxcala-Puebla valley, Cacaxtla is known for its pre-Hispanic murals on the Gran Basamento, a large platform now sheltered under a roof. INAH manages it together with nearby Xochitécatl.
Xochitecatl
Xochitécatl is a pre-Hispanic archaeological site in the state of Tlaxcala. INAH runs it together with nearby Cacaxtla as a single zone, and the Xochitécatl site museum displays finds from the area.
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.
Museo Poblano de Arte Virreinal
Puebla's San Pedro Museo de Arte, formerly the Museo Poblano de Arte Virreinal, opened in 2000 and focuses on New Spanish painting, with galleries for permanent and temporary exhibitions.
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.
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.
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.
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.
More drives to Copainalá
- Zacatelco to Copainalá
- Tlaxcala to Copainalá
- Huejotzingo to Copainalá
- Zacualpan de Amilpas to Copainalá
- Zacatlán to Copainalá
- Otumba to Copainalá
From Calpulalpan to other places in Mexico
- Calpulalpan to Omitlán
- Calpulalpan to Huasca de Ocampo
- Calpulalpan to Actopan
- Calpulalpan to Atlatlahucan
- Calpulalpan to Metepec
- Calpulalpan to Jilotepec
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Calpulalpan to Copainalá?
About 8 h 14 min of driving without stops, over 469 miles.
What is the driving distance from Calpulalpan to Copainalá?
About 469 miles (755 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 Calpulalpan to Copainalá?
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 Calpulalpan to Copainalá?
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 Calpulalpan to Copainalá use?
In order: MEX-136, MEX-M40D, MEX-150D, MEX-145D, MEX-180D, MEX-180 and MEX-187D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Calpulalpan to Copainalá?
Closest to the road: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (national park, mile 124, 0.5 mi from the route); Orizaba Cathedral (cathedral, mile 133, 1 mi from the route); Veracruz State Art Museum (art museum, mile 135, 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 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.