The Wayro route from Cárdenas to Chiautempan is 381 miles (613 km), about 6 h 10 min of driving without stops.
| Total distance | 381 mi (613 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 10 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-180 → MEX-180D → MEX-145D → MEX-150D → MEX-121 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tabasco, Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-180D, MEX-145D, MEX-150D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.2 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 Cárdenas to Chiautempan: the shape of the trip
MEX-145D (142 mi) and MEX-150D (137 mi) carry about 73% of the 381 miles. It runs through 4 states: Tabasco, Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-180D, MEX-145D and MEX-150D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Cárdenas to Chiautempan: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-180 | 0–11 | 11 | Tabasco |
| MEX-180D | 11–44 | 33 | Tabasco |
| MEX-180 | 44–63 | 19 | Tabasco, Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 63–85 | 22 | Veracruz |
| MEX-145D | 85–227 | 142 | Veracruz |
| MEX-150D | 227–364 | 137 | Veracruz, Puebla |
| connecting roads | 364–365 | 1 | Puebla |
| MEX-121 | 365–380 | 15 | Puebla, Tlaxcala |
| local roads | 380–381 | 1 | Tlaxcala |
- Mile 47 of this route: Tabasco → Veracruz (state line)
- Mile 295 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 366 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
What to see on the way from Cárdenas to Chiautempan
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 282)
- Nature and outdoors: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 282), La Malinche National Park (mile 370)
- Museums and history: La Venta (mile 44), Huatusco (mile 234), Cathedral of Córdoba, Veracruz (mile 260), Veracruz State Art Museum (mile 272), Orizaba Cathedral (mile 273), Museo José Luis Bello y Zetina (mile 364)
La Venta
Once an important Olmec city, La Venta sits in Tabasco close to Huimanguillo. Monumental sandstone sculptures found at the foot of its main pyramid are among the 200-plus pieces in the site museum.
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.
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.
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
Protected as a national park by Mexico's government, Cañón del Río Blanco is a natural area in Veracruz state.
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 José Luis Bello y Zetina
Next to the Templo de Santo Domingo in downtown Puebla, the Museo José Luis Bello y Zetina shows a house and art collection donated by the Puebla philanthropist it's named for.
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.
Arriving in Chiautempan
Basílica de Ocotlán
On Cerro de San Lorenzo near the city of Tlaxcala, the Basílica de Ocotlán is a standout of Mexican Churrigueresque Baroque, begun in 1670 and home to an ocote-wood image of the Virgin tied to a 1541 legend.
Tlaxcala Cathedral
Part of a 16th-century Franciscan complex among the earliest in the Americas, Tlaxcala's cathedral is famous for its carved Mudéjar-style wooden ceiling. Look for the freestanding bell tower and the stone font where Tlaxcalan lords were baptized.
Teatro Xicohténcatl
Tlaxcala's Teatro Xicohténcatl opened in 1873 and was reopened in 1888 after remodeling. Look up to see John Fulton's ceiling mural of the nine muses, painted in Art Nouveau style against a Tlaxcalan landscape.
More drives to Chiautempan
- Atlixco to Chiautempan
- Cuautla to Chiautempan
- Toluca to Chiautempan
- Cuernavaca to Chiautempan
- Zitácuaro to Chiautempan
- Celaya to Chiautempan
From Cárdenas to other places in Mexico
- Cárdenas to Zacatelco
- Cárdenas to Huejotzingo
- Cárdenas to Tlaxcala
- Cárdenas to Calpulalpan
- Cárdenas to Ocuituco
- Cárdenas to Zacatlán
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Cárdenas to Chiautempan?
About 6 h 10 min of driving without stops, over 381 miles.
What is the driving distance from Cárdenas to Chiautempan?
About 381 miles (613 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 Cárdenas to Chiautempan?
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 Cárdenas to Chiautempan?
The U.S. State Department rates Tabasco Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; 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.
Which highways go from Cárdenas to Chiautempan?
In order: MEX-180, MEX-180D, MEX-145D, MEX-150D and MEX-121. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Cárdenas to Chiautempan?
Closest to the road: Veracruz State Art Museum (art museum, mile 272, 1 mi from the route); Orizaba Cathedral (cathedral, mile 273, 1 mi from the route); Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (national park, mile 282, 0.5 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.