The Wayro route from Cárdenas to Tlaxcala is 385 miles (619 km), about 6 h 6 min of driving without stops.
| Total distance | 385 mi (619 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 6 h 6 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-180 → MEX-180D → MEX-145D → MEX-150D → MEX-119D |
| Mexican states on the route | Tabasco, Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-180D, MEX-145D, MEX-150D, MEX-119D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
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 Tlaxcala: the shape of the trip
MEX-150D (143 mi) and MEX-145D (142 mi) carry about 74% of the 385 miles. It runs through 4 states: Tabasco, Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-180D, MEX-145D and MEX-150D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Cárdenas to Tlaxcala, road by road
| 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 | 227–370 | 143 | Veracruz, Puebla |
| connecting roads | 370–371 | 1 | Puebla |
| MEX-119D | 371–382 | 11 | Puebla, Tlaxcala |
| local roads | 382–385 | 3 | Tlaxcala |
- Mile 47 of this route: Tabasco → Veracruz (state line)
- Mile 295 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 374 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
Stops between Cárdenas and Tlaxcala
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 282), Parque ecológico Los Ladrillos (mile 375)
- Nature and outdoors: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 282), Parque ecológico Los Ladrillos (mile 375)
- 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 Regional de la Revolución Mexicana (mile 364)
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
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
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.
Museo Regional de la Revolución Mexicana
The Serdán family home in downtown Puebla, now the Museo Regional de la Revolución Mexicana, recalls Aquiles, Máximo and Carmen Serdán and the start of the 1910 Revolution. It opened in 1960.
Parque ecológico Los Ladrillos
Opened on April 2, 2015, Los Ladrillos Ecological Park is a nature reserve in the municipality of Zacatelco, in Tlaxcala.
Once you reach Tlaxcala
Exconvento de Nuestra Señora de las Nieves
The remains of this 16th-century convent stand in San Juan Totolac, Tlaxcala, and are open to visitors. Parts of the nave, two side chapels and a freestanding bell tower survive; in 1591 Tlaxcalan families left here to settle northern New Spain.
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.
Museo Miguel N. Lira
Downtown Tlaxcala's Museo Miguel N. Lira fills the old State Printing Office, linked to the writer and poet. Visitors see his manuscripts, family photos and personal belongings, plus the original linotype machines and the press that printed his work.
More drives to Tlaxcala
- Cuautla to Tlaxcala
- Toluca to Tlaxcala
- Cuernavaca to Tlaxcala
- San Juan del Río to Tlaxcala
- Zitácuaro to Tlaxcala
- San Miguel de Allende to Tlaxcala
From Cárdenas to other places in Mexico
- Cárdenas to Zacatelco
- Cárdenas to Chiautempan
- Cárdenas to Huejotzingo
- Cárdenas to Calpulalpan
- Cárdenas to Ocuituco
- Cárdenas to Zacatlán
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Cárdenas to Tlaxcala?
About 6 h 6 min of driving without stops, over 385 miles.
How far is Tlaxcala from Cárdenas by car?
About 385 miles (619 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 Tlaxcala?
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 Tlaxcala?
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 Tlaxcala?
In order: MEX-180, MEX-180D, MEX-145D, MEX-150D and MEX-119D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Cárdenas to Tlaxcala?
Closest to the road: Veracruz State Art Museum (art museum, mile 272, 1 mi from the route); Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (national park, mile 282, 0.5 mi from the route); Parque ecológico Los Ladrillos (park, mile 375, 0.4 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.