By road, Ciudad Victoria and Chiautempan are about 400 miles (643 km) apart, or roughly 7 h 50 min of driving.
| Distance by road | 400 mi (643 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 7 h 50 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-70 → MEX-83 → MEX-81 → MEX-80 → TAM 143 → MEX-180 → MEX-180D → MEX-130D → MEX-132D → MEX-119D → MEX-119 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Puebla, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-180D, MEX-130D, MEX-132D, MEX-119D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
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 Ciudad Victoria to Chiautempan: the shape of the trip
MEX-132D (63 mi) and MEX-81 (51 mi) carry about 28% of the 400 miles. It runs through 5 states: Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Puebla, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-180D, MEX-130D and MEX-132D. Of the 5 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Ciudad Victoria to Chiautempan, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Tamaulipas |
| MEX-70 | 4–11 | 7 | Tamaulipas |
| MEX-83 | 11–50 | 39 | Tamaulipas |
| MEX-81 | 50–101 | 51 | Tamaulipas |
| MEX-80 | 101–134 | 33 | Tamaulipas |
| connecting roads | 134–135 | 1 | Tamaulipas |
| TAM 143 | 135–147 | 12 | Tamaulipas |
| local roads | 147–153 | 6 | Tamaulipas |
| MEX-180 | 153–192 | 39 | Veracruz |
| local roads | 192–221 | 29 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 221–255 | 34 | Veracruz |
| MEX-130D | 255–270 | 15 | Veracruz |
| MEX-132D | 270–333 | 63 | Veracruz, Puebla |
| connecting roads | 333–336 | 3 | Puebla, Hidalgo |
| MEX-119D | 336–375 | 39 | Hidalgo, Puebla, Tlaxcala |
| connecting roads | 375–377 | 2 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-119 | 377–390 | 13 | Tlaxcala |
| local roads | 390–400 | 10 | Tlaxcala |
- Mile 153 of this route: Tamaulipas → Veracruz (state line)
- Mile 279 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 334 of this route: Puebla → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 339 of this route: Hidalgo → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 370 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
Places worth a stop between Ciudad Victoria and Chiautempan
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Apizaco (mile 390), Museo Casa de Piedra (mile 390)
- Museums and history: Tampico Cathedral (mile 152), Aduana de Tampico (mile 152), El Tajín (mile 270), Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Apizaco (mile 390), Museo Casa de Piedra (mile 390)
Tampico Cathedral
Facing the Plaza de Armas in Tampico's historic center, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is the city's main church and a downtown landmark.
Aduana de Tampico
Tampico's old customs house is a Porfirian-era building on the north bank of the Pánuco River mouth that began operating in 1902. Its ground floor now holds a museum on the 1829 Battle of Tampico, with a period cannon, weapons and uniforms.
El Tajín
From the early 9th century to the early 13th, El Tajín was at its height. Today this Veracruz site is on UNESCO's World Heritage List, and visitors come for the Pyramid of the Niches and its ballcourts.
Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Apizaco
In the city of Apizaco, this Catholic basilica (Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Misericordia) was begun in the third decade of the 20th century and completed in 1961.
Museo Casa de Piedra
Apizaco's old railroad station, dating from 1916, now houses the Museo Casa de Piedra. Inside, photographs and documents trace the town's history, especially its long ties to the railroads.
In Chiautempan itself
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.
Museo de Sitio de Ocotelulco
Ocotelulco was the principal Tlaxcalan lordship in 1519; its site museum displays about 750 excavated objects beside temple remains painted with Tezcatlipoca and the fire serpent, and an ethnobotanical garden surrounds the building.
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.
More drives to Chiautempan
- Atlixco to Chiautempan
- Cuautla to Chiautempan
- Toluca to Chiautempan
- Cuernavaca to Chiautempan
- Zitácuaro to Chiautempan
- Celaya to Chiautempan
From Ciudad Victoria to other places in Mexico
- Ciudad Victoria to Pinos
- Ciudad Victoria to Pinal de Amoles
- Ciudad Victoria to Mineral de Pozos
- Ciudad Victoria to Lagos de Moreno
- Ciudad Victoria to Tecolutla
- Ciudad Victoria to San Juan de los Lagos
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Ciudad Victoria to Chiautempan?
About 7 h 50 min of driving without stops, over 400 miles.
How far is Chiautempan from Ciudad Victoria by car?
About 400 miles (643 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 Ciudad Victoria 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 Ciudad Victoria to Chiautempan?
The U.S. State Department rates Tamaulipas Level 4: Do Not Travel; Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo 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 Ciudad Victoria to Chiautempan use?
In order: MEX-70, MEX-83, MEX-81, MEX-80, TAM 143, MEX-180, MEX-180D, MEX-130D, MEX-132D, MEX-119D and MEX-119. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Ciudad Victoria to Chiautempan?
Closest to the road: Tampico Cathedral (cathedral, mile 152, 1 mi from the route); Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Apizaco (basilica, mile 390, 0.5 mi from the route); Museo Casa de Piedra (railway museum, mile 390, 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.