By road, Ciudad Victoria and Tehuacán are about 484 miles (779 km) apart, or roughly 9 h 27 min of driving.
| Distance by road | 484 mi (779 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 9 h 27 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 → MEX-136 → MEX-135D |
| 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 19.4 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.
The Ciudad Victoria–Tehuacán drive in a few lines
MEX-132D (63 mi) and MEX-81 (51 mi) carry about 24% of the 484 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 7 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Ciudad Victoria to Tehuacán, 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 | 377–387 | 10 | Tlaxcala |
| connecting roads | 387–390 | 3 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-136 | 390–414 | 24 | Tlaxcala |
| local roads | 414–454 | 40 | Puebla |
| MEX-135D | 454–479 | 25 | Puebla |
| local roads | 479–484 | 5 | Puebla |
- 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)
- Mile 414 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Ciudad Victoria and Tehuacán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Nacional del Títere (mile 406)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque nacional Xicoténcatl (mile 390), La Malinche National Park (mile 402)
- 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 Nacional del Títere (mile 406)
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
Look for elaborately carved reliefs on columns and friezes at El Tajín, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Veracruz, along with the Pyramid of the Niches and some of the site's 17 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.
Parque nacional Xicoténcatl
Covering roughly 600 hectares in central Tlaxcala, Xicohténcatl National Park takes in the historic center of Tlaxcala city plus Quiahuixtlán, Ocotelulco and Tepeticpac, which correspond to three of the old Tlaxcalan lordships.
La Malinche National Park
Hiking trails, birdwatching, and stone cabins and campsites at the Malintzi Vacation Center draw visitors to La Malinche National Park in Tlaxcala.
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.
When you get to Tehuacán
Museo del Valle de Tehuacán
Inside an 18th-century former Carmelite convent in Tehuacán, the Valley of Tehuacán Museum opened in 2002 and focuses on the history of corn and its ties to the valley's early peoples.
More drives to Tehuacán
- Mexico City to Tehuacán
- Cuernavaca to Tehuacán
- Toluca to Tehuacán
- Querétaro to Tehuacán
- Celaya to Tehuacán
- Acapulco to Tehuacán
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 Tehuacán?
About 9 h 27 min of driving without stops, over 484 miles.
How far is Tehuacán from Ciudad Victoria by car?
About 484 miles (779 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 Tehuacán?
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 Tehuacán?
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 Tehuacán use?
In order: MEX-70, MEX-83, MEX-81, MEX-80, TAM 143, MEX-180, MEX-180D, MEX-130D, MEX-132D, MEX-119D, MEX-119, MEX-136 and MEX-135D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Ciudad Victoria to Tehuacán?
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, 1 mi from the route); Museo Nacional del Títere (museum, mile 406, 0.9 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.