The Wayro route from Coatepec to Actopan is 202 miles (325 km), about 3 h 57 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 202 mi (325 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 57 min |
| Main roads, in order | VER 7 → MEX-140 → MEX-140D → MEX-136 → MEX-M40D → MEX-132 → MEX-88 |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-140D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.1 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 Coatepec to Actopan is like
MEX-140D (66 mi) and MEX-136 (51 mi) carry about 58% of the 202 miles. MEX-140D, MEX-M40D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-140, MEX-136, MEX-132, MEX-88 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 5 states: Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Coatepec to Actopan, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Veracruz |
| VER 7 | 1–6 | 5 | Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 6–8 | 2 | Veracruz |
| MEX-140 | 8–13 | 5 | Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 13–14 | 1 | Veracruz |
| MEX-140D | 14–80 | 66 | Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala |
| connecting roads | 80–81 | 1 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-136 | 81–132 | 51 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-M40D | 132–159 | 27 | Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 159–160 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-132 | 160–163 | 3 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| MEX-88 | 163–179 | 16 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 179–202 | 23 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 46 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 72 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 141 of this route: Tlaxcala → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 149 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 161 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
Stops between Coatepec and Actopan
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Xalapa Cathedral (mile 7), Jardín de Esculturas (mile 7), Xalapa Museum of Anthropology (mile 11)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Nacional Cofre de Perote (mile 37), La Malinche National Park (mile 92), El Chico National Park (mile 183)
- Museums and history: Xalapa Cathedral (mile 7), Jardín de Esculturas (mile 7), Xalapa Museum of Anthropology (mile 11), Cantona (mile 53), Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (mile 181)
Xalapa Cathedral
One of Xalapa's oldest buildings, the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception mixes a baroque core with neo-Gothic touches added in 1895, and holds the remains of Bishop Rafael Guízar y Valencia.
Jardín de Esculturas
Xalapa's Jardín de Esculturas is an open-air sculpture garden and museum displaying works by nationally and internationally recognized artists.
Xalapa Museum of Anthropology
Run by the Universidad Veracruzana in a building designed by Edward Durell Stone, the Xalapa Museum of Anthropology displays more than 1,500 pieces from Olmec, central Veracruz and Huastec cultures, including several Olmec colossal heads, amid subtropical gardens.
Parque Nacional Cofre de Perote
Cofre de Perote National Park protects the forested slopes of the mountain, and its role is practical as well as scenic: a little over 40 percent of the water used in Xalapa comes from here.
Cantona
High on the Puebla plateau near the Veracruz line, Cantona was a fortified pre-Hispanic city that controlled trade toward the Gulf; its explored southern section reveals interconnected streets, walled residential units and more than two dozen ballgame courts.
La Malinche National Park
Tlaxcala's La Malinche National Park surrounds the inactive Matlalcuéyetl volcano, with pine, oak and fir forests on its slopes, hiking trails, birdwatching, and stone cabins and campsites at the Malintzi Vacation Center.
Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque
Built by Franciscan friar Francisco de Tembleque between 1554 and 1572, this 16th-century water system runs more than 48 km between Zempoala and Otumba. Its tallest arcade at Tepeyahualco reaches almost 40 meters, and UNESCO listed it in 2015.
Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
Known locally as La Villita, the Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe is a Catholic basilica dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe in Pachuca.
El Chico National Park
In Hidalgo, El Chico National Park is known for towering cliffs such as Las Ventanas and Peña del Cuervo, popular with climbers, and forest wildlife including gray foxes, ringtails, armadillos, hawks, falcons and woodpeckers.
More drives to Actopan
- Tulancingo to Actopan
- Tepotzotlán to Actopan
- Mexico City to Actopan
- Tequisquiapan to Actopan
- Toluca to Actopan
- Cuernavaca to Actopan
From Coatepec to other places in Mexico
- Coatepec to Huamantla
- Coatepec to Ixtenco
- Coatepec to Apizaco
- Coatepec to Cuetzalan
- Coatepec to Chiautempan
- Coatepec to Tlaxcala
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Coatepec to Actopan?
About 3 h 57 min of driving without stops, over 202 miles.
How far is Actopan from Coatepec by car?
About 202 miles (325 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 Coatepec to Actopan?
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 Coatepec to Actopan?
The U.S. State Department rates Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Coatepec to Actopan use?
In order: VER 7, MEX-140, MEX-140D, MEX-136, MEX-M40D, MEX-132 and MEX-88. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Coatepec and Actopan?
Closest to the road: Xalapa Cathedral (cathedral, mile 7, 0.8 mi from the route); Jardín de Esculturas (museum, mile 7, 0.9 mi from the route); Xalapa Museum of Anthropology (archaeological museum, mile 11, 0.8 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 mile 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 (roughly 2 to 7 miles depending on the type, farther for World Heritage sites): at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, with no more than five of one type, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place and city 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.