The Wayro route from Coatepec to Tepotzotlán is 196 miles (315 km), about 3 h 53 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 196 mi (315 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 53 min |
| Main roads, in order | VER 7 → MEX-140 → MEX-140D → MEX-136 → MEX-142 → MEX-132 |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-140D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.8 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 Tepotzotlán is like
MEX-136 (84 mi) and MEX-140D (66 mi) carry about 77% of the 196 miles. MEX-140D is a toll highway (cuota); MEX-140, MEX-136, MEX-142, MEX-132 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala, State of Mexico. Of the 9 stops listed below, 6 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Coatepec to Tepotzotlán, 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 | 81–165 | 84 | Tlaxcala, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 165–166 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-142 | 166–175 | 9 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-132 | 175–179 | 4 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 179–196 | 17 | State of Mexico |
- Mile 46 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 72 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 151 of this route: Tlaxcala → State of Mexico (state line)
Stops between Coatepec and Tepotzotlán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Xalapa Cathedral (mile 7), Museo Casa Xalapa (mile 7), Xalapa Museum of Anthropology (mile 11), Tecoaque (mile 145), Los Volcanes Biosphere Reserve (mile 148), Texcoco Cathedral (mile 163)
- Nature and outdoors: Los Volcanes Biosphere Reserve (mile 148), Los Remedios National Park (mile 189)
- Museums and history: Xalapa Cathedral (mile 7), Museo Casa Xalapa (mile 7), Xalapa Museum of Anthropology (mile 11), Cantona (mile 53), Tecoaque (mile 145), Tepetlaoztoc (mile 158), Texcoco Cathedral (mile 163)
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.
Museo Casa Xalapa
Also called the Museo de la Ciudad, or MUXA, Museo Casa Xalapa traces the history of the Veracruz capital and state from pre-Hispanic times to today. It opened in 2007 and was renovated in 2016.
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.
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.
Tecoaque
Near Calpulalpan in western Tlaxcala, Tecoaque is a Mesoamerican archaeological site once inhabited by the Acolhua, one of the three groups that made up the Aztec Empire.
Los Volcanes Biosphere Reserve
Surrounding the volcanoes Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl, Los Volcanes is a UNESCO biosphere reserve in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, where North American and tropical wildlife zones meet.
Tepetlaoztoc
Tepetlaoztoc, also spelled Tepetlaoxtoc, was an Aztec-Nahua settlement of the Late Postclassic period in central Mexico, and it stayed occupied into the colonial era.
Texcoco Cathedral
Texcoco's Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception occupies a former convent built by the Franciscans in the 16th century, one of the order's early convent complexes in the Americas.
Los Remedios National Park
Los Remedios National Park, created by federal decree in 1938, covers about 400 hectares on the far western side of Naucalpan, just northwest of Mexico City.
When you get to Tepotzotlán
Parque de las Esculturas
Seventeen sculptures by Charlotte Yazbek, first shown at the Mexico Pavilion of the 1964 New York World's Fair, stand in this Cuautitlán Izcalli park. The artist oversaw their installation here in 1976.
Parque Espejo de los Lirios
Espejo de los Lirios is a lake park in Cuautitlán Izcalli, opened as a park in 1973 and declared a protected natural area in 2009 along with the city's Central Park.
Cuautitlán Cathedral
Cuautitlán's St. Bonaventure Cathedral (Catedral de San Buenaventura) is a Catholic church that forms part of the convent of the same name in this State of Mexico municipality.
More drives to Tepotzotlán
- Mexico City to Tepotzotlán
- Toluca to Tepotzotlán
- Cuernavaca to Tepotzotlán
- Cuautla to Tepotzotlán
- Celaya to Tepotzotlán
- San Miguel de Allende to Tepotzotlán
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 Tepotzotlán?
About 3 h 53 min of driving without stops, over 196 miles.
How far is Tepotzotlán from Coatepec by car?
About 196 miles (315 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 Tepotzotlán?
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 Tepotzotlán?
The U.S. State Department rates Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala 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 Tepotzotlán use?
In order: VER 7, MEX-140, MEX-140D, MEX-136, MEX-142 and MEX-132. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Coatepec and Tepotzotlán?
Closest to the road: Tecoaque (archaeological site, mile 145, 0.1 mi from the route); Los Volcanes Biosphere Reserve (biosphere reserve, mile 148, 0.6 mi from the route); Texcoco Cathedral (cathedral, mile 163, 0.7 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.