Coatepec to Tuxpan, Veracruz Road Trip: Route, Stops & Safety

By admin, 3 October, 2026

The Wayro route from Coatepec to Tuxpan, Veracruz is 167 miles (268 km), about 3 h 23 min of driving without stops.

U.S. State Department travel advisory: Veracruz — Level 2, Exercise Increased CautionAdvisory issued May 29, 2026; checked September 29, 2026. Veracruz is the Mexican state that contains Tuxpan, Veracruz. See the full advisory for current details.
Xalapa CathedralKaná, Museo de Ciencia y TecnologíaXalapa Museum of AnthropologyParque Nacional Cofre de PeroteEl TajínCoatepecTuxpan, Veracruz
Route from Coatepec to Tuxpan, Veracruz with the 5 stops listed below (blue dots).
Distance167 mi (268 km)
Driving time, no stops3 h 23 min
Main roads, in orderVER 7 → MEX-140 → MEX-140D → MEX-131 → MEX-129 → MEX-180D → MEX-130D
Mexican states on the routeVeracruz (Level 2)
Toll roadsMEX-140D, MEX-180D, MEX-130D
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 6.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below5

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 insuranceRequired 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 Tuxpan, Veracruz is like

MEX-180D (53 mi) and MEX-131 (29 mi) carry about 49% of the 167 miles. MEX-140D, MEX-180D, MEX-130D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-140, MEX-131, MEX-129 are free federal roads (libre). Of the 5 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.

The route from Coatepec to Tuxpan, Veracruz, road by road

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miState
local roads0–11Veracruz
VER 71–65Veracruz
connecting roads6–82Veracruz
MEX-1408–135Veracruz
connecting roads13–141Veracruz
MEX-140D14–3319Veracruz
connecting roads33–341Veracruz
local roads34–395Veracruz
MEX-13139–6829Veracruz
MEX-12968–9224Veracruz
MEX-180D92–14553Veracruz
MEX-130D145–16520Veracruz
local roads165–1672Veracruz

Stops between Coatepec and Tuxpan, Veracruz

  • Right off the route (under 1 mile): Xalapa Cathedral (mile 7), Kaná, Museo de Ciencia y Tecnología (mile 7), Xalapa Museum of Anthropology (mile 11)
  • Nature and outdoors: Parque Nacional Cofre de Perote (mile 34)
  • Museums and history: Xalapa Cathedral (mile 7), Kaná, Museo de Ciencia y Tecnología (mile 7), Xalapa Museum of Anthropology (mile 11), El Tajín (mile 127)

Xalapa Cathedral

Mile 7 · Cathedral · 0.8 mi from the route

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.

Kaná, Museo de Ciencia y Tecnología

Mile 7 · Museum · 1 mi from the route

Kaná, Museo de Ciencia y Tecnología is a modern interactive science and technology museum in Xalapa, the capital of Veracruz, formerly known as the Museo Interactivo de Xalapa.

Xalapa Museum of Anthropology

Mile 11 · Archaeological museum · 0.8 mi from the route

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

Mile 34 · National Park of Mexico · 10 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

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.

El Tajín

Mile 127 · Archaeological site · 7 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

A UNESCO World Heritage Site in Veracruz, El Tajín peaked from the early 9th to the early 13th century. Look for the Pyramid of the Niches, elaborately carved reliefs on columns and friezes, and some of the site's 17 ballcourts.

More drives to Tuxpan, Veracruz

From Coatepec to other places in Mexico

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from Coatepec to Tuxpan, Veracruz?

About 3 h 23 min of driving without stops, over 167 miles.

How far is Tuxpan, Veracruz from Coatepec by car?

About 167 miles (268 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 Tuxpan, Veracruz?

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 Tuxpan, Veracruz?

The U.S. State Department rates Veracruz 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 Tuxpan, Veracruz use?

In order: VER 7, MEX-140, MEX-140D, MEX-131, MEX-129, MEX-180D and MEX-130D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.

What are good stops between Coatepec and Tuxpan, Veracruz?

Closest to the road: Xalapa Cathedral (cathedral, mile 7, 0.8 mi from the route); Kaná, Museo de Ciencia y Tecnología (museum, mile 7, 1 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.