By road, Coatzacoalcos and Bernal are about 496 miles (799 km) apart, or roughly 8 h 15 min of driving.
| Distance | 496 mi (799 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 15 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-185 → MEX-180D → MEX-145D → MEX-150D → MEX-M40D → MEX-57D → MEX-120 → QRO 5 |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-180D, MEX-145D, MEX-150D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
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 Coatzacoalcos to Bernal: the shape of the trip
MEX-150D (158 mi) and MEX-145D (142 mi) carry about 60% of the 496 miles. It runs through 6 states: Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-180D, MEX-145D and MEX-150D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Coatzacoalcos to Bernal: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | |
| MEX-185 | 2–12 | 10 | Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 12–13 | 1 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 13–16 | 3 | Veracruz |
| MEX-145D | 16–158 | 142 | Veracruz |
| MEX-150D | 158–316 | 158 | Veracruz, Puebla |
| MEX-M40D | 316–422 | 106 | Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 422–423 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-57D | 423–465 | 42 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro |
| MEX-120 | 465–488 | 23 | Querétaro |
| QRO 5 | 488–493 | 5 | Querétaro |
| local roads | 493–496 | 3 | Querétaro |
- Mile 227 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 321 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 344 of this route: Tlaxcala → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 351 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 364 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 380 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 395 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 424 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 457 of this route: State of Mexico → Querétaro (state line)
What to see on the way from Coatzacoalcos to Bernal
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 214), Galería Libertad (mile 478)
- Nature and outdoors: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 214)
- Museums and history: Huatusco (mile 165), Cathedral of Córdoba, Veracruz (mile 191), Capilla del Arte (mile 296), Xochitecatl (mile 311), Galería Libertad (mile 478)
Huatusco
Above the Atoyac River in Carrillo Puerto, Cuauhtochco has a Mexica-era temple that still keeps original surface finishes. Expect no visitor facilities, and consider hiring a local guide.
Cathedral of Córdoba, Veracruz
An octagonal dome covered in tiles crowns Córdoba's Immaculate Conception Cathedral, the city's main church, finished in a neoclassical style.
Cañón del Río Blanco National Park
Protected as a national park by Mexico's government, Cañón del Río Blanco is a natural area in Veracruz state.
Capilla del Arte
Capilla del Arte is a cultural space of the Universidad de las Américas Puebla in the old Las Fábricas de Francia building, with a contemporary art gallery and a reading nook.
Xochitecatl
Xochitécatl is a pre-Hispanic archaeological site in the state of Tlaxcala. INAH runs it together with nearby Cacaxtla as a single zone, and the Xochitécatl site museum displays finds from the area.
Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque
Running more than 48 km between Zempoala and Otumba, Padre Tembleque's 16th-century water system has been on UNESCO's list since 2015. The friar built it from 1554 to 1572.
Atlantean figures
Crowning the main pyramid at the Tula archaeological zone, these basalt sculptures of Toltec warriors stand more than four meters tall in what was once the Toltec capital; the nearby Wall of Snakes shows carved serpents devouring skeletons.
Galería Libertad
Run by Querétaro's state culture department, Galería Libertad is a public gallery in the historic center of Santiago de Querétaro devoted to exhibiting, promoting and teaching the visual arts.
More drives to Bernal
- Celaya to Bernal
- Salamanca to Bernal
- Irapuato to Bernal
- Guanajuato to Bernal
- Pénjamo to Bernal
- León to Bernal
From Coatzacoalcos to other places in Mexico
- Coatzacoalcos to Orizaba
- Coatzacoalcos to Cholula
- Coatzacoalcos to Zacatelco
- Coatzacoalcos to Huejotzingo
- Coatzacoalcos to Tlaxcala
- Coatzacoalcos to Atlixco
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Coatzacoalcos to Bernal?
About 8 h 15 min of driving without stops, over 496 miles.
How far is Bernal from Coatzacoalcos by car?
About 496 miles (799 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 Coatzacoalcos to Bernal?
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 Coatzacoalcos to Bernal?
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; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Coatzacoalcos to Bernal use?
In order: MEX-185, MEX-180D, MEX-145D, MEX-150D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-120 and QRO 5. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Coatzacoalcos to Bernal?
Closest to the road: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (national park, mile 214, 0.4 mi from the route); Atlantean figures (sculptures, mile 411, 1 mi from the route); Galería Libertad (art museum, mile 478, 0.5 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.