Plan on about 7 h 37 min of driving for the 480-mile (772 km) trip from Coatzacoalcos to El Oro, before any stops.
| Distance | 480 mi (772 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 37 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-185 → MEX-180D → MEX-145D → MEX-150D → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → MEX-561 → EM 5 |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-180D, MEX-145D, MEX-150D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.2 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.
The Coatzacoalcos–El Oro drive in a few lines
MEX-150D (158 mi) and MEX-145D (142 mi) carry about 62% of the 480 miles. It runs through 5 states: Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-180D, MEX-145D and MEX-150D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Coatzacoalcos and El Oro
| 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 | 316–455 | 139 | Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 455–467 | 12 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-561 | 467–471 | 4 | State of Mexico |
| EM 5 | 471–480 | 9 | State of Mexico |
- 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)
Stops between Coatzacoalcos and El Oro
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 214)
- Nature and outdoors: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 214), La Malinche National Park (mile 288)
- Museums and history: Huatusco (mile 165), Veracruz State Art Museum (mile 203), Museo Bello (mile 296), Teotihuacan (mile 362), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 456)
Huatusco
Getting to the ruins of Huatusco (Cuauhtochco) means crossing a suspension bridge and hiking a steep trail; a local guide is a good idea, and there are no visitor facilities. The Mexica-era temple keeps its original finishes.
Veracruz State Art Museum
Housed in Orizaba's 18th-century former Oratorio of San Felipe Neri, later a hospital and then a jail, the Veracruz State Art Museum (Museo de Arte del Estado) holds more than 700 works, including 36 by Diego Rivera.
Cañón del Río Blanco National Park
Veracruz is home to Cañón del Río Blanco National Park, a natural area that the Mexican government has set aside for protection.
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 Bello
Puebla's Museo José Luis Bello y González shows the collection of industrialist José Luis Bello y González and his son: paintings, Talavera, featherwork, furniture, porcelain, ivory, glass and metalwork from America, Europe and Asia.
Teatro de la Ciudad de Puebla
The Teatro de la Ciudad is a performance venue on the Portal Hidalgo, in the historic center of the city of Puebla.
Teotihuacan
Built between the 1st and 7th centuries AD, this UNESCO-listed ancient city lines the Avenue of the Dead, where you can walk between the Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon and the Temple of the Feathered Serpent.
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.
Cathedral of Atlacomulco
Atlacomulco's cathedral, the Catedral de la Divina Providencia, is the seat of the Diocese of Atlacomulco and is dedicated to Divine Providence, making it the town's principal Catholic church.
In El Oro itself
Museo del Ferrocarril del Oro
The Museo del Ferrocarril is in El Oro de Hidalgo, State of Mexico, a town seen as an important part of Mexico's mining and railroad history and named a Pueblo Mágico in 2011.
Rayón National Park
On the outskirts of Tlalpujahua, Parque Nacional Rayón is the gateway to the area's well-known butterfly reserves, which spread out to the south and west of the park.
More drives to El Oro
- Amatitán to El Oro
- Pabellón de Arteaga to El Oro
- Tequila to El Oro
- Calvillo to El Oro
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to El Oro
- Zacatecas to El Oro
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 El Oro?
About 7 h 37 min of driving without stops, over 480 miles.
What is the driving distance from Coatzacoalcos to El Oro?
About 480 miles (772 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 El Oro?
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 El Oro?
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 Coatzacoalcos to El Oro use?
In order: MEX-185, MEX-180D, MEX-145D, MEX-150D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-561 and EM 5. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Coatzacoalcos to El Oro?
Closest to the road: Veracruz State Art Museum (art museum, mile 203, 1 mi from the route); 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). 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.