Plan on about 6 h 11 min of driving for the 372-mile (598 km) trip from Coatzacoalcos to Oaxtepec, before any stops.
| Total distance | 372 mi (598 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 6 h 11 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-185 → MEX-180D → MEX-145D → MEX-150D → MEX-190 → PUE 438D → MEX-160 |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz, Puebla, Morelos |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-180D, MEX-145D, MEX-150D, MEX-160D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.9 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–Oaxtepec drive in a few lines
MEX-145D (142 mi) and MEX-150D (132 mi) carry about 74% of the 372 miles. It runs through 3 states: Veracruz, Puebla, Morelos. 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 Oaxtepec
| 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 | 158–290 | 132 | Veracruz, Puebla |
| MEX-190 | 290–305 | 15 | Puebla |
| local roads | 305–316 | 11 | Puebla |
| PUE 438D | 316–350 | 34 | Puebla, Morelos |
| MEX-160 | 350–366 | 16 | Morelos |
| connecting roads | 366–367 | 1 | Morelos |
| local roads | 367–372 | 5 | Morelos |
- Mile 227 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 342 of this route: Puebla → Morelos (state line)
What to see on the way from Coatzacoalcos to Oaxtepec
- 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), Jardín Botánico Universitario de la Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (mile 299)
- Museums and history: Huatusco (mile 165), Convent Church of Santo Domingo, Puebla (mile 295), Historic centre of Puebla (mile 305), Museo Histórico del Oriente de Morelos "Casa de Morelos" (mile 364)
Huatusco
Above the Atoyac River in Carrillo Puerto, the ruins of Huatusco (Cuauhtochco) include a Mexica-era temple that still keeps original surface finishes. There are no visitor facilities; reaching it means crossing a suspension bridge and climbing a steep trail, ideally with a local guide.
Cañón del Río Blanco National Park
Cañón del Río Blanco National Park is a protected natural area in the Mexican state of Veracruz, set aside by the government as a national park.
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.
Convent Church of Santo Domingo, Puebla
Behind the facade of Puebla's Santo Domingo church hides the Capilla del Rosario, inaugurated in 1690. Gold covers its walls, pilasters and vaults, and contemporaries hailed it as the eighth wonder of the New World.
Jardín Botánico Universitario de la Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla
On the Ciudad Universitaria campus of BUAP in Puebla, the university botanical garden covers about 10.7 hectares and was formerly named after Ignacio Rodríguez Alconedo.
Historic centre of Puebla
Laid out from scratch in 1531, Puebla's UNESCO-listed core is a grid of tile-covered houses, colonial churches and the 16th–17th-century cathedral, with the old archbishop's palace that houses the Palafox Library, established in 1646.
Tonantzintla Observatory
The Tonantzintla Observatory in Puebla was home to the National Astrophysical Observatory directed by Guillermo Haro. Its main instrument, a Schmidt camera, was a wide-field telescope built for photographing the sky.
Museo Histórico del Oriente de Morelos "Casa de Morelos"
In this 18th-century house in Cuautla, José María Morelos lived during the 1812 Siege of Cuautla. Its INAH galleries trace regional history through Morelos and Emiliano Zapata and display "El Niño," his first cannon, a gift from the Galeana family.
Templo y Exconvento de San Juan Bautista de Yecapixtla
The 16th-century church and former monastery of San Juan Bautista in Yecapixtla belongs to the Monasteries on the Slopes of Popocatepetl, inscribed by UNESCO in 1994 as early missionary architecture with large open courtyards.
When you get to Oaxtepec
Templo y Exconvento de San Juan Bautista de Tlayacapan
Augustinian friars began this fortress-like church and monastery in the 16th century. Part of the UNESCO-listed group of monasteries on the slopes of Popocatépetl, its former cloister now holds a museum with 17th-century murals and religious art.
More drives to Oaxtepec
- Malinalco to Oaxtepec
- Mexico City to Oaxtepec
- Metepec to Oaxtepec
- Toluca to Oaxtepec
- Otumba to Oaxtepec
- Taxco to Oaxtepec
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 does it take to drive from Coatzacoalcos to Oaxtepec?
About 6 h 11 min of driving without stops, over 372 miles.
How far is Oaxtepec from Coatzacoalcos by car?
About 372 miles (598 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 Oaxtepec?
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 Oaxtepec?
The U.S. State Department rates Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Morelos Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Coatzacoalcos to Oaxtepec?
In order: MEX-185, MEX-180D, MEX-145D, MEX-150D, MEX-190, PUE 438D and MEX-160. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Coatzacoalcos and Oaxtepec?
Closest to the road: Huatusco (archaeological site, mile 165, 2 mi from the route); Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (national park, mile 214, 0.4 mi from the route); Jardín Botánico Universitario de la Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (botanical garden, mile 299, 2 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.