By road, Coatzacoalcos and Pachuca are about 384 miles (618 km) apart, or roughly 6 h 13 min of driving.
| Distance | 384 mi (618 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 13 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-185 → MEX-180D → MEX-145D → MEX-150D → MEX-M40D → MEX-132 → MEX-88 |
| 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 15.4 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 Coatzacoalcos to Pachuca is like
MEX-150D (158 mi) and MEX-145D (142 mi) carry about 78% of the 384 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, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Coatzacoalcos to Pachuca
| 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 | 316–362 | 46 | Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| MEX-132 | 362–365 | 3 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| MEX-88 | 365–382 | 17 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 382–384 | 2 | Hidalgo |
- 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 363 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Coatzacoalcos and Pachuca
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 214), La Constancia Mexicana (mile 299), Church and former convent of Todos los Santos (mile 368)
- Nature and outdoors: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 214)
- Museums and history: Huatusco (mile 165), Cathedral of Córdoba, Veracruz (mile 191), Veracruz State Art Museum (mile 203), Fort Guadalupe (mile 295), Museo José Luis Bello y Zetina (mile 296), La Constancia Mexicana (mile 299), Cacaxtla (mile 311)
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.
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.
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.
Fort Guadalupe
Fort Guadalupe is a fort you'll find in the city of Puebla, within the Mexican state of the same name.
Museo José Luis Bello y Zetina
Next to the Templo de Santo Domingo in downtown Puebla, the Museo José Luis Bello y Zetina shows a house and art collection donated by the Puebla philanthropist it's named for.
La Constancia Mexicana
A textile factory founded in 1835 in Puebla now houses the La Constancia museum complex, with a children's museum, a puppet house, a Mexican music museum, an automobile museum and a park of miniature world monuments.
Cacaxtla
Built on a hill rising above the Tlaxcala-Puebla valley, Cacaxtla is known for its pre-Hispanic murals on the Gran Basamento, a large platform now sheltered under a roof. INAH manages it together with nearby Xochitécatl.
Church and former convent of Todos los Santos
Franciscan friars built this fortress-style convent in Zempoala, and the complex still keeps the classic layout of atrium, church, open chapel and cloister. It pairs well with a drive through the area's old pulque haciendas.
Once you reach Pachuca
Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
Known locally as La Villita, the Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe is a Catholic basilica dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe in Pachuca.
Monumental Clock of Pachuca
Rising over Plaza Independencia in Pachuca's historic center, the Monumental Clock tower was built between 1904 and 1910 to mark the centennial of Mexico's War of Independence.
Museo Nacional de la Fotografía
Pachuca de Soto, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo, is home to the Museo Nacional de la Fotografía, a museum devoted to photography.
More drives to Pachuca
- Mexico City to Pachuca
- Toluca to Pachuca
- Cuernavaca to Pachuca
- San Juan del Río to Pachuca
- Celaya to Pachuca
- Morelia to Pachuca
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 Pachuca?
About 6 h 13 min of driving without stops, over 384 miles.
How far is Pachuca from Coatzacoalcos by car?
About 384 miles (618 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 Pachuca?
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 Pachuca?
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 Pachuca use?
In order: MEX-185, MEX-180D, MEX-145D, MEX-150D, MEX-M40D, MEX-132 and MEX-88. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Coatzacoalcos and Pachuca?
Closest to the road: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (national park, mile 214, 0.4 mi from the route); La Constancia Mexicana (museum, mile 299, 0.4 mi from the route); Church and former convent of Todos los Santos (convent, mile 368, 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.