Plan on about 3 h 21 min of driving for the 153-mile (247 km) trip from Coatzacoalcos to Tapijulapa, before any stops.
| Distance | 153 mi (247 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 3 h 21 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-180 → MEX-180D → MEX-195 → TAB 1 → MEX-173 |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz, Tabasco |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-180D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 6.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
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–Tapijulapa drive in a few lines
MEX-180 (68 mi) and MEX-180D (33 mi) carry about 66% of the 153 miles. It runs through 2 states: Veracruz, Tabasco. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-180D. Of the 3 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Coatzacoalcos to Tapijulapa: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | |
| MEX-180 | 2–30 | 28 | Veracruz, Tabasco |
| MEX-180D | 30–63 | 33 | Tabasco |
| MEX-180 | 63–103 | 40 | Tabasco |
| connecting roads | 103–104 | 1 | Tabasco |
| MEX-195 | 104–115 | 11 | Tabasco |
| TAB 1 | 115–141 | 26 | Tabasco |
| MEX-173 | 141–153 | 12 | Tabasco |
- Mile 29 of this route: Veracruz → Tabasco (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Coatzacoalcos and Tapijulapa
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Villahermosa Cathedral (mile 104), Casa Museo Cnel. Gregorio Méndez Magaña (mile 104)
- Museums and history: La Venta (mile 31), Villahermosa Cathedral (mile 104), Casa Museo Cnel. Gregorio Méndez Magaña (mile 104)
La Venta
More than 200 artifacts fill the site museum at La Venta, among them massive sandstone sculptures discovered at the base of the main pyramid. The once-important Olmec city lies in Tabasco, near Huimanguillo.
Villahermosa Cathedral
Rising on Paseo Tabasco in Villahermosa, the Cathedral of the Lord of Tabasco has tall towers above a monumental facade. The current building dates from 1960–1963; an earlier cathedral was destroyed in the anticlerical campaigns of 1928–1934.
Casa Museo Cnel. Gregorio Méndez Magaña
Colonel Gregorio Méndez Magaña, a hero of the fight against the French intervention in Tabasco, was born in this house in Jalpa de Méndez in 1836; today it serves as a house museum in his honor.
More drives to Tapijulapa
- Paraiso to Tapijulapa
- San Andrés Tuxtla to Tapijulapa
- Córdoba, Mexico to Tapijulapa
- Orizaba to Tapijulapa
- Naolinco to Tapijulapa
- Huamantla to Tapijulapa
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 Tapijulapa?
About 3 h 21 min of driving without stops, over 153 miles.
What is the driving distance from Coatzacoalcos to Tapijulapa?
About 153 miles (247 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 Tapijulapa?
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 Tapijulapa?
The U.S. State Department rates Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tabasco Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Coatzacoalcos to Tapijulapa?
In order: MEX-180, MEX-180D, MEX-195, TAB 1 and MEX-173. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Coatzacoalcos and Tapijulapa?
Closest to the road: La Venta (archaeological site, mile 31, 3 mi from the route); Villahermosa Cathedral (cathedral, mile 104, 0.7 mi from the route); Casa Museo Cnel. Gregorio Méndez Magaña (museum, mile 104, 0.7 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.