Coatzacoalcos to Tepoztlán is about 382 road miles (614 km): roughly 6 h 20 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance by road | 382 mi (614 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 20 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-185 → MEX-180D → MEX-145D → MEX-150D → MEX-190 → PUE 438D → MEX-160 → MEX-160D |
| 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 15.3 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 Tepoztlán is like
MEX-145D (142 mi) and MEX-150D (132 mi) carry about 72% of the 382 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 Tepoztlán
| 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 |
| MEX-160D | 366–379 | 13 | Morelos |
| local roads | 379–382 | 3 | Morelos |
- Mile 227 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 342 of this route: Puebla → Morelos (state line)
Places worth a stop between Coatzacoalcos and Tepoztlán
- 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), Jardín Botánico Universitario de la Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (mile 299)
- Museums and history: Huatusco (mile 165), Cathedral of Córdoba, Veracruz (mile 191), Convent Church of Santo Domingo, Puebla (mile 295), International Museum of the Baroque (mile 305), Museo Histórico del Oriente de Morelos "Casa de Morelos" (mile 364)
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.
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.
International Museum of the Baroque
Designed by Japanese architect Toyo Ito and opened in 2016, Puebla's baroque museum wraps its galleries in curving white concrete walls beside a reflecting pond. Exhibits cover baroque painting, sculpture, architecture, music, theater and literature.
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 Mateo Apóstol
Built by Augustinian friars, the Templo y Exconvento de San Mateo Apóstol in Atlatlahucan is well preserved, with murals and decorated vaults, and is associated with the origins of the Chinelo dancers.
Arriving in Tepoztlán
Tepoztlán Ex Convento Museum
Tepoztlán's Dominican monastery, built between 1555 and 1580, keeps original 16th-century murals in its cloister. Upstairs, the museum covers local daily life, faith, festivals and dances, and the complex is part of a UNESCO World Heritage listing.
El Tepozteco
High on a hill above Tepoztlán, El Tepozteco holds the remains of a shrine to Ometochtli-Tepoztécatl, god of pulque, fertility and the harvest, along with terraced platforms built from around AD 1200.
El Tepozteco National Park
Eroded volcanic hills of the Sierra de Tepoztlán fill this national park, about half of which lies in Mexico City's Milpa Alta borough. A short, steep climb leads to the Tepozteco archaeological zone; wear good shoes, since the rocks get slippery.
More drives to Tepoztlán
- Mexico City to Tepoztlán
- Metepec to Tepoztlán
- Toluca to Tepoztlán
- Atlixco to Tepoztlán
- Taxco to Tepoztlán
- Tepotzotlán to Tepoztlán
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 Tepoztlán?
About 6 h 20 min of driving without stops, over 382 miles.
What is the driving distance from Coatzacoalcos to Tepoztlán?
About 382 miles (614 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 Tepoztlán?
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 Tepoztlán?
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.
What roads does the drive from Coatzacoalcos to Tepoztlán use?
In order: MEX-185, MEX-180D, MEX-145D, MEX-150D, MEX-190, PUE 438D, MEX-160 and MEX-160D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Coatzacoalcos and Tepoztlán?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Córdoba, Veracruz (cathedral, mile 191, 2 mi from the route); Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (national park, mile 214, 0.4 mi from the route); International Museum of the Baroque (art museum, mile 305, 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.