Coatzacoalcos to Tlalpujahua Road Trip: Distance, Time & Stops

By admin, 12 October, 2026

Plan on about 7 h 39 min of driving for the 483-mile (778 km) trip from Coatzacoalcos to Tlalpujahua, before any stops.

U.S. State Department travel advisory: 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; Michoacán — Level 4, Do Not TravelAdvisory issued May 29, 2026; checked September 29, 2026. Michoacán is the Mexican state that contains Tlalpujahua. This route passes through a state at the advisory's highest level. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive.
HuatuscoCathedral of Córdoba, VeracruzVeracruz State Art MuseumCañón del Río Blanco National ParkCasa del AlfeñiqueAqueduct of Padre TemblequeTulaCathedral of AtlacomulcoCoatzacoalcosTlalpujahua
Route from Coatzacoalcos to Tlalpujahua with the 8 stops listed below (blue dots).
Total distance483 mi (778 km)
Time at the wheel, no stops7 h 39 min
Main roads, in orderMEX-185 → MEX-180D → MEX-145D → MEX-150D → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D
Mexican states on the routeVeracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán
Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap)MEX-180D, MEX-145D, MEX-150D, MEX-M40D
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 19.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below8

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 insuranceRequired 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.

On the road from Coatzacoalcos to Tlalpujahua

MEX-150D (158 mi) and MEX-145D (142 mi) carry about 62% of the 483 miles. It runs through 6 states: Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-180D, MEX-145D and MEX-150D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.

Which roads connect Coatzacoalcos and Tlalpujahua

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miState
local roads0–22
MEX-1852–1210Veracruz
connecting roads12–131Veracruz
MEX-180D13–163Veracruz
MEX-145D16–158142Veracruz
MEX-150D158–316158Veracruz, Puebla
MEX-M40D316–455139Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico
MEX-15D455–47621State of Mexico, Michoacán
local roads476–4837Michoacán
  • 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)
  • Mile 474 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)

Breaking up the drive: stops between Coatzacoalcos and Tlalpujahua

  • 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)
  • Museums and history: Huatusco (mile 165), Cathedral of Córdoba, Veracruz (mile 191), Veracruz State Art Museum (mile 203), Casa del Alfeñique (mile 296), Tula (mile 411), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 456)

Huatusco

Mile 165 · Archaeological site · 2 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

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.

Cathedral of Córdoba, Veracruz

Mile 191 · Cathedral · 2 mi from the route

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

Mile 203 · Art museum · 1 mi from the route

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

Mile 214 · National park · 0.4 mi from the route

Veracruz is home to Cañón del Río Blanco National Park, a natural area that the Mexican government has set aside for protection.

Casa del Alfeñique

Mile 296 · Museum · 3 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Founded in 1926, the Museo Regional Casa de Alfeñique is a museum in the city of Puebla, housed in the building known as the Casa de Alfeñique.

Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque

Mile 360 · Aqueduct · 2 mi from the route

Running more than 48 km between Zempoala and Otumba, Padre Tembleque's 16th-century water system has been on UNESCO's list since 2015. The friar built it from 1554 to 1572.

Tula

Mile 411 · Archaeological site · 1 mi from the route

The Toltecs once ruled from Tula, now an archaeological zone. Its Coatepantli wall is carved with snakes devouring skeletons, and the famous Atlantes stand atop the main pyramid.

Cathedral of Atlacomulco

Mile 456 · Cathedral · 2 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

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.

Arriving in Tlalpujahua

Museo del Ferrocarril del Oro

Museum · in Tlalpujahua

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

National park · in Tlalpujahua

Butterfly reserve country begins at Rayón National Park, on the edge of Tlalpujahua, and extends south and west from there across the region.

More drives to Tlalpujahua

From Coatzacoalcos to other places in Mexico

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to drive from Coatzacoalcos to Tlalpujahua?

About 7 h 39 min of driving without stops, over 483 miles.

What is the driving distance from Coatzacoalcos to Tlalpujahua?

About 483 miles (778 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 Tlalpujahua?

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 Tlalpujahua?

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; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.

Which highways go from Coatzacoalcos to Tlalpujahua?

In order: MEX-185, MEX-180D, MEX-145D, MEX-150D, MEX-M40D and MEX-15D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.

Where can you stop on the way from Coatzacoalcos to Tlalpujahua?

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); Tula (archaeological site, 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.