By road, Coatzacoalcos and Zacatelco are about 306 miles (493 km) apart, or roughly 4 h 56 min of driving.
| Distance by road | 306 mi (493 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 56 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-185 → MEX-180D → MEX-145D → MEX-150D → MEX-119 |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-180D, MEX-145D, MEX-150D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
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 Zacatelco is like
MEX-145D (142 mi) and MEX-150D (137 mi) carry about 91% of the 306 miles. It runs through 3 states: Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-180D, MEX-145D and MEX-150D. Of the 6 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Coatzacoalcos to Zacatelco, road by road
| 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 | 158–295 | 137 | Veracruz, Puebla |
| connecting roads | 295–297 | 2 | Puebla |
| MEX-119 | 297–306 | 9 | Puebla, Tlaxcala |
- Mile 227 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 299 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
Stops between Coatzacoalcos and Zacatelco
- 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)
- Museums and history: Huatusco (mile 165), Cathedral of Córdoba, Veracruz (mile 191), Orizaba Cathedral (mile 205), Capilla del Arte (mile 296)
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
Córdoba's main church, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, was built in the first half of the 17th century. Look up to see its tiled octagonal dome.
Orizaba Cathedral
The Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel is the main Catholic church of Orizaba, in the state of Veracruz, and the seat of the Diocese of Orizaba.
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.
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.
Capilla del Arte
Capilla del Arte is a cultural space of the Universidad de las Américas Puebla in the old Las Fábricas de Francia building, with a contemporary art gallery and a reading nook.
Once you reach Zacatelco
Laguna de Acomulco
A quiet lagoon in the state of Tlaxcala, Laguna de Acomulco is surrounded by vegetation and rural scenery and works well for a short walk, landscape photos or a calm break in nature.
Parque ecológico Los Ladrillos
Opened on April 2, 2015, Los Ladrillos Ecological Park is a nature reserve in the municipality of Zacatelco, in Tlaxcala.
More drives to Zacatelco
- Huamantla to Zacatelco
- Cuautla to Zacatelco
- Pachuca to Zacatelco
- Tulancingo to Zacatelco
- Tepotzotlán to Zacatelco
- Cuernavaca to Zacatelco
From Coatzacoalcos to other places in Mexico
- Coatzacoalcos to Orizaba
- Coatzacoalcos to Cholula
- Coatzacoalcos to Huejotzingo
- Coatzacoalcos to Tlaxcala
- Coatzacoalcos to Atlixco
- Coatzacoalcos to Tlaxco
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Coatzacoalcos to Zacatelco?
About 4 h 56 min of driving without stops, over 306 miles.
What is the driving distance from Coatzacoalcos to Zacatelco?
About 306 miles (493 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 Zacatelco?
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 Zacatelco?
The U.S. State Department rates Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala 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 Zacatelco use?
In order: MEX-185, MEX-180D, MEX-145D, MEX-150D and MEX-119. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Coatzacoalcos and Zacatelco?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Córdoba, Veracruz (cathedral, mile 191, 2 mi from the route); Orizaba Cathedral (cathedral, mile 205, 1 mi from the route); Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (national park, mile 214, 0.4 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.