Comalcalco to Actopan is about 496 road miles (799 km): roughly 8 h 30 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Total distance | 496 mi (799 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 30 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-187 → MEX-180 → MEX-180D → MEX-145D → MEX-150D → MEX-M40D → MEX-132 → MEX-88 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tabasco, 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 19.9 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 Comalcalco to Actopan is like
MEX-150D (157 mi) and MEX-145D (142 mi) carry about 60% of the 496 miles. It runs through 6 states: Tabasco, 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.
Comalcalco to Actopan: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-187 | 0–24 | 24 | Tabasco |
| connecting roads | 24–25 | 1 | Tabasco |
| MEX-180 | 25–35 | 10 | Tabasco |
| MEX-180D | 35–68 | 33 | Tabasco |
| MEX-180 | 68–88 | 20 | Tabasco, Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 88–109 | 21 | Veracruz |
| MEX-145D | 109–251 | 142 | Veracruz |
| MEX-150D | 251–408 | 157 | Veracruz, Puebla |
| connecting roads | 408–409 | 1 | Puebla |
| MEX-M40D | 409–454 | 45 | Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| MEX-132 | 454–458 | 4 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| MEX-88 | 458–474 | 16 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 474–496 | 22 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 71 of this route: Tabasco → Veracruz (state line)
- Mile 319 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 413 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 436 of this route: Tlaxcala → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 444 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 455 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
What to see on the way from Comalcalco to Actopan
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): La Constancia Mexicana (mile 391), Parque Ecológico Cubitos (mile 474), Centro Interactivo Mundo Futbol (mile 476)
- Nature and outdoors: La Malinche National Park (mile 380), Parque Ecológico Cubitos (mile 474)
- Museums and history: La Venta (mile 68), Huatusco (mile 258), Cathedral of Córdoba, Veracruz (mile 284), Museo Poblano de Arte Virreinal (mile 388), La Constancia Mexicana (mile 391), Centro Interactivo Mundo Futbol (mile 476)
La Venta
La Venta was an important city of the Olmec civilization, in Tabasco near Huimanguillo. Its site museum displays more than 200 artifacts, including monumental sandstone sculptures found at the foot of the main pyramid.
Huatusco
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
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.
La Malinche National Park
Pine, oak and fir forests cover the slopes of the inactive Matlalcuéyetl volcano, the centerpiece of La Malinche National Park in Tlaxcala.
Convent Church of San Francisco, Puebla
The Convent Church of San Francisco is a historic church that you'll find in the city of Puebla, in the Mexican state of Puebla.
Museo Poblano de Arte Virreinal
Puebla's San Pedro Museo de Arte, formerly the Museo Poblano de Arte Virreinal, opened in 2000 and focuses on New Spanish painting, with galleries for permanent and temporary exhibitions.
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.
Parque Ecológico Cubitos
Between Pachuca de Soto and Mineral de la Reforma, Parque Ecológico Cubitos is a 90-hectare protected natural area whose public section has a botanical garden, an arboretum, a herpetarium, a farm, a maze, a zip line and a bike path.
Centro Interactivo Mundo Futbol
Centro Interactivo Mundo Fútbol is an interactive museum devoted to soccer, located in the city of Pachuca de Soto in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
More drives to Actopan
- Tulancingo to Actopan
- Tepotzotlán to Actopan
- Mexico City to Actopan
- Tequisquiapan to Actopan
- Toluca to Actopan
- Cuernavaca to Actopan
From Comalcalco to other places in Mexico
- Comalcalco to Huejotzingo
- Comalcalco to Tlaxco
- Comalcalco to Calpulalpan
- Comalcalco to Tetela del Volcán
- Comalcalco to Zacatlán
- Comalcalco to Otumba
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Comalcalco to Actopan?
About 8 h 30 min of driving without stops, over 496 miles.
How far is Actopan from Comalcalco by car?
About 496 miles (799 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 Comalcalco to Actopan?
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 Comalcalco to Actopan?
The U.S. State Department rates Tabasco Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; 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.
Which highways go from Comalcalco to Actopan?
In order: MEX-187, MEX-180, 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.
Where can you stop on the way from Comalcalco to Actopan?
Closest to the road: La Constancia Mexicana (museum, mile 391, 0.4 mi from the route); Parque Ecológico Cubitos (park, mile 474, 0.7 mi from the route); Centro Interactivo Mundo Futbol (museum, mile 476, 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.