Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Tuxpan, Veracruz Road Trip

By admin, 3 October, 2026

The Wayro route from Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Tuxpan, Veracruz is 513 miles (826 km), about 8 h 30 min of driving without stops.

U.S. State Department travel advisory: Zacatecas — Level 4, Do Not Travel; Aguascalientes — Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution; Jalisco — Level 3, Reconsider Travel; Guanajuato — Level 3, Reconsider Travel; Querétaro — Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico — Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo — Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla — Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution; Veracruz — Level 2, Exercise Increased CautionAdvisory issued May 29, 2026; checked September 29, 2026. Veracruz is the Mexican state that contains Tuxpan, Veracruz. This route passes through a state at the advisory's highest level. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive.
Museo de la InsurgenciaAguascalientes CathedralCelaya CathedralEl Cimatario National ParkTula National ParkAqueduct of Padre TemblequeMuseo de Datos HistóricosEl TajínGuadalupe, ZacatecasTuxpan, Veracruz
Route from Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Tuxpan, Veracruz with the 8 stops listed below (blue dots).
Distance513 mi (826 km)
Driving time, no stops8 h 30 min
Main roads, in orderMEX-45D → MEX-45 → MEX-47D → MEX-57D → MEX-M40D → MEX-132 → MEX-132D → MEX-130D
Mexican states on the routeZacatecas (Level 4), Aguascalientes (Level 2), Jalisco (Level 3), Guanajuato (Level 3), Querétaro (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Veracruz (Level 2)
Toll roadsMEX-45D, MEX-43D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D, MEX-M40D, MEX-132D, MEX-130D
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 20.5 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.

What the drive from Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Tuxpan, Veracruz is like

MEX-45D (163 mi) and MEX-132D (88 mi) carry about 49% of the 513 miles. MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D, MEX-M40D, MEX-132D, MEX-130D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-45, MEX-132 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 9 states: Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Guanajuato, Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Puebla, Veracruz. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.

The route from Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Tuxpan, Veracruz, road by road

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miState
local roads0–44Zacatecas
MEX-45D4–2521Zacatecas
MEX-4525–5328Zacatecas, Aguascalientes
local roads53–574Aguascalientes
MEX-4557–8730Aguascalientes, Jalisco
MEX-45D87–229142Jalisco, Guanajuato
MEX-47D229–28152Guanajuato, Querétaro
MEX-57D281–31635Querétaro, State of Mexico
connecting roads316–3182Hidalgo
MEX-M40D318–37860Hidalgo, State of Mexico
MEX-132378–40123Hidalgo
MEX-132D401–48988Hidalgo, Puebla, Veracruz
MEX-130D489–51223Veracruz
local roads512–5131Veracruz
  • Mile 30 of this route: Zacatecas → Aguascalientes (state line)
  • Mile 83 of this route: Aguascalientes → Jalisco (state line)
  • Mile 132 of this route: Jalisco → Guanajuato (state line)
  • Mile 242 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
  • Mile 283 of this route: Querétaro → State of Mexico (state line)
  • Mile 316 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
  • Mile 345 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
  • Mile 360 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
  • Mile 426 of this route: Hidalgo → Puebla (state line)
  • Mile 481 of this route: Puebla → Veracruz (state line)

Stops between Guadalupe, Zacatecas and Tuxpan, Veracruz

  • Right off the route (under 1 mile): Aguascalientes Cathedral (mile 68), Tula National Park (mile 329)
  • Nature and outdoors: El Cimatario National Park (mile 246), Tula National Park (mile 329)
  • Museums and history: Museo de la Insurgencia (mile 48), Aguascalientes Cathedral (mile 68), Celaya Cathedral (mile 217), Museo de Datos Históricos (mile 406), El Tajín (mile 490)

Museo de la Insurgencia

Mile 48 · Museum · 3 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Set in a 17th-century estate, the Museo de la Insurgencia opened in 1964 to tell the story of Mexico's independence movement. One hall shows farm, mining and textile tools from hacienda work; another displays everyday objects from past eras.

Aguascalientes Cathedral

Mile 68 · Church building · 0.2 mi from the route

The cathedral of Aguascalientes stands on the Plaza de la Patria in the city's historic center.

Celaya Cathedral

Mile 217 · Church building · 2 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Celaya's main Catholic church, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, occupies the space of a former chapel that was annexed to the neighboring Temple of St. Francis.

El Cimatario National Park

Mile 246 · National Park of Mexico · 9 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

El Cimatario National Park protects about 24 square kilometers of land just south of the city of Santiago de Querétaro.

Tula National Park

Mile 329 · National Park of Mexico · 1 mi from the route

This park protects the ruins of Tula, ancient capital of the Toltecs. Walk up to the main pyramid to stand beside the Atlantes, basalt warrior figures more than four meters tall, and look for the Coatepantli wall's reliefs of snakes devouring skeletons.

Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque

Mile 380 · Aqueduct · 2 mi from the route

Built by Franciscan friar Francisco de Tembleque between 1554 and 1572, this 16th-century water system runs more than 48 km between Zempoala and Otumba. Its tallest arcade at Tepeyahualco reaches almost 40 meters, and UNESCO listed it in 2015.

Museo de Datos Históricos

Mile 406 · Museum · 2 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Tulancingo's first station of the Hidalgo and Northeast Railroad, built in 1893, now houses the Museo de Datos Históricos, with regional archaeological pieces such as the Huapalcalco feline, traditional clothing from Santa Ana Hueytlalpan and a historical photo archive.

El Tajín

Mile 490 · Archaeological site · 17 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

A UNESCO World Heritage Site in Veracruz, El Tajín peaked from the early 9th to the early 13th century. Look for the Pyramid of the Niches, elaborately carved reliefs on columns and friezes, and some of the site's 17 ballcourts.

More drives to Tuxpan, Veracruz

From Guadalupe, Zacatecas to other places in Mexico

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Tuxpan, Veracruz?

About 8 h 30 min of driving without stops, over 513 miles.

How far is Tuxpan, Veracruz from Guadalupe, Zacatecas by car?

About 513 miles (826 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 Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Tuxpan, Veracruz?

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 Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Tuxpan, Veracruz?

The U.S. State Department rates Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel; Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.

What roads does the drive from Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Tuxpan, Veracruz use?

In order: MEX-45D, MEX-45, MEX-47D, MEX-57D, MEX-M40D, MEX-132, MEX-132D and MEX-130D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.

What are good stops between Guadalupe, Zacatecas and Tuxpan, Veracruz?

Closest to the road: Aguascalientes Cathedral (church building, mile 68, 0.2 mi from the route); Tula National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 329, 1 mi from the route); Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque (aqueduct, mile 380, 2 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 mile 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 (roughly 2 to 7 miles depending on the type, farther for World Heritage sites): at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, with no more than five of one type, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place and city 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.