Plan on about 5 h 40 min of driving for the 293-mile (471 km) trip from Huamantla to San José del Pacífico, before any stops.
| Total distance | 293 mi (471 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 40 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-136 → MEX-135D → MEX-190 → MEX-175 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala, Puebla, Oaxaca |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-150D, MEX-135D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
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.
Driving Huamantla to San José del Pacífico: the shape of the trip
MEX-135D (151 mi) and MEX-175 (63 mi) carry about 73% of the 293 miles. It runs through 3 states: Tlaxcala, Puebla, Oaxaca. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-150D and MEX-135D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Huamantla and San José del Pacífico
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-136 | 0–9 | 9 | Tlaxcala |
| local roads | 9–49 | 40 | Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| connecting roads | 49–50 | 1 | Puebla |
| MEX-135D | 50–201 | 151 | Puebla, Oaxaca |
| MEX-190 | 201–206 | 5 | Oaxaca |
| local roads | 206–212 | 6 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-175 | 212–222 | 10 | Oaxaca |
| local roads | 222–233 | 11 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-175 | 233–245 | 12 | Oaxaca |
| local roads | 245–252 | 7 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-175 | 252–293 | 41 | Oaxaca |
- Mile 10 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 102 of this route: Puebla → Oaxaca (state line)
Where to stop on the way to San José del Pacífico
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Suchilquitongo (mile 189), Planetario Nundehui (mile 206), Museo Estatal de Arte Popular de Oaxaca (mile 216)
- Nature and outdoors: Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve (mile 93), Benito Juárez National Park (mile 201)
- Museums and history: Museo del Valle de Tehuacán (mile 78), Suchilquitongo (mile 189), Planetario Nundehui (mile 206), Museo de Sitio de Monte Albán (mile 208), Museo Estatal de Arte Popular de Oaxaca (mile 216), Zaachila (mile 216)
Museo del Valle de Tehuacán
Inside an 18th-century former Carmelite convent in Tehuacán, the Valley of Tehuacán Museum opened in 2002 and focuses on the history of corn and its ties to the valley's early peoples.
Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve
Cactus diversity reaches one of its peaks in the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley, a dry landscape shared by Puebla and Oaxaca. Ancient canals, wells, terraces and dams show how people managed its scarce water.
Suchilquitongo
Tomb 5 at Cerro de la Campana, excavated in 1985, holds murals and stucco carvings ranked among the finest funerary art of ancient Mexico. The Zapotec site crowns a hill in the northern Etla Valley.
Benito Juárez National Park
Pine and oak forest covers about 2,737 hectares in Benito Juárez National Park, a short way north of Oaxaca City. Among its trails is La Coronilla, a loop of around 5 km at moderate difficulty.
Planetario Nundehui
Built through a sister-city agreement between Palo Alto, California, and Oaxaca de Juárez, the Nundehui Planetarium opened in 1976 high on Cerro del Fortín, north of the Guelaguetza Auditorium.
Museo de Sitio de Monte Albán
The site museum of the Monte Albán archaeological zone in Oaxaca is located just outside the archaeological zone of Monte Albán itself.
Museo Estatal de Arte Popular de Oaxaca
In San Bartolo Coyotepec, the town known for its black clay pottery (barro negro), this state-run museum traces the history of that craft and shows works by Oaxaca's folk art masters alongside temporary exhibitions.
Zaachila
Excavated tombs draw visitors to Zaachila, a former Zapotec city. The best known is Tomb 1, where stucco figures depict the people who were buried there.
More drives to San José del Pacífico
- Capulalpam de Méndez to San José del Pacífico
- Tehuacán to San José del Pacífico
- Tuxtepec to San José del Pacífico
- Orizaba to San José del Pacífico
- Córdoba, Mexico to San José del Pacífico
- Tlacotalpan to San José del Pacífico
From Huamantla to other places in Mexico
- Huamantla to Huejotzingo
- Huamantla to Otumba
- Huamantla to Omitlán
- Huamantla to Atlatlahucan
- Huamantla to Huasca de Ocampo
- Huamantla to Actopan
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Huamantla to San José del Pacífico?
About 5 h 40 min of driving without stops, over 293 miles.
How far is San José del Pacífico from Huamantla by car?
About 293 miles (471 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 Huamantla to San José del Pacífico?
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 Huamantla to San José del Pacífico?
The U.S. State Department rates Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Oaxaca Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Huamantla to San José del Pacífico?
In order: MEX-136, MEX-135D, MEX-190 and MEX-175. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Huamantla and San José del Pacífico?
Closest to the road: Suchilquitongo (archaeological site, mile 189, 0.4 mi from the route); Planetario Nundehui (museum, mile 206, 0.6 mi from the route); Museo Estatal de Arte Popular de Oaxaca (folk art museum, mile 216, 0.1 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.