Ixtenco to Palizada is about 480 road miles (772 km): roughly 9 h 20 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance | 480 mi (772 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 20 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-140D → MEX-150D → MEX-145D → MEX-180D → MEX-180 → MEX-186 → MEX-217 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala, Puebla, Veracruz, Tabasco, Campeche |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-140D, MEX-150D, MEX-145D, MEX-180D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.2 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 Ixtenco to Palizada: the shape of the trip
MEX-150D (81 mi) and MEX-180 (58 mi) carry about 29% of the 480 miles. It runs through 5 states: Tlaxcala, Puebla, Veracruz, Tabasco, Campeche. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-140D, MEX-150D and MEX-145D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Ixtenco to Palizada: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-140D | 2–8 | 6 | Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| local roads | 8–50 | 42 | Puebla |
| MEX-150D | 50–131 | 81 | Puebla, Veracruz |
| local roads | 131–242 | 111 | Veracruz |
| MEX-145D | 242–273 | 31 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 273–294 | 21 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180 | 294–313 | 19 | Veracruz, Tabasco |
| MEX-180D | 313–347 | 34 | Tabasco |
| MEX-180 | 347–386 | 39 | Tabasco |
| local roads | 386–390 | 4 | Tabasco |
| MEX-186 | 390–409 | 19 | Tabasco |
| local roads | 409–467 | 58 | Tabasco |
| MEX-217 | 467–480 | 13 | Tabasco, Campeche |
- Mile 4 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 63 of this route: Puebla → Veracruz (state line)
- Mile 311 of this route: Veracruz → Tabasco (state line)
- Mile 469 of this route: Tabasco → Campeche (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Ixtenco and Palizada
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 76), Musevi (mile 387), Casa Museo Carlos Pellicer Cámara (mile 389)
- Nature and outdoors: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 76)
- Museums and history: Orizaba Cathedral (mile 85), Veracruz State Art Museum (mile 86), Cathedral of Córdoba, Veracruz (mile 98), Huatusco (mile 124), La Venta (mile 314), Musevi (mile 387), Casa Museo Carlos Pellicer Cámara (mile 389)
Cañón del Río Blanco National Park
Protected as a national park by Mexico's government, Cañón del Río Blanco is a natural area in Veracruz state.
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.
Veracruz State Art Museum
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.
Cathedral of Córdoba, Veracruz
Built in the first half of the 17th century, Córdoba's Immaculate Conception Cathedral is the city's main church; look up to see its octagonal dome covered in tiles, finished in a neoclassical style.
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.
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.
Musevi
Built for Mexico's independence bicentennial, Musevi is a bridge by Las Ilusiones lagoon and Tomás Garrido Park in Villahermosa, with a museum of regional artists and a coffee shop on top.
Casa Museo Carlos Pellicer Cámara
Poet Carlos Pellicer Cámara, a major voice of 20th-century Mexican poetry, was born in this house in Villahermosa's historic center, now a museum since 1985.
More drives to Palizada
- Ocosingo to Palizada
- Coatzacoalcos to Palizada
- Tuxtepec to Palizada
- Córdoba, Mexico to Palizada
- Veracruz to Palizada
- Tehuacán to Palizada
From Ixtenco to other places in Mexico
- Ixtenco to Omitlán
- Ixtenco to Huasca de Ocampo
- Ixtenco to Tonatico
- Ixtenco to El Oro
- Ixtenco to Mineral de Pozos
- Ixtenco to Santa Fe de la Laguna
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Ixtenco to Palizada?
About 9 h 20 min of driving without stops, over 480 miles.
What is the driving distance from Ixtenco to Palizada?
About 480 miles (772 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 Ixtenco to Palizada?
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 Ixtenco to Palizada?
The U.S. State Department rates Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tabasco Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Campeche Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Ixtenco to Palizada use?
In order: MEX-140D, MEX-150D, MEX-145D, MEX-180D, MEX-180, MEX-186 and MEX-217. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Ixtenco and Palizada?
Closest to the road: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (national park, mile 76, 0.5 mi from the route); Musevi (museum, mile 387, 0.2 mi from the route); Casa Museo Carlos Pellicer Cámara (museum, mile 389, 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.