The Wayro route from Linares to Actopan is 489 miles (787 km), about 9 h 48 min of driving without stops.
What the State Department tells travelers on this route:
- Nuevo León: “Those traveling between the U.S. border and Monterrey on highways 85/85D, 54, and 40/40D should exercise caution and avoid travel after dark.”
- Nuevo León: “Armed robberies and carjackings have occurred along these highways even during daylight hours.”
| Distance by road | 489 mi (787 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 48 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-85 → MEX-83 → MEX-81 → MEX-80 → TAM 143 → MEX-180 → MEX-180D → MEX-130D → MEX-132D → MEX-130 |
| Mexican states on the route | Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Puebla, Hidalgo |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-180D, MEX-130D, MEX-132D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.6 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.
Driving Linares to Actopan: the shape of the trip
MEX-132D (88 mi) and MEX-85 (79 mi) carry about 34% of the 489 miles. It runs through 5 states: Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Puebla, Hidalgo. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-180D, MEX-130D and MEX-132D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Linares to Actopan, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Nuevo León |
| MEX-85 | 1–80 | 79 | Nuevo León, Tamaulipas |
| MEX-83 | 80–137 | 57 | Tamaulipas |
| MEX-81 | 137–188 | 51 | Tamaulipas |
| MEX-80 | 188–221 | 33 | Tamaulipas |
| TAM 143 | 221–234 | 13 | Tamaulipas |
| local roads | 234–240 | 6 | Tamaulipas |
| MEX-180 | 240–278 | 38 | Veracruz |
| local roads | 278–308 | 30 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 308–342 | 34 | Veracruz |
| MEX-130D | 342–357 | 15 | Veracruz |
| MEX-132D | 357–445 | 88 | Veracruz, Puebla, Hidalgo |
| MEX-130 | 445–464 | 19 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 464–489 | 25 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 15 of this route: Nuevo León → Tamaulipas (state line)
- Mile 240 of this route: Tamaulipas → Veracruz (state line)
- Mile 366 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 421 of this route: Puebla → Hidalgo (state line)
What to see on the way from Linares to Actopan
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Huapalcalco (mile 437), Parque Cultural Hidalguense (mile 469)
- Nature and outdoors: El Hiloche (mile 465), Parque Cultural Hidalguense (mile 469)
- Museums and history: Tampico Cathedral (mile 239), Aduana de Tampico (mile 239), El Tajín (mile 357), Huapalcalco (mile 437), El Santo Museum (mile 439), Templo y exconvento de San Andrés Apóstol (mile 456)
- With kids: Bioparque de Convivencia en Pachuca, Hidalgo (mile 469)
Tampico Cathedral
Facing the Plaza de Armas in Tampico's historic center, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is the city's main church and a downtown landmark.
Aduana de Tampico
Tampico's old customs house is a Porfirian-era building on the north bank of the Pánuco River mouth that began operating in 1902. Its ground floor now holds a museum on the 1829 Battle of Tampico, with a period cannon, weapons and uniforms.
El Tajín
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.
Huapalcalco
About 5 kilometers north of Tulancingo, the pre-Columbian site of Huapalcalco sits on the western slope of a hill called Tecolote.
El Santo Museum
Wrestling fans can stop in Tulancingo, birthplace of the masked luchador El Santo, where this museum opened in 1985. Displays include original masks and ring outfits, movie promotional material and photos from his career and private life.
Templo y exconvento de San Andrés Apóstol
Augustinian friars raised this 16th-century church and convent in Epazoyucan, Hidalgo; the complex keeps its posa chapels, open chapel and atrium, and its stonework mixes Plateresque carving with Indigenous tequitqui craftsmanship.
El Hiloche
Bosque El Hiloche is a state park of about 100 hectares of forest in Mineral del Monte, Hidalgo, and one of the geosites of the Comarca Minera Geopark.
Parque Cultural Hidalguense
Formerly Parque David Ben Gurión, Pachuca's Parque Cultural Hidalguense reopened in 2025 after a major renovation, with a monumental chess board, an artificial lake with fountains, a skate park and Byron Gálvez's restored artwork known as el Pisal.
Bioparque de Convivencia en Pachuca, Hidalgo
Pachuca's Bioparque de Convivencia is a rescue and recovery center for wild, exotic and endemic animals saved from abuse, abandonment or risk, housing a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation unit.
More drives to Actopan
- Tulancingo to Actopan
- Tepotzotlán to Actopan
- Mexico City to Actopan
- Tequisquiapan to Actopan
- Toluca to Actopan
- Cuernavaca to Actopan
From Linares to other places in Mexico
- Linares to Pinos
- Linares to Mineral de Pozos
- Linares to Pinal de Amoles
- Linares to San Juan de los Lagos
- Linares to Jerez, Zacatecas
- Linares to Calvillo
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Linares to Actopan?
About 9 h 48 min of driving without stops, over 489 miles.
How far is Actopan from Linares by car?
About 489 miles (787 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 Linares 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 Linares to Actopan?
The U.S. State Department rates Nuevo León Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tamaulipas Level 4: Do Not Travel; Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Linares to Actopan?
In order: MEX-85, MEX-83, MEX-81, MEX-80, TAM 143, MEX-180, MEX-180D, MEX-130D, MEX-132D and MEX-130. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Linares and Actopan?
Closest to the road: Tampico Cathedral (cathedral, mile 239, 1 mi from the route); Huapalcalco (archaeological site, mile 437, 0.3 mi from the route); Parque Cultural Hidalguense (park, mile 469, 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.