By road, Linares and Calpulalpan are about 490 miles (788 km) apart, or roughly 9 h 29 min of driving.
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.”
| Total distance | 490 mi (788 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 9 h 29 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-85 → MEX-83 → MEX-81 → MEX-80 → TAM 143 → MEX-180 → MEX-180D → MEX-130D → MEX-132D → MEX-132 → MEX-M40D |
| Mexican states on the route | Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Puebla, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Tlaxcala |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-180D, MEX-130D, MEX-132D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
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.
How the Linares to Calpulalpan drive plays out
MEX-132D (88 mi) and MEX-85 (79 mi) carry about 34% of the 490 miles. It runs through 7 states: Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Puebla, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Tlaxcala. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-180D, MEX-130D and MEX-132D. Of the 7 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Linares to Calpulalpan
| 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-132 | 445–468 | 23 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| MEX-M40D | 468–486 | 18 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| local roads | 486–490 | 4 | Hidalgo, Tlaxcala |
- 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)
- Mile 467 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 479 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 487 of this route: Hidalgo → Tlaxcala (state line)
What to see on the way from Linares to Calpulalpan
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Huapalcalco (mile 437)
- Museums and history: Tampico Cathedral (mile 239), Aduana de Tampico (mile 239), El Tajín (mile 357), Huapalcalco (mile 437), Museo de Datos Históricos (mile 439)
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
Look for elaborately carved reliefs on columns and friezes at El Tajín, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Veracruz, along with the Pyramid of the Niches 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.
Museo de Datos Históricos
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.
Church and former convent of Todos los Santos
Franciscan friars built this fortress-style convent in Zempoala, and the complex still keeps the classic layout of atrium, church, open chapel and cloister. It pairs well with a drive through the area's old pulque haciendas.
Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque
Running more than 48 km between Zempoala and Otumba, Padre Tembleque's 16th-century water system has been on UNESCO's list since 2015. The friar built it from 1554 to 1572.
In Calpulalpan itself
Tecoaque
Near Calpulalpan in western Tlaxcala, Tecoaque is a Mesoamerican archaeological site once inhabited by the Acolhua, one of the three groups that made up the Aztec Empire.
More drives to Calpulalpan
- Mexico City to Calpulalpan
- Pachuca to Calpulalpan
- Tepotzotlán to Calpulalpan
- Toluca to Calpulalpan
- Cuautla to Calpulalpan
- Cuernavaca to Calpulalpan
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 does it take to drive from Linares to Calpulalpan?
About 9 h 29 min of driving without stops, over 490 miles.
How far is Calpulalpan from Linares by car?
About 490 miles (788 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 Calpulalpan?
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 Calpulalpan?
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; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Linares to Calpulalpan use?
In order: MEX-85, MEX-83, MEX-81, MEX-80, TAM 143, MEX-180, MEX-180D, MEX-130D, MEX-132D, MEX-132 and MEX-M40D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Linares to Calpulalpan?
Closest to the road: Tampico Cathedral (cathedral, mile 239, 1 mi from the route); Aduana de Tampico (museum, mile 239, 1 mi from the route); Huapalcalco (archaeological site, mile 437, 0.3 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.