The Wayro route from Mexico City to Orizaba is 163 miles (262 km), about 2 h 44 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 163 mi (262 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 2 h 44 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-150D |
| Mexican states on the route | Mexico City (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Veracruz (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-150D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 6.5 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.
What the drive from Mexico City to Orizaba is like
MEX-150D (149 mi) carries about 91% of the 163 miles. MEX-150D is a toll highway (cuota). It runs through 4 states: Mexico City, State of Mexico, Puebla, Veracruz. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Mexico City to Orizaba, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–10 | 10 | Mexico City, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 10–11 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-150D | 11–160 | 149 | State of Mexico, Puebla, Veracruz |
| local roads | 160–163 | 3 | Veracruz |
- Mile 6 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 39 of this route: State of Mexico → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 140 of this route: Puebla → Veracruz (state line)
Stops between Mexico City and Orizaba
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Jardín Botánico Medicinal De la Cruz-Badiano (mile 7), Museo Comunitario de San Miguel Teotongo (mile 11), Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 153)
- Nature and outdoors: Jardín Botánico Medicinal De la Cruz-Badiano (mile 7), Sacromonte National Park (mile 28), La Malinche National Park (mile 85), Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 153)
- Museums and history: Museo Comunitario de San Miguel Teotongo (mile 11), Acozac (mile 19), Casa de los muñecos (mile 77)
- With kids: Iztapasauria (mile 8)
Jardín Botánico Medicinal De la Cruz-Badiano
UNAM's De la Cruz-Badiano medicinal botanical garden in Iztapalapa is one of Mexico's early gardens devoted to medicinal plants.
Iztapasauria
Opened on December 4, 2021, Iztapasauria is a dinosaur theme park inside the Deportivo Utopía Santa Cruz Meyehualco sports complex in Iztapalapa.
Museo Comunitario de San Miguel Teotongo
San Miguel Teotongo's community museum sits in the San Miguel Teotongo neighborhood of the Iztapalapa borough in Mexico City.
Acozac
Acozac is an archaeological site in the municipality of Ixtapaluca, State of Mexico, located at kilometer 30 of the federal Mexico City–Puebla road, heading toward Ixtapaluca.
Sacromonte National Park
Sacromonte National Park is a national park and protected area in the State of Mexico, established in 1952 and covering roughly 0.44 square kilometers.
Casa de los muñecos
A block northeast of Puebla's zócalo, the 18th-century Casa de los Muñecos is a notable example of the city's civil architecture and now houses the BUAP University Museum.
Teatro Principal
The Teatro Principal is a historic theater in the city of Puebla that is still active as a stage for performances.
La Malinche National Park
Tlaxcala's La Malinche National Park surrounds the inactive Matlalcuéyetl volcano, with pine, oak and fir forests on its slopes, hiking trails, birdwatching, and stone cabins and campsites at the Malintzi Vacation Center.
Cañón del Río Blanco National Park
Cañón del Río Blanco National Park is a protected natural area in the Mexican state of Veracruz, set aside by the government as a national park.
When you get to Orizaba
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.
Teatro Llave
In central Orizaba, the Gran Teatro Ignacio de la Llave hosts artistic and cultural performances, and its exhibition room shows temporary collections, mostly by artists from the surrounding valley.
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.
More drives to Orizaba
- Cholula to Orizaba
- Pachuca to Orizaba
- Cuernavaca to Orizaba
- Toluca to Orizaba
- Papantla to Orizaba
- San Juan del Río to Orizaba
From Mexico City to other places in Mexico
- Mexico City to Metepec
- Mexico City to Toluca
- Mexico City to Cuernavaca
- Mexico City to Atlatlahucan
- Mexico City to Malinalco
- Mexico City to Cuautla
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Mexico City to Orizaba?
About 2 h 44 min of driving without stops, over 163 miles.
How far is Orizaba from Mexico City by car?
About 163 miles (262 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 Mexico City to Orizaba?
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 Mexico City to Orizaba?
The U.S. State Department rates Mexico City Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico 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 are good stops between Mexico City and Orizaba?
Closest to the road: Jardín Botánico Medicinal De la Cruz-Badiano (botanical garden, mile 7, 0.7 mi from the route); Museo Comunitario de San Miguel Teotongo (museum, mile 11, 0.4 mi from the route); Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 153, 0.5 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.