Montemorelos to Huasca de Ocampo is about 488 road miles (786 km): roughly 10 h 9 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
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 | 488 mi (786 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 10 h 9 min |
| Main roads, in order | NL 85 → MEX-85 → MEX-83 → MEX-81 → MEX-80 → TAM 143 → MEX-180 → MEX-180D → MEX-130D → MEX-132D |
| 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 19.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
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 Montemorelos to Huasca de Ocampo drive plays out
MEX-85 (106 mi) and MEX-132D (83 mi) carry about 39% of the 488 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 6 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Montemorelos to Huasca de Ocampo: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Nuevo León |
| NL 85 | 1–5 | 4 | Nuevo León |
| MEX-85 | 5–111 | 106 | Nuevo León, Tamaulipas |
| MEX-83 | 111–169 | 58 | Tamaulipas |
| MEX-81 | 169–220 | 51 | Tamaulipas |
| MEX-80 | 220–253 | 33 | Tamaulipas |
| connecting roads | 253–254 | 1 | Tamaulipas |
| TAM 143 | 254–266 | 12 | Tamaulipas |
| local roads | 266–272 | 6 | Tamaulipas |
| MEX-180 | 272–311 | 39 | Veracruz |
| local roads | 311–340 | 29 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 340–374 | 34 | Veracruz |
| MEX-130D | 374–389 | 15 | Veracruz |
| MEX-132D | 389–472 | 83 | Veracruz, Puebla, Hidalgo |
| local roads | 472–488 | 16 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 47 of this route: Nuevo León → Tamaulipas (state line)
- Mile 272 of this route: Tamaulipas → Veracruz (state line)
- Mile 398 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 452 of this route: Puebla → Hidalgo (state line)
Stops between Montemorelos and Huasca de Ocampo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Catedral de San Felipe Apóstol (mile 32), Huapalcalco (mile 469)
- Museums and history: Catedral de San Felipe Apóstol (mile 32), Tampico Cathedral (mile 272), Aduana de Tampico (mile 272), El Tajín (mile 388), Huapalcalco (mile 469), Museo de Datos Históricos (mile 471)
Catedral de San Felipe Apóstol
The seat of the Diocese of Linares, the Catedral de San Felipe Apóstol has a Latin-cross layout and a limestone-faced Baroque facade, with oil paintings of the four Evangelists inside.
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.
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.
Arriving in Huasca de Ocampo
Basaltic Prisms of Santa María Regla
Basalt columns more than 40 meters tall line a ravine near Huasca de Ocampo, formed when lava cooled quickly on contact with water. Alexander von Humboldt described the Basaltic Prisms (Prismas Basálticos) after his visit in 1803.
More drives to Huasca de Ocampo
- Actopan to Huasca de Ocampo
- Otumba to Huasca de Ocampo
- Tepotzotlán to Huasca de Ocampo
- Mexico City to Huasca de Ocampo
- Jilotepec to Huasca de Ocampo
- Zimapán to Huasca de Ocampo
From Montemorelos to other places in Mexico
- Montemorelos to Ciudad Tula
- Montemorelos to Jerez, Zacatecas
- Montemorelos to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Montemorelos to Pabellón de Arteaga
- Montemorelos to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Montemorelos to San Juan de los Lagos
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Montemorelos to Huasca de Ocampo?
About 10 h 9 min of driving without stops, over 488 miles.
What is the driving distance from Montemorelos to Huasca de Ocampo?
About 488 miles (786 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 Montemorelos to Huasca de Ocampo?
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 Montemorelos to Huasca de Ocampo?
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.
What roads does the drive from Montemorelos to Huasca de Ocampo use?
In order: NL 85, MEX-85, MEX-83, MEX-81, MEX-80, TAM 143, MEX-180, MEX-180D, MEX-130D and MEX-132D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Montemorelos to Huasca de Ocampo?
Closest to the road: Catedral de San Felipe Apóstol (cathedral, mile 32, 0.7 mi from the route); Tampico Cathedral (cathedral, mile 272, 1 mi from the route); Huapalcalco (archaeological site, mile 469, 0.2 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.