The Wayro route from Morelia to Poza Rica is 314 miles (505 km), about 5 h 6 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 314 mi (505 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 6 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-126 → MEX-48D → MEX-15D → MEX-M40D → MEX-132 → MEX-132D → MEX-130 |
| Mexican states on the route | Michoacán (Level 4), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Veracruz (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-48D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-132D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.6 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.
What the drive from Morelia to Poza Rica is like
MEX-M40D (94 mi) and MEX-132D (88 mi) carry about 58% of the 314 miles. MEX-48D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-132D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-126, MEX-132, MEX-130 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 5 states: Michoacán, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Puebla, Veracruz. None of the 8 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Morelia to Poza Rica, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-126 | 0–4 | 4 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 4–6 | 2 | Michoacán |
| MEX-48D | 6–20 | 14 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 20–98 | 78 | Michoacán, State of Mexico |
| MEX-M40D | 98–192 | 94 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| MEX-132 | 192–214 | 22 | Hidalgo |
| connecting roads | 214–215 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-132D | 215–303 | 88 | Hidalgo, Puebla, Veracruz |
| MEX-130 | 303–311 | 8 | Veracruz |
| local roads | 311–314 | 3 | Veracruz |
- Mile 80 of this route: Michoacán → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 130 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 160 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 174 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 240 of this route: Hidalgo → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 295 of this route: Puebla → Veracruz (state line)
Stops between Morelia and Poza Rica
- Nature and outdoors: Insurgente José María Morelos y Pavón National Park (mile 7)
- Museums and history: Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 58), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 97), Tula (mile 142), Jorge R. Acosta Museum (mile 142), Teotihuacan (mile 191), El Santo Museum (mile 221)
Insurgente José María Morelos y Pavón National Park
Insurgente José María Morelos y Pavón National Park protects about 72 square kilometers of mountain terrain in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt in Michoacán.
Teatro Morelos de Maravatío
Maravatío's Teatro Morelos is a late-19th-century theater in a French-influenced neoclassical style, designed by architect Rafael Guerrero Torres. It opened on January 11, 1879, with a performance by opera singer Ángela Peralta.
Cathedral of Atlacomulco
Atlacomulco's cathedral, the Catedral de la Divina Providencia, is the seat of the Diocese of Atlacomulco and is dedicated to Divine Providence, making it the town's principal Catholic church.
Tula
Once the Toltec capital, the Tula archaeological zone is best known for its Atlantes, basalt warrior figures over four meters (13 feet) tall crowning the main pyramid. Visitors also see a ball court, the Burnt Palace and the Coatepantli wall, carved with snakes devouring skeletons.
Jorge R. Acosta Museum
Next to the Tula ruins, the Museo de Sitio Jorge R. Acosta traces the rise and decline of the Toltecs and their city, Tollan Xicocotitlan. It moved into new facilities in 1982 and covers nearly 20 years of digs led by archaeologist Jorge R. Acosta.
Teotihuacan
Built between the 1st and 7th centuries AD, this UNESCO-listed ancient city lines the Avenue of the Dead, where you can walk between the Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon and the Temple of the Feathered Serpent.
Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque
Built by Franciscan friar Francisco de Tembleque between 1554 and 1572, this 16th-century water system runs more than 48 km between Zempoala and Otumba. Its tallest arcade at Tepeyahualco reaches almost 40 meters, and UNESCO listed it in 2015.
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.
When you get to Poza Rica
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.
More drives to Poza Rica
- Cholula to Poza Rica
- Toluca to Poza Rica
- Cuernavaca to Poza Rica
- Salamanca to Poza Rica
- Uruapan to Poza Rica
- Zamora to Poza Rica
From Morelia to other places in Mexico
- Morelia to Cotija
- Morelia to Amatitán
- Morelia to Tequila
- Morelia to Real de Asientos
- Morelia to Guadalupe, Zacatecas
- Morelia to Jerez, Zacatecas
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Morelia to Poza Rica?
About 5 h 6 min of driving without stops, over 314 miles.
How far is Poza Rica from Morelia by car?
About 314 miles (505 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 Morelia to Poza Rica?
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 Morelia to Poza Rica?
The U.S. State Department rates Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo 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 roads does the drive from Morelia to Poza Rica use?
In order: MEX-126, MEX-48D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-132, MEX-132D and MEX-130. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Morelia and Poza Rica?
Closest to the road: Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (opera house, mile 58, 1 mi from the route); Tula (archaeological site, mile 142, 1 mi from the route); Jorge R. Acosta Museum (museum, mile 142, 1 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.