The Wayro route from Naolinco to Tepoztlán is 199 miles (320 km), about 3 h 42 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 199 mi (320 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 42 min |
| Main roads, in order | VER 65 → MEX-140D → MEX-190 → PUE 438D → MEX-160 → MEX-160D |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2), Morelos (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-140D, MEX-150D, MEX-160D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.0 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 Naolinco to Tepoztlán is like
MEX-140D (91 mi) and PUE 438D (33 mi) carry about 62% of the 199 miles. MEX-140D, MEX-160D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-190, MEX-160 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Morelos. None of the 9 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Naolinco to Tepoztlán, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| VER 65 | 0–13 | 13 | Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 13–14 | 1 | Veracruz |
| MEX-140D | 14–105 | 91 | Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala |
| connecting roads | 105–107 | 2 | Puebla |
| MEX-190 | 107–122 | 15 | Puebla |
| local roads | 122–134 | 12 | Puebla |
| PUE 438D | 134–167 | 33 | Puebla, Morelos |
| connecting roads | 167–168 | 1 | Morelos |
| MEX-160 | 168–183 | 15 | Morelos |
| MEX-160D | 183–196 | 13 | Morelos |
| local roads | 196–199 | 3 | Morelos |
- Mile 46 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 72 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 81 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 88 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 95 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 160 of this route: Puebla → Morelos (state line)
Stops between Naolinco and Tepoztlán
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Nacional Cofre de Perote (mile 37), Jardín Botánico Universitario de la Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (mile 116)
- Museums and history: Cantona (mile 54), Convent Church of Santo Domingo, Puebla (mile 112), International Museum of the Baroque (mile 122)
Parque Nacional Cofre de Perote
Cofre de Perote National Park protects the forested slopes of the mountain, and its role is practical as well as scenic: a little over 40 percent of the water used in Xalapa comes from here.
Cantona
High on the Puebla plateau near the Veracruz line, Cantona was a fortified pre-Hispanic city that controlled trade toward the Gulf; its explored southern section reveals interconnected streets, walled residential units and more than two dozen ballgame courts.
Convent Church of Santo Domingo, Puebla
Behind the facade of Puebla's Santo Domingo church hides the Capilla del Rosario, inaugurated in 1690. Gold covers its walls, pilasters and vaults, and contemporaries hailed it as the eighth wonder of the New World.
Jardín Botánico Universitario de la Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla
On the Ciudad Universitaria campus of BUAP in Puebla, the university botanical garden covers about 10.7 hectares and was formerly named after Ignacio Rodríguez Alconedo.
Historic centre of Puebla
Laid out from scratch in 1531, Puebla's UNESCO-listed core is a grid of tile-covered houses, colonial churches and the 16th–17th-century cathedral, with the old archbishop's palace that houses the Palafox Library, established in 1646.
International Museum of the Baroque
Designed by Japanese architect Toyo Ito and opened in 2016, Puebla's baroque museum wraps its galleries in curving white concrete walls beside a reflecting pond. Exhibits cover baroque painting, sculpture, architecture, music, theater and literature.
Templo y Exconvento de San Juan Bautista de Yecapixtla
The 16th-century church and former monastery of San Juan Bautista in Yecapixtla belongs to the Monasteries on the Slopes of Popocatepetl, inscribed by UNESCO in 1994 as early missionary architecture with large open courtyards.
Monasteries on the slopes of Popocatépetl
Inscribed by UNESCO in 1994, this World Heritage site groups early 16th-century monasteries that Franciscan, Dominican and Augustinian friars built on the slopes of Popocatépetl, with large open spaces used to evangelize the Indigenous population.
Templo y Exconvento de San Mateo Apóstol
Built by Augustinian friars, the Templo y Exconvento de San Mateo Apóstol in Atlatlahucan is well preserved, with murals and decorated vaults, and is associated with the origins of the Chinelo dancers.
When you get to Tepoztlán
El Tepozteco National Park
Eroded volcanic hills of the Sierra de Tepoztlán fill this national park, about half of which lies in Mexico City's Milpa Alta borough. A short, steep climb leads to the Tepozteco archaeological zone; wear good shoes, since the rocks get slippery.
Tepoztlán Ex Convento Museum
Tepoztlán's Dominican monastery, built between 1555 and 1580, keeps original 16th-century murals in its cloister. Upstairs, the museum covers local daily life, faith, festivals and dances, and the complex is part of a UNESCO World Heritage listing.
Museo Carlos Pellicer
Tepoztlán's Museo de Arte Prehispánico Carlos Pellicer, opened in 1965 and named for the poet and museographer, displays a collection of pre-Hispanic objects in the former granary of the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Natividad.
More drives to Tepoztlán
- Mexico City to Tepoztlán
- Metepec to Tepoztlán
- Toluca to Tepoztlán
- Atlixco to Tepoztlán
- Taxco to Tepoztlán
- Tepotzotlán to Tepoztlán
From Naolinco to other places in Mexico
- Naolinco to Tlayacapan
- Naolinco to Huasca de Ocampo
- Naolinco to Malinalco
- Naolinco to Cadereyta
- Naolinco to Angangueo
- Naolinco to Mineral de Pozos
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Naolinco to Tepoztlán?
About 3 h 42 min of driving without stops, over 199 miles.
How far is Tepoztlán from Naolinco by car?
About 199 miles (320 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 Naolinco to Tepoztlán?
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 Naolinco to Tepoztlán?
The U.S. State Department rates Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Morelos Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Naolinco to Tepoztlán use?
In order: VER 65, MEX-140D, MEX-190, PUE 438D, MEX-160 and MEX-160D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Naolinco and Tepoztlán?
Closest to the road: Cantona (archaeological site, mile 54, 3 mi from the route); Jardín Botánico Universitario de la Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (botanical garden, mile 116, 2 mi from the route); International Museum of the Baroque (art museum, mile 122, 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.