Oaxaca to Córdoba, Mexico is about 189 road miles (304 km): roughly 3 h 27 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance by road | 189 mi (304 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 27 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-190 → MEX-135D → MEX-150 → MEX-150D |
| Mexican states on the route | Oaxaca, Puebla, Veracruz |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-135D, MEX-150D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.5 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.
Driving Oaxaca to Córdoba: the shape of the trip
MEX-135D (122 mi) and MEX-150 (34 mi) carry about 83% of the 189 miles. It runs through 3 states: Oaxaca, Puebla, Veracruz. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-135D and MEX-150D. Of the 7 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Oaxaca to Córdoba: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-190 | 2–7 | 5 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-135D | 7–129 | 122 | Oaxaca, Puebla |
| connecting roads | 129–130 | 1 | Puebla |
| local roads | 130–134 | 4 | Puebla |
| MEX-150 | 134–168 | 34 | Puebla, Veracruz |
| MEX-150D | 168–185 | 17 | Veracruz |
| local roads | 185–189 | 4 | Veracruz |
- Mile 107 of this route: Oaxaca → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 155 of this route: Puebla → Veracruz (state line)
What to see on the way from Oaxaca to Córdoba
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Suchilquitongo (mile 19), Museo del Valle de Tehuacán (mile 132)
- Nature and outdoors: Benito Juárez National Park (mile 7), Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve (mile 116), Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 165)
- Museums and history: Suchilquitongo (mile 19), Museo del Valle de Tehuacán (mile 132), Orizaba Cathedral (mile 173), Veracruz State Art Museum (mile 174)
Benito Juárez National Park
Just north of Oaxaca City, Benito Juárez National Park covers about 2,737 hectares of pine and oak forest. Trails wind through the woods, including La Coronilla, a moderate loop of roughly 5 km.
Suchilquitongo
Locals call this Zapotec hilltop city Cerro de la Campana; it flourished between about 300 and 800 AD in the northern Etla Valley. Tomb 5, excavated in 1985, holds murals and stucco carvings counted among ancient Mexico's finest funerary art.
Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve
This arid valley straddling Puebla and Oaxaca joined UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2018 as a mixed site. It is a major center of cactus diversity and preserves ancient canals, wells, terraces and dams built to manage scarce water.
Museo del Valle de Tehuacán
Tehuacán's 18th-century former Carmelite convent has housed the Valley of Tehuacán Museum since 2002. Exhibits trace the history of corn and its ties to the valley's early peoples.
Cañón del Río Blanco National Park
Veracruz is home to Cañón del Río Blanco National Park, a natural area that the Mexican government has set aside for protection.
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.
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.
Once you reach Córdoba
Cathedral of Córdoba, Veracruz
Córdoba's main church, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, was built in the first half of the 17th century. Look up to see its tiled octagonal dome.
Teatro Pedro Díaz
In downtown Córdoba, the Teatro Pedro Díaz was built in the late 19th century by Pedro Díaz to a design by engineer A. Durán; its facade was remodeled in 1905.
More drives to Córdoba
- Puebla to Córdoba
- Cholula to Córdoba
- Mexico City to Córdoba
- Pachuca to Córdoba
- Cuernavaca to Córdoba
- Toluca to Córdoba
From Oaxaca to other places in Mexico
- Oaxaca to Orizaba
- Oaxaca to Cholula
- Oaxaca to Zacatelco
- Oaxaca to Chiautempan
- Oaxaca to Apizaco
- Oaxaca to Huejotzingo
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Oaxaca to Córdoba, Mexico?
About 3 h 27 min of driving without stops, over 189 miles.
How far is Córdoba, Mexico from Oaxaca by car?
About 189 miles (304 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 Oaxaca to Córdoba?
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 Oaxaca to Córdoba?
The U.S. State Department rates Oaxaca 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.
Which highways go from Oaxaca to Córdoba?
In order: MEX-190, MEX-135D, MEX-150 and MEX-150D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Oaxaca and Córdoba?
Closest to the road: Suchilquitongo (archaeological site, mile 19, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo del Valle de Tehuacán (museum, mile 132, 0.2 mi from the route); Veracruz State Art Museum (art museum, mile 174, 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 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.