Oaxaca to Tlalpujahua is about 395 road miles (636 km): roughly 6 h 17 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance by road | 395 mi (636 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 6 h 17 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-190 → MEX-135D → MEX-150D → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D |
| Mexican states on the route | Oaxaca, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-135D, MEX-150D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.8 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.
The Oaxaca–Tlalpujahua drive in a few lines
MEX-135D (151 mi) and MEX-M40D (139 mi) carry about 73% of the 395 miles. It runs through 6 states: Oaxaca, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-135D, MEX-150D and MEX-M40D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Oaxaca to Tlalpujahua: 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 | 7–158 | 151 | Oaxaca, Puebla |
| MEX-150D | 158–227 | 69 | Puebla |
| connecting roads | 227–228 | 1 | Puebla |
| MEX-M40D | 228–367 | 139 | Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 367–368 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 368–388 | 20 | State of Mexico, Michoacán |
| local roads | 388–395 | 7 | Michoacán |
- Mile 107 of this route: Oaxaca → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 232 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 255 of this route: Tlaxcala → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 263 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 275 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 292 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 306 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 336 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 385 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
Places worth a stop between Oaxaca and Tlalpujahua
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Suchilquitongo (mile 19)
- Nature and outdoors: Benito Juárez National Park (mile 7), Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve (mile 116)
- Museums and history: Suchilquitongo (mile 19), Casa del Mendrugo (mile 208), Xochitecatl (mile 223), Tula (mile 322), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 368)
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
From around 300 to 800 AD, a Zapotec city thrived on a hilltop in the northern Etla Valley. Locals know the site as Cerro de la Campana.
Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve
Cactus diversity reaches one of its peaks in the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley, a dry landscape shared by Puebla and Oaxaca. Ancient canals, wells, terraces and dams show how people managed its scarce water.
Casa del Mendrugo
Dating back to the early years of Puebla, founded in 1531, the Casa del Mendrugo is a historic house at 4 Sur 304 in the city's historic center.
Xochitecatl
Xochitécatl is a pre-Hispanic archaeological site in the state of Tlaxcala. INAH runs it together with nearby Cacaxtla as a single zone, and the Xochitécatl site museum displays finds from the area.
Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque
At Tepeyahualco, the tallest arcade of this 16th-century water system rises almost 40 meters. Franciscan friar Francisco de Tembleque built it between 1554 and 1572.
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.
Cathedral of Atlacomulco
Dedicated to Divine Providence, the cathedral in Atlacomulco is the principal Catholic church in town and the seat of the local diocese.
Arriving in Tlalpujahua
Museo del Ferrocarril del Oro
The Museo del Ferrocarril is in El Oro de Hidalgo, State of Mexico, a town seen as an important part of Mexico's mining and railroad history and named a Pueblo Mágico in 2011.
Rayón National Park
On the outskirts of Tlalpujahua, Parque Nacional Rayón is the gateway to the area's well-known butterfly reserves, which spread out to the south and west of the park.
More drives to Tlalpujahua
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Tlalpujahua
- Tequila to Tlalpujahua
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Tlalpujahua
- Zacatecas to Tlalpujahua
- Jerez, Zacatecas to Tlalpujahua
- Fresnillo to Tlalpujahua
From Oaxaca to other places in Mexico
- Oaxaca to Orizaba
- Oaxaca to Córdoba, Mexico
- Oaxaca to Cholula
- Oaxaca to Zacatelco
- Oaxaca to Chiautempan
- Oaxaca to Apizaco
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Oaxaca to Tlalpujahua?
About 6 h 17 min of driving without stops, over 395 miles.
How far is Tlalpujahua from Oaxaca by car?
About 395 miles (636 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 Tlalpujahua?
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 Tlalpujahua?
The U.S. State Department rates Oaxaca Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Oaxaca to Tlalpujahua use?
In order: MEX-190, MEX-135D, MEX-150D, MEX-M40D and MEX-15D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Oaxaca to Tlalpujahua?
Closest to the road: Suchilquitongo (archaeological site, mile 19, 0.4 mi from the route); Xochitecatl (archaeological site, mile 223, 2 mi from the route); Tula (archaeological site, mile 322, 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.