The Wayro route from Orizaba to Actopan is 200 miles (322 km), about 3 h 34 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 200 mi (322 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 34 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-150D → MEX-M40D → MEX-132 → MEX-88 |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-150D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.0 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.
What the drive from Orizaba to Actopan is like
MEX-150D (108 mi) and MEX-M40D (45 mi) carry about 76% of the 200 miles. MEX-150D, MEX-M40D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-132, MEX-88 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 5 states: Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico. Of the 7 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Orizaba to Actopan, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Veracruz |
| MEX-150D | 3–111 | 108 | Veracruz, Puebla |
| connecting roads | 111–112 | 1 | Puebla |
| MEX-M40D | 112–157 | 45 | Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 157–158 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-132 | 158–161 | 3 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| connecting roads | 161–162 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-88 | 162–177 | 15 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 177–200 | 23 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 23 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 116 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 139 of this route: Tlaxcala → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 147 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 159 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
Stops between Orizaba and Actopan
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 9)
- Nature and outdoors: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 9), La Malinche National Park (mile 84)
- Museums and history: Capilla del Arte (mile 91), Cacaxtla (mile 107), Xochitecatl (mile 107), Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (mile 179)
Cañón del Río Blanco National Park
Cañón del Río Blanco National Park is a protected natural area in the Mexican state of Veracruz, set aside by the government as a national park.
La Malinche National Park
Tlaxcala's La Malinche National Park surrounds the inactive Matlalcuéyetl volcano, with pine, oak and fir forests on its slopes, hiking trails, birdwatching, and stone cabins and campsites at the Malintzi Vacation Center.
Capilla del Arte
Capilla del Arte is a cultural space of the Universidad de las Américas Puebla in the old Las Fábricas de Francia building, with a contemporary art gallery and a reading nook.
Cacaxtla
Built on a hill rising above the Tlaxcala-Puebla valley, Cacaxtla is known for its pre-Hispanic murals on the Gran Basamento, a large platform now sheltered under a roof. INAH manages it together with nearby Xochitécatl.
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
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.
Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
Known locally as La Villita, the Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe is a Catholic basilica dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe in Pachuca.
More drives to Actopan
- Tulancingo to Actopan
- Tepotzotlán to Actopan
- Mexico City to Actopan
- Tequisquiapan to Actopan
- Toluca to Actopan
- Cuernavaca to Actopan
From Orizaba to other places in Mexico
- Orizaba to Zacatelco
- Orizaba to Apizaco
- Orizaba to Chiautempan
- Orizaba to Huejotzingo
- Orizaba to Tlaxcala
- Orizaba to Calpulalpan
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Orizaba to Actopan?
About 3 h 34 min of driving without stops, over 200 miles.
How far is Actopan from Orizaba by car?
About 200 miles (322 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 Orizaba to Actopan?
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 Orizaba to Actopan?
The U.S. State Department rates Veracruz 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 (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Orizaba to Actopan use?
In order: MEX-150D, MEX-M40D, MEX-132 and MEX-88. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Orizaba and Actopan?
Closest to the road: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 9, 0.6 mi from the route); Xochitecatl (archaeological site, mile 107, 2 mi from the route); Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque (aqueduct, mile 159, 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 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.