Plan on about 9 h 20 min of driving for the 524-mile (844 km) trip from Orizaba to Matehuala, before any stops.
| Distance by road | 524 mi (844 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 9 h 20 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-150D → MEX-M40D → MEX-57D → MEX-57 |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-150D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.0 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 Orizaba to Matehuala is like
MEX-57 (175 mi) and MEX-57D (128 mi) carry about 58% of the 524 miles. It runs through 8 states: Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-150D, MEX-M40D and MEX-57D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Orizaba to Matehuala
| 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 | 112–217 | 105 | Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 217–219 | 2 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-57D | 219–305 | 86 | State of Mexico, Querétaro |
| connecting roads | 305–306 | 1 | Querétaro |
| MEX-57 | 306–403 | 97 | Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 403–445 | 42 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 445–523 | 78 | San Luis Potosí |
| local roads | 523–524 | 1 | San Luis Potosí |
- 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 160 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 176 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 190 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 219 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 252 of this route: State of Mexico → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 313 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 366 of this route: Guanajuato → San Luis Potosí (state line)
What to see on the way from Orizaba to Matehuala
- 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), Tula National Park (mile 206), El Gogorrón National Park (mile 392)
- Museums and history: Museo Poblano de Arte Virreinal (mile 91), Former hacienda of Chichimequillas (mile 298), San Luis Potosí Cathedral (mile 412)
Cañón del Río Blanco National Park
Protected as a national park by Mexico's government, Cañón del Río Blanco is a natural area in Veracruz state.
Museo Poblano de Arte Virreinal
Puebla's San Pedro Museo de Arte, formerly the Museo Poblano de Arte Virreinal, opened in 2000 and focuses on New Spanish painting, with galleries for permanent and temporary exhibitions.
Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque
Running more than 48 km between Zempoala and Otumba, Padre Tembleque's 16th-century water system has been on UNESCO's list since 2015. The friar built it from 1554 to 1572.
Tula National Park
This park protects the ruins of Tula, ancient capital of the Toltecs. Walk up to the main pyramid to stand beside the Atlantes, basalt warrior figures more than four meters tall, and look for the Coatepantli wall's reliefs of snakes devouring skeletons.
Historic Monuments Zone of Querétaro
Querétaro's historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996, pairs the Spaniards' grid of streets with the winding lanes of the old Indigenous quarters. Walk it for Baroque churches and mansions of the 17th and 18th centuries and the city's landmark aqueduct.
Former hacienda of Chichimequillas
Discalced Carmelite friars founded this hacienda around 1690 to shelter travelers on the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro and to farm. Its two-story stone and lime main house, finished in 1813, wraps around a central courtyard beside a chapel.
El Gogorrón National Park
Straddling San Luis Potosí and Guanajuato near Villa de Reyes, this national park offers rugged rock formations, mountain scenery and thermal springs, with camping, hiking and mountain biking.
San Luis Potosí Cathedral
San Luis Potosí's cathedral anchors the city's historic center, which UNESCO lists as a component of the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro World Heritage Site.
Arriving in Matehuala
Matehuala Cathedral
In Matehuala, San Luis Potosí, the Diocese of Matehuala has its seat at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, a Catholic church that remains open to worshippers.
More drives to Matehuala
- Zitácuaro to Matehuala
- Mexico City to Matehuala
- Pachuca to Matehuala
- Cuernavaca to Matehuala
- Tlaxcala to Matehuala
- Cuautla to Matehuala
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 Matehuala?
About 9 h 20 min of driving without stops, over 524 miles.
How far is Matehuala from Orizaba by car?
About 524 miles (844 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 Matehuala?
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 Matehuala?
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; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; San Luis Potosí 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 Matehuala use?
In order: MEX-150D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D and MEX-57. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Orizaba to Matehuala?
Closest to the road: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (national park, mile 9, 0.6 mi from the route); Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque (aqueduct, mile 156, 2 mi from the route); Tula National Park (national park, mile 206, 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.