Orizaba to Moroleón Road Trip: Where to Stop on the Way

By admin, 3 October, 2026

The Wayro route from Orizaba to Moroleón is 357 miles (574 km), about 5 h 38 min of driving without stops.

U.S. State Department travel advisory: 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; Michoacán — Level 4, Do Not Travel; Guanajuato — Level 3, Reconsider TravelAdvisory issued May 29, 2026; checked September 29, 2026. Guanajuato is the Mexican state that contains Moroleón. This route passes through a state at the advisory's highest level. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive.
Cañón del Río Blanco National ParkLa Malinche National ParkCasa de los muñecosTeatro PrincipalParque nacional XicoténcatlAqueduct of Padre TemblequeTulaCathedral of AtlacomulcoTeatro Morelos de MaravatíoOrizabaMoroleón
Route from Orizaba to Moroleón with the 9 stops listed below (blue dots).
Distance357 mi (574 km)
Driving time, no stops5 h 38 min
Main roads, in orderMEX-150D → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → MEX-43D → MEX-43
Mexican states on the routeVeracruz (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Michoacán (Level 4), Guanajuato (Level 3)
Toll roadsMEX-150D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-43D
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 14.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below9

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 insuranceRequired 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 Moroleón is like

MEX-M40D (139 mi) and MEX-150D (108 mi) carry about 69% of the 357 miles. MEX-150D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-43D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-43 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 7 states: Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Guanajuato. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.

The route from Orizaba to Moroleón, road by road

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miState
local roads0–33Veracruz
MEX-150D3–111108Veracruz, Puebla
connecting roads111–1121Puebla
MEX-M40D112–251139Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico
connecting roads251–2521State of Mexico
MEX-15D252–33886State of Mexico, Michoacán
connecting roads338–3391Michoacán
MEX-43D339–35112Michoacán
connecting roads351–3521Michoacán
MEX-43352–3553Michoacán, Guanajuato
local roads355–3572Guanajuato
  • 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 221 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
  • Mile 270 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
  • Mile 354 of this route: Michoacán → Guanajuato (state line)

Stops between Orizaba and Moroleón

  • 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), Parque nacional Xicoténcatl (mile 105)
  • Museums and history: Casa de los muñecos (mile 91), Tula (mile 207), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 252), Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 291)

Cañón del Río Blanco National Park

Mile 9 · National Park of Mexico · 0.6 mi from the route

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

Mile 84 · National Park of Mexico · 11 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

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.

Casa de los muñecos

Mile 91 · Art museum · 3 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

A block northeast of Puebla's zócalo, the 18th-century Casa de los Muñecos is a notable example of the city's civil architecture and now houses the BUAP University Museum.

Teatro Principal

Mile 91 · Theatre building · 3 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

The Teatro Principal is a historic theater in the city of Puebla that is still active as a stage for performances.

Parque nacional Xicoténcatl

Mile 105 · National Park of Mexico · 10 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Covering roughly 600 hectares in central Tlaxcala, Xicohténcatl National Park takes in the historic center of Tlaxcala city plus Quiahuixtlán, Ocotelulco and Tepeticpac, which correspond to three of the old Tlaxcalan lordships.

Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque

Mile 156 · Aqueduct · 2 mi from the route

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.

Tula

Mile 207 · Archaeological site · 1 mi from the route

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

Mile 252 · Catholic cathedral · 2 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Atlacomulco's cathedral, the Catedral de la Divina Providencia, is the seat of the Diocese of Atlacomulco and is dedicated to Divine Providence, making it the town's principal Catholic church.

Teatro Morelos de Maravatío

Mile 291 · Opera house · 1 mi from the route

Maravatío's Teatro Morelos is a late-19th-century theater in a French-influenced neoclassical style, designed by architect Rafael Guerrero Torres. It opened on January 11, 1879, with a performance by opera singer Ángela Peralta.

More drives to Moroleón

From Orizaba to other places in Mexico

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from Orizaba to Moroleón?

About 5 h 38 min of driving without stops, over 357 miles.

How far is Moroleón from Orizaba by car?

About 357 miles (574 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 Moroleón?

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 Moroleón?

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; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.

What roads does the drive from Orizaba to Moroleón use?

In order: MEX-150D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-43D and MEX-43. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.

What are good stops between Orizaba and Moroleón?

Closest to the road: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 9, 0.6 mi from the route); Tula (archaeological site, mile 207, 1 mi from the route); Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (opera house, mile 291, 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.