The Wayro route from Orizaba to Oaxtepec is 168 miles (270 km), about 3 h 1 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 168 mi (270 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 1 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-150D → MEX-190 → PUE 438D → MEX-160 |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Morelos (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-150D, MEX-160D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 6.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
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 Oaxtepec is like
MEX-150D (83 mi) and PUE 438D (34 mi) carry about 70% of the 168 miles. MEX-150D is a toll highway (cuota); MEX-190, MEX-160 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Veracruz, Puebla, Morelos. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Orizaba to Oaxtepec, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Veracruz |
| MEX-150D | 3–86 | 83 | Veracruz, Puebla |
| MEX-190 | 86–101 | 15 | Puebla |
| local roads | 101–112 | 11 | Puebla |
| PUE 438D | 112–146 | 34 | Puebla, Morelos |
| MEX-160 | 146–162 | 16 | Morelos |
| connecting roads | 162–163 | 1 | Morelos |
| local roads | 163–168 | 5 | Morelos |
- Mile 23 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 139 of this route: Puebla → Morelos (state line)
Stops between Orizaba and Oaxtepec
- 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), Jardín Botánico Universitario de la Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (mile 97)
- Museums and history: Convent Church of Santo Domingo, Puebla (mile 91), International Museum of the Baroque (mile 101), Chalcatzingo (mile 146), Las Pilas archaeological site (mile 147), Museo Histórico del Oriente de Morelos "Casa de Morelos" (mile 160)
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.
Convent Church of Santo Domingo, Puebla
Behind the facade of Puebla's Santo Domingo church hides the Capilla del Rosario, inaugurated in 1690. Gold covers its walls, pilasters and vaults, and contemporaries hailed it as the eighth wonder of the New World.
Jardín Botánico Universitario de la Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla
On the Ciudad Universitaria campus of BUAP in Puebla, the university botanical garden covers about 10.7 hectares and was formerly named after Ignacio Rodríguez Alconedo.
Historic centre of Puebla
Laid out from scratch in 1531, Puebla's UNESCO-listed core is a grid of tile-covered houses, colonial churches and the 16th–17th-century cathedral, with the old archbishop's palace that houses the Palafox Library, established in 1646.
International Museum of the Baroque
Designed by Japanese architect Toyo Ito and opened in 2016, Puebla's baroque museum wraps its galleries in curving white concrete walls beside a reflecting pond. Exhibits cover baroque painting, sculpture, architecture, music, theater and literature.
Convento de Santiago Apóstol
In the town of Ocuituco, the Temple and Ex-convent of Santiago Apóstol (Templo y Exconvento de Santiago Apóstol) belongs to the UNESCO-listed group of 16th-century monasteries on the slopes of Popocatépetl, inscribed in 1994.
Chalcatzingo
At the foot of Cerro Chalcatzingo in eastern Morelos, this early site is known for stone reliefs carved mainly between 700 and 500 BC, some among the region's earliest stone sculpture and several in Olmec style, spread across the hillside.
Las Pilas archaeological site
Set inside a bathing park in Jonacatepec, Las Pilas was a ceremonial center devoted to water, where inhabitants built channels to collect and store underground water for irrigation; burials were found within the channel system.
Museo Histórico del Oriente de Morelos "Casa de Morelos"
In this 18th-century house in Cuautla, José María Morelos lived during the 1812 Siege of Cuautla. Its INAH galleries trace regional history through Morelos and Emiliano Zapata and display "El Niño," his first cannon, a gift from the Galeana family.
When you get to Oaxtepec
Templo y Exconvento de San Juan Bautista de Tlayacapan
Augustinian friars began this fortress-like church and monastery in the 16th century. Part of the UNESCO-listed group of monasteries on the slopes of Popocatépetl, its former cloister now holds a museum with 17th-century murals and religious art.
More drives to Oaxtepec
- Malinalco to Oaxtepec
- Mexico City to Oaxtepec
- Metepec to Oaxtepec
- Toluca to Oaxtepec
- Otumba to Oaxtepec
- Taxco to Oaxtepec
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 Oaxtepec?
About 3 h 1 min of driving without stops, over 168 miles.
How far is Oaxtepec from Orizaba by car?
About 168 miles (270 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 Oaxtepec?
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 Oaxtepec?
The U.S. State Department rates Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Morelos Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Orizaba to Oaxtepec use?
In order: MEX-150D, MEX-190, PUE 438D and MEX-160. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Orizaba and Oaxtepec?
Closest to the road: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 9, 0.6 mi from the route); Jardín Botánico Universitario de la Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (botanical garden, mile 97, 2 mi from the route); International Museum of the Baroque (art museum, mile 101, 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.