The Wayro route from Orizaba to Pinal de Amoles is 344 miles (554 km), about 6 h 35 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 344 mi (554 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 35 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-150D → MEX-M40D → MEX-57D → MEX-120 → QRO 5 → QRO 100 |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Querétaro (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-150D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.8 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.
What the drive from Orizaba to Pinal de Amoles is like
MEX-150D (108 mi) and MEX-M40D (105 mi) carry about 62% of the 344 miles. MEX-150D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-120 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 6 states: Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Orizaba to Pinal de Amoles, 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 | 112–217 | 105 | Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 217–219 | 2 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-57D | 219–261 | 42 | State of Mexico, Querétaro |
| connecting roads | 261–262 | 1 | Querétaro |
| MEX-120 | 262–285 | 23 | Querétaro |
| QRO 5 | 285–288 | 3 | Querétaro |
| connecting roads | 288–291 | 3 | Querétaro |
| QRO 100 | 291–297 | 6 | Querétaro |
| local roads | 297–301 | 4 | Querétaro |
| QRO 100 | 301–316 | 15 | Querétaro |
| MEX-120 | 316–344 | 28 | Querétaro |
- 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)
Stops between Orizaba and Pinal de Amoles
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 9), Galería Libertad (mile 274)
- 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), Tula (mile 207), Galería Libertad (mile 274)
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.
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.
Galería Libertad
Run by Querétaro's state culture department, Galería Libertad is a public gallery in the historic center of Santiago de Querétaro devoted to exhibiting, promoting and teaching the visual arts.
More drives to Pinal de Amoles
- Celaya to Pinal de Amoles
- Irapuato to Pinal de Amoles
- Pénjamo to Pinal de Amoles
- Mexico City to Pinal de Amoles
- Zitácuaro to Pinal de Amoles
- Morelia to Pinal de Amoles
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 Pinal de Amoles?
About 6 h 35 min of driving without stops, over 344 miles.
How far is Pinal de Amoles from Orizaba by car?
About 344 miles (554 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 Pinal de Amoles?
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 Pinal de Amoles?
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 (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Orizaba to Pinal de Amoles use?
In order: MEX-150D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-120, QRO 5 and QRO 100. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Orizaba and Pinal de Amoles?
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); Galería Libertad (art museum, mile 274, 0.4 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.