Plan on about 5 h 21 min of driving for the 259-mile (417 km) trip from Orizaba to San José del Pacífico, before any stops.
| Distance by road | 259 mi (417 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 21 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-150 → MEX-135D → MEX-190 → MEX-175 |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz, Puebla, Oaxaca |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-150D, MEX-135D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.4 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.
How the Orizaba to San José del Pacífico drive plays out
MEX-135D (122 mi) and MEX-175 (63 mi) carry about 71% of the 259 miles. It runs through 3 states: Veracruz, Puebla, Oaxaca. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-150D and MEX-135D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Orizaba and San José del Pacífico
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–6 | 6 | Veracruz |
| MEX-150 | 6–40 | 34 | Veracruz, Puebla |
| local roads | 40–45 | 5 | Puebla |
| MEX-135D | 45–167 | 122 | Puebla, Oaxaca |
| MEX-190 | 167–171 | 4 | Oaxaca |
| local roads | 171–178 | 7 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-175 | 178–188 | 10 | Oaxaca |
| local roads | 188–199 | 11 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-175 | 199–211 | 12 | Oaxaca |
| local roads | 211–217 | 6 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-175 | 217–258 | 41 | Oaxaca |
| local roads | 258–259 | 1 | Oaxaca |
- Mile 20 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 72 of this route: Puebla → Oaxaca (state line)
Stops between Orizaba and San José del Pacífico
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo del Valle de Tehuacán (mile 42), Suchilquitongo (mile 155), Museo del Ferrocarril Mexicano del Sur (mile 172), Museo Estatal de Arte Popular de Oaxaca (mile 181)
- Nature and outdoors: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 9), Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve (mile 58), Benito Juárez National Park (mile 166)
- Museums and history: Museo del Valle de Tehuacán (mile 42), Suchilquitongo (mile 155), Museo del Ferrocarril Mexicano del Sur (mile 172), Museo de Sitio de Monte Albán (mile 173), Museo Estatal de Arte Popular de Oaxaca (mile 181), Zaachila (mile 182)
Cañón del Río Blanco National Park
Veracruz is home to Cañón del Río Blanco National Park, a natural area that the Mexican government has set aside for protection.
Museo del Valle de Tehuacán
The history of corn and how it connects to the valley's early peoples is the focus of the Valley of Tehuacán Museum, which opened in 2002 in a former Carmelite convent.
Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve
This arid valley straddling Puebla and Oaxaca joined UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2018 as a mixed site. It is a major center of cactus diversity and preserves ancient canals, wells, terraces and dams built to manage scarce water.
Suchilquitongo
From around 300 to 800 AD, a Zapotec city thrived on a hilltop in the northern Etla Valley. Locals know the site as Cerro de la Campana.
Benito Juárez National Park
Pine and oak forest covers about 2,737 hectares in Benito Juárez National Park, a short way north of Oaxaca City. Among its trails is La Coronilla, a loop of around 5 km at moderate difficulty.
Museo del Ferrocarril Mexicano del Sur
Oaxaca City's old railroad station, built in the late 19th century, houses the Museo del Ferrocarril Mexicano del Sur, which reopened as an exhibition space in 2003.
Museo de Sitio de Monte Albán
The site museum of the Monte Albán archaeological zone in Oaxaca is located just outside the archaeological zone of Monte Albán itself.
Museo Estatal de Arte Popular de Oaxaca
In San Bartolo Coyotepec, the town known for its black clay pottery (barro negro), this state-run museum traces the history of that craft and shows works by Oaxaca's folk art masters alongside temporary exhibitions.
Zaachila
Zaachila was a Zapotec city, later shared with Mixtecs, that was still inhabited when the Spanish arrived; its occupation reaches back to about 1500 BC. Visitors come for its excavated tombs, including Tomb 1 with stucco figures of those buried there.
More drives to San José del Pacífico
- Capulalpam de Méndez to San José del Pacífico
- Tehuacán to San José del Pacífico
- Tuxtepec to San José del Pacífico
- Córdoba, Mexico to San José del Pacífico
- Tlacotalpan to San José del Pacífico
- Huamantla to San José del Pacífico
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 San José del Pacífico?
About 5 h 21 min of driving without stops, over 259 miles.
How far is San José del Pacífico from Orizaba by car?
About 259 miles (417 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 San José del Pacífico?
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 San José del Pacífico?
The U.S. State Department rates Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Oaxaca 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 San José del Pacífico use?
In order: MEX-150, MEX-135D, MEX-190 and MEX-175. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Orizaba to San José del Pacífico?
Closest to the road: Museo del Valle de Tehuacán (museum, mile 42, 0.3 mi from the route); Suchilquitongo (archaeological site, mile 155, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo Estatal de Arte Popular de Oaxaca (folk art museum, mile 181, 0.1 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.