The Wayro route from Orizaba to Zacatlán is 150 miles (242 km), about 3 h 2 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 150 mi (242 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 2 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-150D → MEX-136 → MEX-119 |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-150D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 6.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
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 Zacatlán is like
MEX-119 (42 mi) and MEX-150D (39 mi) carry about 54% of the 150 miles. MEX-150D is a toll highway (cuota); MEX-136, MEX-119 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala. Of the 6 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Orizaba to Zacatlán, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Veracruz |
| MEX-150D | 3–42 | 39 | Veracruz, Puebla |
| local roads | 42–81 | 39 | Puebla |
| MEX-136 | 81–105 | 24 | Tlaxcala |
| connecting roads | 105–108 | 3 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-119 | 108–150 | 42 | Tlaxcala, Puebla |
- Mile 23 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 81 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 126 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
Stops between Orizaba and Zacatlán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 9), Museo Nacional del Títere (mile 90)
- Nature and outdoors: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 9), La Malinche National Park (mile 94)
- Museums and history: Museo Nacional del Títere (mile 90), Museo Casa de Piedra (mile 106), Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Apizaco (mile 107)
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.
Museo Nacional del Títere
On the main square of Huamantla, the National Puppet Museum (Museo Nacional del Títere) fills eight galleries with puppets from Mexico and abroad, including pieces tied to the Rosete Aranda family, whose company toured Mexico for generations.
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.
Museo Casa de Piedra
Apizaco's old railroad station, dating from 1916, now houses the Museo Casa de Piedra. Inside, photographs and documents trace the town's history, especially its long ties to the railroads.
Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Apizaco
In the city of Apizaco, this Catholic basilica (Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Misericordia) was begun in the third decade of the 20th century and completed in 1961.
Santuario de Nuestro Padre Jesús de Aquixtla
In the Sierra Norte de Puebla, the sanctuary of Nuestro Padre Jesús in Aquixtla draws thousands of pilgrims during the year who come to give thanks for favors received.
More drives to Zacatlán
- Chiautempan to Zacatlán
- Zacatelco to Zacatlán
- Pachuca to Zacatlán
- Cholula to Zacatlán
- Atlixco to Zacatlán
- Mexico City to Zacatlán
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 Zacatlán?
About 3 h 2 min of driving without stops, over 150 miles.
How far is Zacatlán from Orizaba by car?
About 150 miles (242 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 Zacatlán?
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 Zacatlán?
The U.S. State Department rates Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala 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 Zacatlán use?
In order: MEX-150D, MEX-136 and MEX-119. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Orizaba and Zacatlán?
Closest to the road: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 9, 0.6 mi from the route); Museo Nacional del Títere (museum, mile 90, 0.9 mi from the route); Santuario de Nuestro Padre Jesús de Aquixtla (sanctuary, mile 138, 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.