The Wayro route from Orizaba to Zimapán is 261 miles (420 km), about 4 h 56 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 261 mi (420 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 56 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-150D → MEX-M40D → HGO 30 → MEX-85 |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-150D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.4 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 Zimapán is like
MEX-150D (108 mi) and MEX-M40D (86 mi) carry about 74% of the 261 miles. MEX-150D, MEX-M40D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-85 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 5 states: Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Orizaba to Zimapán, 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 | 112–198 | 86 | Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 198–199 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| HGO 30 | 199–227 | 28 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 227–257 | 30 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 257–261 | 4 | Hidalgo |
- 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)
Stops between Orizaba and Zimapán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 9), Church of San Miguel Arcángel (mile 232), Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (mile 232)
- Nature and outdoors: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 9), La Malinche National Park (mile 84)
- Museums and history: Casa del Alfeñique (mile 92), Cacaxtla (mile 107), Teotihuacan (mile 158), Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (mile 232)
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.
Casa del Alfeñique
Founded in 1926, the Museo Regional Casa de Alfeñique is a museum in the city of Puebla, housed in the building known as the Casa de Alfeñique.
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.
Teotihuacan
Built between the 1st and 7th centuries AD, this UNESCO-listed ancient city lines the Avenue of the Dead, where you can walk between the Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon and the Temple of the Feathered Serpent.
Hacienda Demiñho
Near Tunititlán in the Mezquital Valley, Hacienda Demiñho is a former Spanish-era estate that once ran cattle, farmed and rented land, becoming one of the region's important haciendas.
Church of San Miguel Arcángel
Ixmiquilpan's 16th-century Church of San Miguel Arcángel is known for its murals with religious and secular scenes, and for a design that blends European and Indigenous traditions.
Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital
In Ixmiquilpan, Hidalgo, the Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital works as both a museum and a cultural center.
More drives to Zimapán
- Celaya to Zimapán
- Tlalpujahua to Zimapán
- Moroleón to Zimapán
- Pénjamo to Zimapán
- Zitácuaro to Zimapán
- Cuitzeo to Zimapán
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 Zimapán?
About 4 h 56 min of driving without stops, over 261 miles.
How far is Zimapán from Orizaba by car?
About 261 miles (420 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 Zimapán?
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 Zimapán?
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 (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Orizaba to Zimapán use?
In order: MEX-150D, MEX-M40D, HGO 30 and MEX-85. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Orizaba and Zimapán?
Closest to the road: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 9, 0.6 mi from the route); Museo de la Cultura Hñähñu y Centro Cultural del Valle del Mezquital (museum, mile 232, 0.1 mi from the route); Church of San Miguel Arcángel (convent, mile 232, 0.3 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.