The Wayro route from Orizaba to Zirahuén is 397 miles (639 km), about 6 h 14 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 397 mi (639 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 14 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-150D → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → MEX-37D → MEX-14D |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Michoacán (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-150D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D, MEX-14D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.9 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 Zirahuén is like
MEX-M40D (139 mi) and MEX-150D (108 mi) carry about 62% of the 397 miles. MEX-150D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D, MEX-14D are toll highways (cuota). It runs through 6 states: Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Orizaba to Zirahuén, 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 | 112–251 | 139 | Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 251–252 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 252–342 | 90 | State of Mexico, Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 342–381 | 39 | Michoacán |
| MEX-14D | 381–393 | 12 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 393–397 | 4 | Michoacán |
- 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 221 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 270 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
Stops between Orizaba and Zirahuén
- 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), La Malinche National Park (mile 84), Rayón National Park (mile 273)
- Museums and history: Casa de los muñecos (mile 91), Museo Nacional de los Ferrocarriles Mexicanos (mile 92), Tula (mile 207), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 252), Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro (mile 384)
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 de los muñecos
A block northeast of Puebla's zócalo, the 18th-century Casa de los Muñecos is a notable example of the city's civil architecture and now houses the BUAP University Museum.
Museo Nacional de los Ferrocarriles Mexicanos
In Puebla's historic center, this national railway museum studies, preserves and shares Mexico's railroad heritage through exhibits on the history of the trains.
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.
Cathedral of Atlacomulco
Atlacomulco's cathedral, the Catedral de la Divina Providencia, is the seat of the Diocese of Atlacomulco and is dedicated to Divine Providence, making it the town's principal Catholic church.
Rayón National Park
Just outside Tlalpujahua, Rayón National Park (Parque Nacional Rayón) marks the start of the area's famous butterfly reserve country, which stretches south and west from here.
Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro
Pátzcuaro's basilica (Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Salud) rises on pre-Hispanic platforms beside its own plaza. Bishop Vasco de Quiroga planned it as a five-nave cathedral, only one nave was finished, and his remains rest inside.
When you get to Zirahuén
Lake Zirahuén
Small and deep, Lake Zirahuén is a mountain lake in the Santa Clara del Cobre municipality of Michoacán, with a sandy bottom partly covered in mud and no outlet to the sea.
More drives to Zirahuén
- Amatitán to Zirahuén
- Tequila to Zirahuén
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Zirahuén
- Pabellón de Hidalgo to Zirahuén
- San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes to Zirahuén
- Calvillo to Zirahuén
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 Zirahuén?
About 6 h 14 min of driving without stops, over 397 miles.
How far is Zirahuén from Orizaba by car?
About 397 miles (639 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 Zirahuén?
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 Zirahuén?
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; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Orizaba to Zirahuén use?
In order: MEX-150D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D and MEX-14D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Orizaba and Zirahuén?
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); Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro (minor basilica, mile 384, 2 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.