The Wayro route from Orizaba to Zitácuaro is 267 miles (430 km), about 4 h 28 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 267 mi (430 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 28 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-150D → Viaducto → Periférico → MEX-134D → MEX-A6D → MEX-A7D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Mexico City (Level 2), Michoacán (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-150D, MEX-134D, MEX-A6D, MEX-A7D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.7 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 Zitácuaro is like
MEX-150D (156 mi) and MEX-A7D (35 mi) carry about 72% of the 267 miles. MEX-150D, MEX-134D, MEX-A6D, MEX-A7D, MEX-15D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-15 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 5 states: Veracruz, Puebla, State of Mexico, Mexico City, Michoacán. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Orizaba to Zitácuaro, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Veracruz |
| MEX-150D | 3–159 | 156 | Veracruz, Puebla, State of Mexico |
| local roads | 159–165 | 6 | State of Mexico, Mexico City |
| Viaducto | 165–172 | 7 | Mexico City |
| connecting roads | 172–173 | 1 | Mexico City |
| Periférico | 173–176 | 3 | Mexico City |
| connecting roads | 176–178 | 2 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 178–183 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-134D | 183–204 | 21 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-A6D | 204–220 | 16 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-A7D | 220–255 | 35 | State of Mexico, Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 255–262 | 7 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 262–265 | 3 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 265–267 | 2 | Michoacán |
- Mile 23 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 130 of this route: Puebla → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 163 of this route: State of Mexico → Mexico City (state line)
- Mile 176 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 252 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
Stops between Orizaba and Zitácuaro
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 9), Chapultepec Zoo (mile 174)
- Nature and outdoors: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 9), La Malinche National Park (mile 84), Parque Naucalli (mile 179), Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (mile 259)
- Museums and history: Fort Guadalupe (mile 91), Valvanera Cathedral, Mexico City (mile 168), Museo del Estanquillo (mile 169), Museo de Arte Moderno (mile 174)
- With kids: Chapultepec Zoo (mile 174)
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.
Fort Guadalupe
Fort Guadalupe is a fort you'll find in the city of Puebla, within the Mexican state of the same name.
Valvanera Cathedral, Mexico City
Southeast of the Zócalo at Correo Mayor and República de Uruguay, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Valvanera once belonged to the Convent of Santo Niño Perdido, founded in 1573.
Museo del Estanquillo
Housed in the Museo del Estanquillo in Mexico City's historic center is writer Carlos Monsiváis's personal collection of paintings, photographs, toys, calendars, advertising and books.
Museo de Arte Moderno
In Chapultepec Park, the Museo de Arte Moderno is part of Mexico's national fine arts institute (INBAL) and shows modern Mexican art along with exhibitions by Mexican and international artists.
Chapultepec Zoo
Founded on July 6, 1923, by biologist Alfonso Luis Herrera, Chapultepec Zoo sits inside Mexico City's Chapultepec Park.
Parque Naucalli
Parque Naucalli is a park just outside Mexico City, in the municipality of Naucalpan de Juárez, where planning for the park began in 1975.
Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve
Every fall, millions of monarch butterflies from across North America return to the oyamel fir forests about 100 km northwest of Mexico City, clustering so densely they bend branches. The reserve became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008.
More drives to Zitácuaro
- San Juan del Río to Zitácuaro
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Zitácuaro
- Zacatecas to Zitácuaro
- Fresnillo to Zitácuaro
- Durango to Zitácuaro
- Mazatlán to Zitácuaro
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 Zitácuaro?
About 4 h 28 min of driving without stops, over 267 miles.
How far is Zitácuaro from Orizaba by car?
About 267 miles (430 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 Zitácuaro?
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 Zitácuaro?
The U.S. State Department rates Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Mexico City 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 Zitácuaro use?
In order: MEX-150D, Viaducto, Periférico, MEX-134D, MEX-A6D, MEX-A7D, MEX-15D and MEX-15. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Orizaba and Zitácuaro?
Closest to the road: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 9, 0.6 mi from the route); Chapultepec Zoo (zoo, mile 174, 0.5 mi from the route); Museo de Arte Moderno (museum of modern art, mile 174, 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.