The Wayro route from Pachuca to Coatepec is 181 miles (291 km), about 3 h 24 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 181 mi (291 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 24 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-88 → MEX-132 → MEX-M40D → MEX-136 → MEX-140D → VER 7 |
| Mexican states on the route | Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Veracruz (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-M40D, MEX-140D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.2 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 Pachuca to Coatepec is like
MEX-140D (65 mi) and MEX-136 (52 mi) carry about 65% of the 181 miles. MEX-M40D, MEX-140D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-88, MEX-132, MEX-136 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 5 states: Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Tlaxcala, Puebla, Veracruz. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Pachuca to Coatepec, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-88 | 2–18 | 16 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-132 | 18–22 | 4 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| MEX-M40D | 22–49 | 27 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala |
| connecting roads | 49–50 | 1 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-136 | 50–102 | 52 | Tlaxcala |
| connecting roads | 102–103 | 1 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-140D | 103–168 | 65 | Tlaxcala, Puebla, Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 168–171 | 3 | Veracruz |
| local roads | 171–176 | 5 | Veracruz |
| VER 7 | 176–180 | 4 | Veracruz |
| local roads | 180–181 | 1 | Veracruz |
- Mile 21 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 34 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 41 of this route: Hidalgo → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 111 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 137 of this route: Puebla → Veracruz (state line)
Stops between Pachuca and Coatepec
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Church and former convent of Todos los Santos (mile 16), Museo Nacional del Títere (mile 94), Pinacoteca Diego Rivera (mile 175)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque nacional Xicoténcatl (mile 73), La Malinche National Park (mile 90), Parque Nacional Cofre de Perote (mile 146)
- Museums and history: Museo Nacional del Títere (mile 94), Museo de Sitio de Cantona (mile 127), Cantona (mile 129), Pinacoteca Diego Rivera (mile 175)
Church and former convent of Todos los Santos
Franciscan friars built this fortress-style convent in Zempoala, and the complex still keeps the classic layout of atrium, church, open chapel and cloister. It pairs well with a drive through the area's old pulque haciendas.
Parque nacional Xicoténcatl
Covering roughly 600 hectares in central Tlaxcala, Xicohténcatl National Park takes in the historic center of Tlaxcala city plus Quiahuixtlán, Ocotelulco and Tepeticpac, which correspond to three of the old Tlaxcalan lordships.
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 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.
Museo de Sitio de Cantona
At the Cantona archaeological zone in Tepeyahualco, this site museum shows finds from more than 20 years of digs: pottery, obsidian and stone tools, musical instruments, greenstone and shell ornaments, and burial remains.
Cantona
High on the Puebla plateau near the Veracruz line, Cantona was a fortified pre-Hispanic city that controlled trade toward the Gulf; its explored southern section reveals interconnected streets, walled residential units and more than two dozen ballgame courts.
Parque Nacional Cofre de Perote
Cofre de Perote National Park protects the forested slopes of the mountain, and its role is practical as well as scenic: a little over 40 percent of the water used in Xalapa comes from here.
Pinacoteca Diego Rivera
In downtown Xalapa, the Pinacoteca Diego Rivera is an art museum with a large collection of works by the muralist Diego Rivera.
When you get to Coatepec
Cascada de Texolo
Two waterfalls on the Matlacobatl River, Texolo with a 20-meter drop and La Monja with about 8 meters, sit roughly 3 kilometers from Xico amid cloud forest included in a Ramsar wetland site.
Jardín Botánico Francisco J. Clavijero
Opened in 1977 by the Instituto de Ecología near Xalapa, this botanical garden sits in native cloud forest beside a 30-hectare forest sanctuary and keeps notable collections of Mexican cycads, bamboo and carnivorous butterworts.
More drives to Coatepec
- Teziutlán to Coatepec
- Puebla to Coatepec
- Cholula to Coatepec
- Tulancingo to Coatepec
- Mexico City to Coatepec
- Cuautla to Coatepec
From Pachuca to other places in Mexico
- Pachuca to Jilotepec
- Pachuca to Metepec
- Pachuca to Atlatlahucan
- Pachuca to Malinalco
- Pachuca to Amealco
- Pachuca to Cuautla
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Pachuca to Coatepec?
About 3 h 24 min of driving without stops, over 181 miles.
How far is Coatepec from Pachuca by car?
About 181 miles (291 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 Pachuca to Coatepec?
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 Pachuca to Coatepec?
The U.S. State Department rates Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Pachuca to Coatepec use?
In order: MEX-88, MEX-132, MEX-M40D, MEX-136, MEX-140D and VER 7. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Pachuca and Coatepec?
Closest to the road: Church and former convent of Todos los Santos (convent, mile 16, 0.6 mi from the route); Museo Nacional del Títere (museum, mile 94, 0.9 mi from the route); Pinacoteca Diego Rivera (art museum, mile 175, 0.6 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.