The Wayro route from Pachuca to Orizaba is 174 miles (280 km), about 2 h 57 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 174 mi (280 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 2 h 57 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-88 → MEX-132 → MEX-M40D → MEX-150D |
| 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-150D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.0 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 Pachuca to Orizaba is like
MEX-150D (103 mi) and MEX-M40D (46 mi) carry about 86% of the 174 miles. MEX-M40D, MEX-150D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-88, MEX-132 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 5 states: Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Tlaxcala, Puebla, Veracruz. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Pachuca to Orizaba, 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 | 22–68 | 46 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| MEX-150D | 68–171 | 103 | Puebla, Veracruz |
| local roads | 171–174 | 3 | 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 64 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 152 of this route: Puebla → Veracruz (state line)
Stops between Pachuca and Orizaba
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Church and former convent of Todos los Santos (mile 16), La Constancia Mexicana (mile 86), Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 165)
- Nature and outdoors: La Malinche National Park (mile 96), Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 165)
- Museums and history: Xochitecatl (mile 73), Cacaxtla (mile 73), La Constancia Mexicana (mile 86), Museo Nacional de los Ferrocarriles Mexicanos (mile 88), Fort Guadalupe (mile 89)
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.
Exconvent of Santa María Magdalena
The former convent of Santa María Magdalena (Exconvento de Santa María Magdalena) is a 17th-century Baroque church built by the Dieguino friars, still in use as a Catholic temple of the Archdiocese of Puebla.
Xochitecatl
Xochitécatl is a pre-Hispanic archaeological site in the state of Tlaxcala. INAH runs it together with nearby Cacaxtla as a single zone, and the Xochitécatl site museum displays finds from the area.
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.
La Constancia Mexicana
A textile factory founded in 1835 in Puebla now houses the La Constancia museum complex, with a children's museum, a puppet house, a Mexican music museum, an automobile museum and a park of miniature world monuments.
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.
Fort Guadalupe
Fort Guadalupe is a fort you'll find in the city of Puebla, within the Mexican state of the same name.
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.
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.
When you get to Orizaba
Orizaba Cathedral
The Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel is the main Catholic church of Orizaba, in the state of Veracruz, and the seat of the Diocese of Orizaba.
Teatro Llave
In central Orizaba, the Gran Teatro Ignacio de la Llave hosts artistic and cultural performances, and its exhibition room shows temporary collections, mostly by artists from the surrounding valley.
Veracruz State Art Museum
Housed in Orizaba's 18th-century former Oratorio of San Felipe Neri, later a hospital and then a jail, the Veracruz State Art Museum (Museo de Arte del Estado) holds more than 700 works, including 36 by Diego Rivera.
More drives to Orizaba
- Cholula to Orizaba
- Mexico City to Orizaba
- Cuernavaca to Orizaba
- Toluca to Orizaba
- Papantla to Orizaba
- San Juan del Río to Orizaba
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 Orizaba?
About 2 h 57 min of driving without stops, over 174 miles.
How far is Orizaba from Pachuca by car?
About 174 miles (280 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 Orizaba?
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 Orizaba?
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 Orizaba use?
In order: MEX-88, MEX-132, MEX-M40D and MEX-150D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Pachuca and Orizaba?
Closest to the road: Church and former convent of Todos los Santos (convent, mile 16, 0.6 mi from the route); La Constancia Mexicana (museum, mile 86, 0.5 mi from the route); Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 165, 0.4 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.