The Wayro route from Poza Rica to Atlixco is 180 miles (290 km), about 3 h 14 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 180 mi (290 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 14 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-130 → MEX-132D → MEX-119D → MEX-119 → MEX-117D |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-130D, MEX-132D, MEX-119D, MEX-117D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.2 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 Poza Rica to Atlixco is like
MEX-132D (63 mi) and MEX-119D (50 mi) carry about 63% of the 180 miles. MEX-132D, MEX-119D, MEX-117D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-130, MEX-119 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: Veracruz, Puebla, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Poza Rica to Atlixco, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Veracruz |
| MEX-130 | 2–11 | 9 | Veracruz |
| MEX-132D | 11–74 | 63 | Veracruz, Puebla |
| connecting roads | 74–76 | 2 | Puebla, Hidalgo |
| MEX-119D | 76–116 | 40 | Hidalgo, Puebla, Tlaxcala |
| connecting roads | 116–117 | 1 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-119 | 117–130 | 13 | Tlaxcala |
| connecting roads | 130–134 | 4 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-117D | 134–145 | 11 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-119D | 145–155 | 10 | Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| local roads | 155–180 | 25 | Puebla |
- Mile 20 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 75 of this route: Puebla → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 80 of this route: Hidalgo → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 111 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 153 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
Stops between Poza Rica and Atlixco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Apizaco (mile 130), Teatro Xicohténcatl (mile 141), Museo Miguel N. Lira (mile 141), Parque ecológico Los Ladrillos (mile 152)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque ecológico Los Ladrillos (mile 152)
- Museums and history: Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Apizaco (mile 130), Museo Casa de Piedra (mile 131), Museo Miguel N. Lira (mile 141), Museo Regional de Cholula (mile 162), International Museum of the Baroque (mile 165)
Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Apizaco
In the city of Apizaco, this Catholic basilica (Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Misericordia) was begun in the third decade of the 20th century and completed in 1961.
Museo Casa de Piedra
Apizaco's old railroad station, dating from 1916, now houses the Museo Casa de Piedra. Inside, photographs and documents trace the town's history, especially its long ties to the railroads.
Teatro Xicohténcatl
Tlaxcala's Teatro Xicohténcatl opened in 1873 and was reopened in 1888 after remodeling. Look up to see John Fulton's ceiling mural of the nine muses, painted in Art Nouveau style against a Tlaxcalan landscape.
Museo Miguel N. Lira
Downtown Tlaxcala's Museo Miguel N. Lira fills the old State Printing Office, linked to the writer and poet. Visitors see his manuscripts, family photos and personal belongings, plus the original linotype machines and the press that printed his work.
Parque ecológico Los Ladrillos
Opened on April 2, 2015, Los Ladrillos Ecological Park is a nature reserve in the municipality of Zacatelco, in Tlaxcala.
Convento de Huejotzingo
Founded by Franciscans in the 16th century, the former convent of San Miguel Arcángel in Huejotzingo shows colonial Plateresque architecture on the western slopes of Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl. UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 1994.
Great Pyramid of Cholula
Under a hilltop church dedicated to the Virgin of los Remedios lies Tlachihualtepetl, a pyramid built in superimposed stages with a base about 400 meters per side. Excavations have opened roughly 8 km of tunnels inside the mound.
Museo Regional de Cholula
Right beside the Great Pyramid and archaeological zone of Cholula, this public museum displays collections ranging from pre-Hispanic and colonial art to contemporary and folk art.
International Museum of the Baroque
Designed by Japanese architect Toyo Ito and opened in 2016, Puebla's baroque museum wraps its galleries in curving white concrete walls beside a reflecting pond. Exhibits cover baroque painting, sculpture, architecture, music, theater and literature.
More drives to Atlixco
- Cuernavaca to Atlixco
- Mexico City to Atlixco
- Toluca to Atlixco
- Querétaro to Atlixco
- Celaya to Atlixco
- San Miguel de Allende to Atlixco
From Poza Rica to other places in Mexico
- Poza Rica to Actopan
- Poza Rica to Metztitlán
- Poza Rica to Huejotzingo
- Poza Rica to Jilotepec
- Poza Rica to Zimapán
- Poza Rica to San Miguel, Morelos
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Poza Rica to Atlixco?
About 3 h 14 min of driving without stops, over 180 miles.
How far is Atlixco from Poza Rica by car?
About 180 miles (290 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 Poza Rica to Atlixco?
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 Poza Rica to Atlixco?
The U.S. State Department rates Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Poza Rica to Atlixco use?
In order: MEX-130, MEX-132D, MEX-119D, MEX-119 and MEX-117D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Poza Rica and Atlixco?
Closest to the road: Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Apizaco (basilica, mile 130, 0.4 mi from the route); Teatro Xicohténcatl (theatre building, mile 141, 0.9 mi from the route); Parque ecológico Los Ladrillos (park, mile 152, 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.