Plan on about 8 h 52 min of driving for the 545-mile (877 km) trip from Salamanca to Coatzacoalcos, before any stops.
| Distance | 545 mi (877 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 52 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-45D → MEX-47D → MEX-57D → MEX-M40D → MEX-150D → MEX-145D → MEX-180D → MEX-185 |
| Mexican states on the route | Guanajuato, Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala, Puebla, Veracruz |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.8 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 Salamanca to Coatzacoalcos is like
MEX-150D (152 mi) and MEX-M40D (107 mi) carry about 48% of the 545 miles. It runs through 7 states: Guanajuato, Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala, Puebla, Veracruz. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-45D, MEX-47D and MEX-57D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Salamanca to Coatzacoalcos, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 2–39 | 37 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-47D | 39–91 | 52 | Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 91–127 | 36 | Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| MEX-M40D | 127–234 | 107 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| MEX-150D | 234–386 | 152 | Puebla, Veracruz |
| local roads | 386–496 | 110 | Veracruz |
| MEX-145D | 496–528 | 32 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 528–531 | 3 | Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 531–532 | 1 | Veracruz |
| MEX-185 | 532–542 | 10 | Veracruz |
| local roads | 542–545 | 3 | Veracruz |
- Mile 52 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 93 of this route: Querétaro → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 126 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 156 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 170 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 187 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 199 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 207 of this route: Hidalgo → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 230 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 318 of this route: Puebla → Veracruz (state line)
Stops between Salamanca and Coatzacoalcos
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 331)
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro de las Campanas (mile 50), Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 331)
- Museums and history: Tula (mile 139), Xochitecatl (mile 239), Cacaxtla (mile 239), Museo del Ejercito, Puebla (mile 254), Veracruz State Art Museum (mile 341), Huatusco (mile 379)
Cerro de las Campanas
Rising within Querétaro City, the Cerro de las Campanas is a hill that is protected as a Mexican national park.
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.
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.
Museo del Ejercito, Puebla
On 4 Poniente in Puebla's historic center, beside the old Belén hospital church, this museum and library honors General Ignacio Zaragoza, the Battle of Puebla and the history of the Mexican Army.
Teatro Principal
The Teatro Principal is a historic theater in the city of Puebla that is still active as a stage for performances.
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.
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.
Huatusco
Getting to the ruins of Huatusco (Cuauhtochco) means crossing a suspension bridge and hiking a steep trail; a local guide is a good idea, and there are no visitor facilities. The Mexica-era temple keeps its original finishes.
Once you reach Coatzacoalcos
Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Coatzacoalcos
Officially the Cathedral of Saint Joseph (Catedral de San José), this Catholic church in Coatzacoalcos was raised to cathedral rank and serves as the seat of the Diocese of Coatzacoalcos.
More drives to Coatzacoalcos
- Mexico City to Coatzacoalcos
- Cuernavaca to Coatzacoalcos
- Toluca to Coatzacoalcos
- Querétaro to Coatzacoalcos
- Celaya to Coatzacoalcos
- Acapulco to Coatzacoalcos
From Salamanca to other places in Mexico
- Salamanca to Zamora
- Salamanca to Cotija
- Salamanca to Temacapulín
- Salamanca to Pabellón de Arteaga
- Salamanca to Pinos
- Salamanca to Pabellón de Hidalgo
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Salamanca to Coatzacoalcos?
About 8 h 52 min of driving without stops, over 545 miles.
What is the driving distance from Salamanca to Coatzacoalcos?
About 545 miles (877 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 Salamanca to Coatzacoalcos?
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 Salamanca to Coatzacoalcos?
The U.S. State Department rates Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo 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.
Which highways go from Salamanca to Coatzacoalcos?
In order: MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D, MEX-M40D, MEX-150D, MEX-145D, MEX-180D and MEX-185. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Salamanca to Coatzacoalcos?
Closest to the road: Tula (archaeological site, mile 139, 1 mi from the route); Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (national park, mile 331, 0.4 mi from the route); Veracruz State Art Museum (art museum, mile 341, 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 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: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place 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.