The Wayro route from Salamanca to Poza Rica is 310 miles (499 km), about 5 h 2 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 310 mi (499 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 2 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-45D → MEX-47D → MEX-57D → MEX-M40D → MEX-132 → MEX-132D → MEX-130 |
| Mexican states on the route | Guanajuato (Level 3), Querétaro (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Veracruz (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D, MEX-M40D, MEX-132D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.4 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 Poza Rica is like
MEX-132D (88 mi) and MEX-M40D (61 mi) carry about 48% of the 310 miles. MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D, MEX-M40D, MEX-132D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-132, MEX-130 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 6 states: Guanajuato, Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Puebla, Veracruz. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Salamanca to Poza Rica, 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 | 127–188 | 61 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| MEX-132 | 188–211 | 23 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-132D | 211–299 | 88 | Hidalgo, Puebla, Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 299–300 | 1 | Veracruz |
| MEX-130 | 300–308 | 8 | Veracruz |
| local roads | 308–310 | 2 | 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 237 of this route: Hidalgo → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 291 of this route: Puebla → Veracruz (state line)
Stops between Salamanca and Poza Rica
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Tula National Park (mile 139), Huapalcalco (mile 219)
- Nature and outdoors: El Cimatario National Park (mile 56), Tula National Park (mile 139)
- Museums and history: Celaya Cathedral (mile 27), Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl (mile 139), Teotihuacan (mile 188), Museo del Ferrocarril (mile 217), Huapalcalco (mile 219)
Celaya Cathedral
Celaya's main Catholic church, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, occupies the space of a former chapel that was annexed to the neighboring Temple of St. Francis.
El Cimatario National Park
El Cimatario National Park protects about 24 square kilometers of land just south of the city of Santiago de Querétaro.
Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl
The Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl is an archaeological museum located in Tula de Allende, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
Tula National Park
This park protects the ruins of Tula, ancient capital of the Toltecs. Walk up to the main pyramid to stand beside the Atlantes, basalt warrior figures more than four meters tall, and look for the Coatepantli wall's reliefs of snakes devouring skeletons.
Teotihuacan
Built between the 1st and 7th centuries AD, this UNESCO-listed ancient city lines the Avenue of the Dead, where you can walk between the Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon and the Temple of the Feathered Serpent.
Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque
Built by Franciscan friar Francisco de Tembleque between 1554 and 1572, this 16th-century water system runs more than 48 km between Zempoala and Otumba. Its tallest arcade at Tepeyahualco reaches almost 40 meters, and UNESCO listed it in 2015.
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.
Museo del Ferrocarril
This former railway station on the old Hidalgo Railroad line to Mexico City now works as a museum, with photographs of its construction and the office and bookkeeping objects used in its day.
Huapalcalco
About 5 kilometers north of Tulancingo, the pre-Columbian site of Huapalcalco sits on the western slope of a hill called Tecolote.
When you get to Poza Rica
El Tajín
A UNESCO World Heritage Site in Veracruz, El Tajín peaked from the early 9th to the early 13th century. Look for the Pyramid of the Niches, elaborately carved reliefs on columns and friezes, and some of the site's 17 ballcourts.
More drives to Poza Rica
- Cholula to Poza Rica
- Toluca to Poza Rica
- Cuernavaca to Poza Rica
- Morelia to Poza Rica
- Uruapan to Poza Rica
- Zamora to Poza Rica
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 is the drive from Salamanca to Poza Rica?
About 5 h 2 min of driving without stops, over 310 miles.
How far is Poza Rica from Salamanca by car?
About 310 miles (499 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 Poza Rica?
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 Poza Rica?
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; 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 Salamanca to Poza Rica use?
In order: MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D, MEX-M40D, MEX-132, MEX-132D and MEX-130. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Salamanca and Poza Rica?
Closest to the road: Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl (museum, mile 139, 1 mi from the route); Tula National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 139, 1 mi from the route); Huapalcalco (archaeological site, mile 219, 0.2 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.