The Wayro route from Salina Cruz to Cuetzalan is 438 miles (705 km), about 8 h 51 min of driving without stops.
| Distance by road | 438 mi (705 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 51 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-185 → MEX-190 → MEX-135D → MEX-140D → MEX-129D → PUE 575 |
| Mexican states on the route | Oaxaca, Puebla, Tlaxcala |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-135D, MEX-150D, MEX-140D, MEX-129D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.5 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.
How the Salina Cruz to Cuetzalan drive plays out
MEX-190 (161 mi) and MEX-135D (151 mi) carry about 71% of the 438 miles. It runs through 3 states: Oaxaca, Puebla, Tlaxcala. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-135D, MEX-150D and MEX-140D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Salina Cruz to Cuetzalan: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-185 | 0–11 | 11 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-190 | 11–172 | 161 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-135D | 172–323 | 151 | Oaxaca, Puebla |
| connecting roads | 323–324 | 1 | Puebla |
| local roads | 324–364 | 40 | Puebla |
| connecting roads | 364–365 | 1 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-140D | 365–378 | 13 | Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| connecting roads | 378–379 | 1 | Puebla |
| MEX-129D | 379–403 | 24 | Puebla |
| connecting roads | 403–406 | 3 | Puebla |
| PUE 575 | 406–437 | 31 | Puebla |
| local roads | 437–438 | 1 | Puebla |
- Mile 272 of this route: Oaxaca → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 364 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 374 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
What to see on the way from Salina Cruz to Cuetzalan
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Mitla (mile 140), Yagul (mile 145), Lambityeco (mile 148), Dainzú (mile 152)
- Nature and outdoors: Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve (mile 280)
- Museums and history: Guiengola (mile 18), Mitla (mile 140), Gheo-shih (mile 143), Yagul (mile 145), Lambityeco (mile 148), Dainzú (mile 152), Museo de Sitio de Monte Albán (mile 165), Museo del Valle de Tehuacán (mile 295)
Guiengola
Guiengola is a Late Postclassic Zapotec archaeological site near Santo Domingo Tehuantepec, on high ground above the Tehuantepec River and known as a fortified settlement.
Mitla
Mitla, the key site of Zapotec culture and Oaxaca's second major archaeological site after Monte Albán, lies 44 km from Oaxaca City at the upper end of the Tlacolula Valley.
Gheo-shih
In the Oaxaca Valley, Gheo-shih ("River of the Gourd Trees" in Zapotec) is an open-air site with a boulder-lined cleared area thought to have served for rituals, dances or games.
Yagul
On a rocky hill in Oaxaca's Tlacolula Valley, Yagul is a Zapotec site whose builders linked platforms by paths. Explore the Palace of the Six Patios, a ball court, tombs and a fortress wall with lookouts.
Lambityeco
Lambityeco is a small Zapotec archaeological site just off Highway 190, about 3 km west of Tlacolula de Matamoros and roughly 25 km east of Oaxaca on the way to Mitla.
Dainzú
About 20 km southeast of Oaxaca city, Dainzú is a Zapotec archaeological site, an ancient village that developed earlier than nearby Monte Albán and Mitla and was later contemporary with them.
Museo de Sitio de Monte Albán
The site museum of the Monte Albán archaeological zone in Oaxaca is located just outside the archaeological zone of Monte Albán itself.
Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve
In 2018 UNESCO inscribed the arid Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley, which spans Puebla and Oaxaca, as a mixed World Heritage site. A major center of cactus diversity, it also keeps ancient canals, terraces and dams.
Museo del Valle de Tehuacán
The history of corn and how it connects to the valley's early peoples is the focus of the Valley of Tehuacán Museum, which opened in 2002 in a former Carmelite convent.
When you get to Cuetzalan
Yohualichan
Pre-Columbian ruins at Yohualichan form an archaeological site in the municipality of Cuetzalan del Progreso, in the Mexican state of Puebla.
More drives to Cuetzalan
- Chiautempan to Cuetzalan
- Cholula to Cuetzalan
- Huejotzingo to Cuetzalan
- Calpulalpan to Cuetzalan
- Pachuca to Cuetzalan
- Otumba to Cuetzalan
From Salina Cruz to other places in Mexico
- Salina Cruz to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Salina Cruz to San Juan Chamula
- Salina Cruz to Ocosingo
- Salina Cruz to Tapijulapa
- Salina Cruz to Huamantla
- Salina Cruz to Ixtenco
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Salina Cruz to Cuetzalan?
About 8 h 51 min of driving without stops, over 438 miles.
How far is Cuetzalan from Salina Cruz by car?
About 438 miles (705 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 Salina Cruz to Cuetzalan?
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 Salina Cruz to Cuetzalan?
The U.S. State Department rates Oaxaca Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla 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 Salina Cruz to Cuetzalan use?
In order: MEX-185, MEX-190, MEX-135D, MEX-140D, MEX-129D and PUE 575. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Salina Cruz and Cuetzalan?
Closest to the road: Mitla (archaeological site, mile 140, 0.2 mi from the route); Lambityeco (archaeological site, mile 148, 0.2 mi from the route); Dainzú (archaeological site, mile 152, 0.7 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.