Plan on about 7 h 32 min of driving for the 375-mile (603 km) trip from Salina Cruz to Ixtenco, before any stops.
| Distance | 375 mi (603 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 32 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-185 → MEX-190 → MEX-135D → MEX-140D |
| Mexican states on the route | Oaxaca, Puebla, Tlaxcala |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-135D, MEX-150D, MEX-140D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.0 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 Salina Cruz to Ixtenco is like
MEX-190 (161 mi) and MEX-135D (151 mi) carry about 83% of the 375 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.
Which roads connect Salina Cruz and Ixtenco
| 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 | 324–367 | 43 | Puebla |
| MEX-140D | 367–372 | 5 | Puebla, Tlaxcala |
| local roads | 372–375 | 3 | Tlaxcala |
- Mile 272 of this route: Oaxaca → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 371 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
What to see on the way from Salina Cruz to Ixtenco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Mitla (mile 140), Yagul (mile 145), Lambityeco (mile 148), Museo Rufino Tamayo, Oaxaca (mile 165)
- 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), Museo Rufino Tamayo, Oaxaca (mile 165), Archaeological Zone of Atzompa (mile 168), 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.
Museo Rufino Tamayo, Oaxaca
The Museo Rufino Tamayo is an art museum you can visit in the city of Oaxaca, in southern Mexico.
Archaeological Zone of Atzompa
About 8 km west of Oaxaca City on Cerro del Bonete, in Santa María Atzompa, this archaeological site was a monumental complex that belonged to nearby Monte Albán.
Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve
Cactus diversity reaches one of its peaks in the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley, a dry landscape shared by Puebla and Oaxaca. Ancient canals, wells, terraces and dams show how people managed its scarce water.
Museo del Valle de Tehuacán
Inside an 18th-century former Carmelite convent in Tehuacán, the Valley of Tehuacán Museum opened in 2002 and focuses on the history of corn and its ties to the valley's early peoples.
Once you reach Ixtenco
Museo Taurino de Huamantla
Next to Huamantla's La Taurina bullring, the Museo Taurino occupies an 18th-century building and since 1982 has displayed bullfighters' costumes, vintage posters, scale models of Mexican bullrings and murals about the Huamantlada.
Museo Nacional del Títere
On the main square of Huamantla, the National Puppet Museum (Museo Nacional del Títere) fills eight galleries with puppets from Mexico and abroad, including pieces tied to the Rosete Aranda family, whose company toured Mexico for generations.
More drives to Ixtenco
- Huejotzingo to Ixtenco
- Otumba to Ixtenco
- Pachuca to Ixtenco
- Mexico City to Ixtenco
- Tepotzotlán to Ixtenco
- Actopan to Ixtenco
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 Zacatelco
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Salina Cruz to Ixtenco?
About 7 h 32 min of driving without stops, over 375 miles.
What is the driving distance from Salina Cruz to Ixtenco?
About 375 miles (603 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 Ixtenco?
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 Ixtenco?
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.
Which highways go from Salina Cruz to Ixtenco?
In order: MEX-185, MEX-190, MEX-135D and MEX-140D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Salina Cruz to Ixtenco?
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); Museo Rufino Tamayo, Oaxaca (art museum, 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 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.