Salina Cruz to Oaxtepec is about 449 road miles (722 km): roughly 8 h 47 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance | 449 mi (722 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 47 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-185 → MEX-190 → MEX-135D → MEX-150D → PUE 438D → MEX-160 |
| Mexican states on the route | Oaxaca, Puebla, Morelos |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-135D, MEX-150D, MEX-160D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.9 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.
Driving Salina Cruz to Oaxtepec: the shape of the trip
MEX-190 (176 mi) and MEX-135D (151 mi) carry about 73% of the 449 miles. It runs through 3 states: Oaxaca, Puebla, Morelos. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-135D, MEX-150D and MEX-160D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Salina Cruz to Oaxtepec
| 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 |
| MEX-150D | 323–367 | 44 | Puebla |
| MEX-190 | 367–382 | 15 | Puebla |
| local roads | 382–393 | 11 | Puebla |
| PUE 438D | 393–427 | 34 | Puebla, Morelos |
| MEX-160 | 427–443 | 16 | Morelos |
| connecting roads | 443–444 | 1 | Morelos |
| local roads | 444–449 | 5 | Morelos |
- Mile 272 of this route: Oaxaca → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 419 of this route: Puebla → Morelos (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Salina Cruz and Oaxtepec
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Yagul (mile 145), El Palmillo (mile 146), Dainzú (mile 153), Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Oaxaca (mile 166), Planetario Nundehui (mile 167)
- Nature and outdoors: Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve (mile 280)
- Museums and history: Guiengola (mile 18), Yagul (mile 145), El Palmillo (mile 146), Dainzú (mile 153), Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Oaxaca (mile 166), Planetario Nundehui (mile 167), Historic centre of Puebla (mile 382), Chalcatzingo (mile 427)
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.
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.
El Palmillo
On a hilltop in the eastern Tlacolula arm of the Valley of Oaxaca, El Palmillo is a Classic Period Zapotec archaeological site just south of Mitla and east of Monte Albán.
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 Arte Contemporáneo de Oaxaca
Founded on February 28, 1992, by a civic association with state government backing and support from the National Institute of Fine Arts, this museum grew from an initiative by artists including Francisco Toledo and Rodolfo Morales.
Planetario Nundehui
Built through a sister-city agreement between Palo Alto, California, and Oaxaca de Juárez, the Nundehui Planetarium opened in 1976 high on Cerro del Fortín, north of the Guelaguetza Auditorium.
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.
Historic centre of Puebla
Laid out from scratch in 1531, Puebla's UNESCO-listed core is a grid of tile-covered houses, colonial churches and the 16th–17th-century cathedral, with the old archbishop's palace that houses the Palafox Library, established in 1646.
Chalcatzingo
At the foot of Cerro Chalcatzingo in eastern Morelos, this early site is known for stone reliefs carved mainly between 700 and 500 BC, some among the region's earliest stone sculpture and several in Olmec style, spread across the hillside.
In Oaxtepec itself
Templo y Exconvento de San Juan Bautista de Tlayacapan
Augustinian friars began this fortress-like church and monastery in the 16th century. Part of the UNESCO-listed group of monasteries on the slopes of Popocatépetl, its former cloister now holds a museum with 17th-century murals and religious art.
More drives to Oaxtepec
- Malinalco to Oaxtepec
- Mexico City to Oaxtepec
- Metepec to Oaxtepec
- Toluca to Oaxtepec
- Otumba to Oaxtepec
- Taxco to Oaxtepec
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 does it take to drive from Salina Cruz to Oaxtepec?
About 8 h 47 min of driving without stops, over 449 miles.
How far is Oaxtepec from Salina Cruz by car?
About 449 miles (722 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 Oaxtepec?
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 Oaxtepec?
The U.S. State Department rates Oaxaca Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Morelos Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Salina Cruz to Oaxtepec use?
In order: MEX-185, MEX-190, MEX-135D, MEX-150D, PUE 438D and MEX-160. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Salina Cruz to Oaxtepec?
Closest to the road: El Palmillo (archaeological site, mile 146, 0.2 mi from the route); Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Oaxaca (contemporary art museum, mile 166, 0.6 mi from the route); Planetario Nundehui (museum, mile 167, 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 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.