By road, Salina Cruz and Omitlán are about 470 miles (757 km) apart, or roughly 9 h 7 min of driving.
| Distance by road | 470 mi (757 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 9 h 7 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-185 → MEX-190 → MEX-135D → MEX-150D → MEX-M40D → MEX-132 → MEX-88 → MEX-105 |
| Mexican states on the route | Oaxaca, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-135D, MEX-150D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.8 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 Salina Cruz to Omitlán is like
MEX-190 (161 mi) and MEX-135D (151 mi) carry about 66% of the 470 miles. It runs through 5 states: Oaxaca, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-135D, MEX-150D and MEX-M40D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Salina Cruz to Omitlán, road by road
| 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 | 323–392 | 69 | Puebla |
| connecting roads | 392–393 | 1 | Puebla |
| MEX-M40D | 393–438 | 45 | Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| MEX-132 | 438–442 | 4 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| MEX-88 | 442–458 | 16 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 458–461 | 3 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 461–465 | 4 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 465–470 | 5 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 272 of this route: Oaxaca → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 397 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 420 of this route: Tlaxcala → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 428 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 440 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
Places worth a stop between Salina Cruz and Omitlán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Mitla (mile 140), Yagul (mile 145), El Palmillo (mile 146), Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Soledad (mile 166)
- Nature and outdoors: Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve (mile 280), La Malinche National Park (mile 365), Parque de los Niños Héroes, Pachuca (mile 462)
- Museums and history: Guiengola (mile 18), Mitla (mile 140), Yagul (mile 145), El Palmillo (mile 146), Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Soledad (mile 166), Museo del Ejercito, Puebla (mile 373)
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.
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.
Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Soledad
Built between 1682 and 1690, the Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Soledad in Oaxaca de Juárez is a sanctuary dedicated to Our Lady of Solitude, patron saint of Oaxaca.
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.
La Malinche National Park
Tlaxcala's La Malinche National Park surrounds the inactive Matlalcuéyetl volcano, with pine, oak and fir forests on its slopes, hiking trails, birdwatching, and stone cabins and campsites at the Malintzi Vacation Center.
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.
Parque de los Niños Héroes, Pachuca
The Jardín de los Niños Héroes is a public park in the historic center of Pachuca de Soto, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
Arriving in Omitlán
Acosta Mine Museum
In Mineral del Monte, Hidalgo, the Museo de Sitio Mina de Acosta is devoted to the history of mining and is run by Pachuca's Archivo Histórico y Museo de Minería.
Museo Casa Grande
The Museo Casa Grande is a museum in Mineral del Monte, in the state of Hidalgo, run by the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo.
El Hiloche
Bosque El Hiloche is a state park of about 100 hectares of forest in Mineral del Monte, Hidalgo, and one of the geosites of the Comarca Minera Geopark.
More drives to Omitlán
- Tulancingo to Omitlán
- Otumba to Omitlán
- Tepotzotlán to Omitlán
- Mexico City to Omitlán
- Jilotepec to Omitlán
- Zimapán to Omitlán
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 Omitlán?
About 9 h 7 min of driving without stops, over 470 miles.
What is the driving distance from Salina Cruz to Omitlán?
About 470 miles (757 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 Omitlán?
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 Omitlán?
The U.S. State Department rates Oaxaca Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico 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 Omitlán use?
In order: MEX-185, MEX-190, MEX-135D, MEX-150D, MEX-M40D, MEX-132, MEX-88 and MEX-105. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Salina Cruz and Omitlán?
Closest to the road: Mitla (archaeological site, mile 140, 0.2 mi from the route); El Palmillo (archaeological site, mile 146, 0.2 mi from the route); Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Soledad (church, mile 166, 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.