Salina Cruz to Zacatelco is about 383 road miles (616 km): roughly 7 h 31 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance | 383 mi (616 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 7 h 31 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-185 → MEX-190 → MEX-135D → MEX-150D → MEX-119 |
| Mexican states on the route | Oaxaca, Puebla, Tlaxcala |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-135D, MEX-150D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.3 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 Zacatelco: the shape of the trip
MEX-190 (161 mi) and MEX-135D (151 mi) carry about 81% of the 383 miles. It runs through 3 states: Oaxaca, Puebla, Tlaxcala. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-135D and MEX-150D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Salina Cruz to Zacatelco
| 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 | 323–372 | 49 | Puebla |
| connecting roads | 372–373 | 1 | Puebla |
| MEX-119 | 373–383 | 10 | Puebla, Tlaxcala |
- Mile 272 of this route: Oaxaca → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 375 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Zacatelco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Mitla (mile 140), Yagul (mile 145), Lambityeco (mile 148), Dainzú (mile 153)
- Nature and outdoors: Benito Juárez National Park (mile 172), 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 153), Museo Regional de la Revolución Mexicana (mile 372)
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.
Benito Juárez National Park
Hikers heading just north of Oaxaca City reach Benito Juárez National Park, where trails cross roughly 2,737 hectares of pine and oak. La Coronilla, a moderate loop, runs about 5 km.
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 Regional de la Revolución Mexicana
The Serdán family home in downtown Puebla, now the Museo Regional de la Revolución Mexicana, recalls Aquiles, Máximo and Carmen Serdán and the start of the 1910 Revolution. It opened in 1960.
When you get to Zacatelco
Laguna de Acomulco
A quiet lagoon in the state of Tlaxcala, Laguna de Acomulco is surrounded by vegetation and rural scenery and works well for a short walk, landscape photos or a calm break in nature.
Parque ecológico Los Ladrillos
Opened on April 2, 2015, Los Ladrillos Ecological Park is a nature reserve in the municipality of Zacatelco, in Tlaxcala.
More drives to Zacatelco
- Huamantla to Zacatelco
- Cuautla to Zacatelco
- Pachuca to Zacatelco
- Tulancingo to Zacatelco
- Tepotzotlán to Zacatelco
- Cuernavaca to Zacatelco
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
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Salina Cruz to Zacatelco?
About 7 h 31 min of driving without stops, over 383 miles.
How far is Zacatelco from Salina Cruz by car?
About 383 miles (616 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 Zacatelco?
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 Zacatelco?
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 Zacatelco use?
In order: MEX-185, MEX-190, MEX-135D, MEX-150D and MEX-119. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Salina Cruz to Zacatelco?
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 153, 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.