The Wayro route from San Andrés Tuxtla to Zacatlán is 306 miles (493 km), about 5 h 47 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 306 mi (493 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 47 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-179 → MEX-145D → MEX-150D → MEX-136 → MEX-119 |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-145D, MEX-150D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
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 San Andrés Tuxtla to Zacatlán is like
MEX-150D (88 mi) and MEX-145D (74 mi) carry about 53% of the 306 miles. MEX-145D, MEX-150D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-179, MEX-136, MEX-119 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from San Andrés Tuxtla to Zacatlán, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–15 | 15 | Veracruz |
| MEX-179 | 15–35 | 20 | Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 35–36 | 1 | Veracruz |
| MEX-145D | 36–110 | 74 | Veracruz |
| MEX-150D | 110–198 | 88 | Veracruz, Puebla |
| local roads | 198–237 | 39 | Puebla |
| MEX-136 | 237–261 | 24 | Tlaxcala |
| connecting roads | 261–264 | 3 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-119 | 264–306 | 42 | Tlaxcala, Puebla |
- Mile 179 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 237 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 282 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
Stops between San Andrés Tuxtla and Zacatlán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 165), Museo Nacional del Títere (mile 246)
- Nature and outdoors: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 165), La Malinche National Park (mile 250)
- Museums and history: Huatusco (mile 117), Cathedral of Córdoba, Veracruz (mile 144), Orizaba Cathedral (mile 157), Museo Nacional del Títere (mile 246), Museo Casa de Piedra (mile 262)
Huatusco
Above the Atoyac River in Carrillo Puerto, the ruins of Huatusco (Cuauhtochco) include a Mexica-era temple that still keeps original surface finishes. There are no visitor facilities; reaching it means crossing a suspension bridge and climbing a steep trail, ideally with a local guide.
Cathedral of Córdoba, Veracruz
Built in the first half of the 17th century, Córdoba's Immaculate Conception Cathedral is the city's main church; look up to see its octagonal dome covered in tiles, finished in a neoclassical style.
Orizaba Cathedral
The Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel is the main Catholic church of Orizaba, in the state of Veracruz, and the seat of the Diocese of Orizaba.
Cañón del Río Blanco National Park
Cañón del Río Blanco National Park is a protected natural area in the Mexican state of Veracruz, set aside by the government as a national park.
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.
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 Casa de Piedra
Apizaco's old railroad station, dating from 1916, now houses the Museo Casa de Piedra. Inside, photographs and documents trace the town's history, especially its long ties to the railroads.
Santuario de Nuestro Padre Jesús de Aquixtla
In the Sierra Norte de Puebla, the sanctuary of Nuestro Padre Jesús in Aquixtla draws thousands of pilgrims during the year who come to give thanks for favors received.
More drives to Zacatlán
- Chiautempan to Zacatlán
- Zacatelco to Zacatlán
- Pachuca to Zacatlán
- Cholula to Zacatlán
- Atlixco to Zacatlán
- Mexico City to Zacatlán
From San Andrés Tuxtla to other places in Mexico
- San Andrés Tuxtla to Zacatelco
- San Andrés Tuxtla to Chiautempan
- San Andrés Tuxtla to Huejotzingo
- San Andrés Tuxtla to Tlaxco
- San Andrés Tuxtla to Calpulalpan
- San Andrés Tuxtla to Ocuituco
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from San Andrés Tuxtla to Zacatlán?
About 5 h 47 min of driving without stops, over 306 miles.
How far is Zacatlán from San Andrés Tuxtla by car?
About 306 miles (493 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 San Andrés Tuxtla to Zacatlán?
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 San Andrés Tuxtla to Zacatlán?
The U.S. State Department rates Veracruz 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 San Andrés Tuxtla to Zacatlán use?
In order: MEX-179, MEX-145D, MEX-150D, MEX-136 and MEX-119. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between San Andrés Tuxtla and Zacatlán?
Closest to the road: Orizaba Cathedral (cathedral, mile 157, 1 mi from the route); Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 165, 0.5 mi from the route); Museo Nacional del Títere (museum, mile 246, 0.9 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 mile 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 (roughly 2 to 7 miles depending on the type, farther for World Heritage sites): at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, with no more than five of one type, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place and city 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.