Santa Catarina Juquila to Tlacotalpan is about 318 road miles (511 km): roughly 8 h 18 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance | 318 mi (511 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 18 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-131 → MEX-175 |
| Mexican states on the route | Oaxaca, Veracruz |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
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.
The Santa Catarina Juquila–Tlacotalpan drive in a few lines
MEX-175 (198 mi) and MEX-131 (81 mi) carry about 88% of the 318 miles. It runs through 2 states: Oaxaca, Veracruz. Of the 5 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Santa Catarina Juquila to Tlacotalpan, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–19 | 19 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-131 | 19–78 | 59 | Oaxaca |
| local roads | 78–82 | 4 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-131 | 82–104 | 22 | Oaxaca |
| local roads | 104–120 | 16 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-175 | 120–318 | 198 | Oaxaca, Veracruz |
- Mile 257 of this route: Oaxaca → Veracruz (state line)
What to see on the way from Santa Catarina Juquila to Tlacotalpan
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Zaachila (mile 111), Teatro Macedonio Alcalá (mile 119)
- Nature and outdoors: Benito Juárez National Park (mile 125)
- Museums and history: Zaachila (mile 111), Graphic Arts Institute of Oaxaca (mile 119), Teatro Macedonio Alcalá (mile 119)
Zaachila
Excavated tombs draw visitors to Zaachila, a former Zapotec city. The best known is Tomb 1, where stucco figures depict the people who were buried there.
Monastery of Santiago Apóstol, Cuilapan de Guerrero
In the town of Cuilapan de Guerrero, the fortress-like former monastery of Santiago Apóstol is easy to spot from the highway south of Oaxaca City toward Villa de Zaachila and draws Mexican and international visitors.
Graphic Arts Institute of Oaxaca
Founded by artist Francisco Toledo, the Graphic Arts Institute of Oaxaca is an art school in Oaxaca de Juárez that holds a large collection of Latin American artwork.
Teatro Macedonio Alcalá
In the center of Oaxaca de Juárez, Teatro Macedonio Alcalá is a performance venue built in 1909 in the Art Nouveau style.
Benito Juárez National Park
Just north of Oaxaca City, Benito Juárez National Park covers about 2,737 hectares of pine and oak forest. Trails wind through the woods, including La Coronilla, a moderate loop of roughly 5 km.
More drives to Tlacotalpan
- Puebla to Tlacotalpan
- Cholula to Tlacotalpan
- Zacatelco to Tlacotalpan
- Chiautempan to Tlacotalpan
- Tlaxcala to Tlacotalpan
- Huejotzingo to Tlacotalpan
From Santa Catarina Juquila to other places in Mexico
- Santa Catarina Juquila to Huatulco
- Santa Catarina Juquila to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Santa Catarina Juquila to Ixtenco
- Santa Catarina Juquila to Chipilo
- Santa Catarina Juquila to San Miguel, Morelos
- Santa Catarina Juquila to Boca del Cielo
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Santa Catarina Juquila to Tlacotalpan?
About 8 h 18 min of driving without stops, over 318 miles.
How far is Tlacotalpan from Santa Catarina Juquila by car?
About 318 miles (511 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 Santa Catarina Juquila to Tlacotalpan?
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 Santa Catarina Juquila to Tlacotalpan?
The U.S. State Department rates Oaxaca Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Santa Catarina Juquila to Tlacotalpan use?
In order: MEX-131 and MEX-175. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Santa Catarina Juquila to Tlacotalpan?
Closest to the road: Zaachila (archaeological site, mile 111, 0.4 mi from the route); Teatro Macedonio Alcalá (opera house, mile 119, 0.7 mi from the route); Graphic Arts Institute of Oaxaca (art museum, mile 119, 1 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.