The Wayro route from Santa Clara del Cobre to Tlacotalpan is 517 miles (832 km), about 8 h 35 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 517 mi (832 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 35 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-120 → MEX-14D → MEX-37D → MEX-15D → MEX-M40D → MEX-150D → MEX-175 |
| Mexican states on the route | Michoacán (Level 4), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Veracruz (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-14D, MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-150D, MEX-145D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.7 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 Santa Clara del Cobre to Tlacotalpan is like
MEX-150D (151 mi) and MEX-M40D (140 mi) carry about 56% of the 517 miles. MEX-14D, MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-150D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-120, MEX-175 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 6 states: Michoacán, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala, Puebla, Veracruz. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Santa Clara del Cobre to Tlacotalpan, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-120 | 1–10 | 9 | Michoacán |
| MEX-14D | 10–14 | 4 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 14–52 | 38 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 52–143 | 91 | Michoacán, State of Mexico |
| MEX-M40D | 143–283 | 140 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| MEX-150D | 283–434 | 151 | Puebla, Veracruz |
| local roads | 434–487 | 53 | Veracruz |
| MEX-175 | 487–517 | 30 | Veracruz |
- Mile 125 of this route: Michoacán → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 175 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 205 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 219 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 236 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 249 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 256 of this route: Hidalgo → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 279 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 367 of this route: Puebla → Veracruz (state line)
Stops between Santa Clara del Cobre and Tlacotalpan
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 380)
- Nature and outdoors: Rayón National Park (mile 122), Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 380)
- Museums and history: Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro (mile 10), Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 104), Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl (mile 188), Casa del Deán (mile 303), Huatusco (mile 428)
Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro
Pátzcuaro's basilica (Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Salud) rises on pre-Hispanic platforms beside its own plaza. Bishop Vasco de Quiroga planned it as a five-nave cathedral, only one nave was finished, and his remains rest inside.
Teatro Morelos de Maravatío
Maravatío's Teatro Morelos is a late-19th-century theater in a French-influenced neoclassical style, designed by architect Rafael Guerrero Torres. It opened on January 11, 1879, with a performance by opera singer Ángela Peralta.
Rayón National Park
Just outside Tlalpujahua, Rayón National Park (Parque Nacional Rayón) marks the start of the area's famous butterfly reserve country, which stretches south and west from here.
Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl
The Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl is an archaeological museum located in Tula de Allende, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
Exconvent of Santa María Magdalena
The former convent of Santa María Magdalena (Exconvento de Santa María Magdalena) is a 17th-century Baroque church built by the Dieguino friars, still in use as a Catholic temple of the Archdiocese of Puebla.
Teatro Principal
The Teatro Principal is a historic theater in the city of Puebla that is still active as a stage for performances.
Casa del Deán
Built in 1563 for Tomás de la Plaza y Goes, dean of Puebla Cathedral, the Casa del Deán is a historic house in Puebla that takes its name from his post.
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.
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.
More drives to Tlacotalpan
- Puebla to Tlacotalpan
- Cholula to Tlacotalpan
- Zacatelco to Tlacotalpan
- Chiautempan to Tlacotalpan
- Tlaxcala to Tlacotalpan
- Huejotzingo to Tlacotalpan
From Santa Clara del Cobre to other places in Mexico
- Santa Clara del Cobre to Amatitán
- Santa Clara del Cobre to Real de Asientos
- Santa Clara del Cobre to Nombre de Dios
- Santa Clara del Cobre to San Ignacio, Sinaloa
- Santa Clara del Cobre to Mineral de Pozos
- Santa Clara del Cobre to Bernal
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Santa Clara del Cobre to Tlacotalpan?
About 8 h 35 min of driving without stops, over 517 miles.
How far is Tlacotalpan from Santa Clara del Cobre by car?
About 517 miles (832 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 Clara del Cobre 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 Clara del Cobre to Tlacotalpan?
The U.S. State Department rates Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla 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 Clara del Cobre to Tlacotalpan use?
In order: MEX-120, MEX-14D, MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-150D and MEX-175. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Santa Clara del Cobre and Tlacotalpan?
Closest to the road: Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (opera house, mile 104, 1 mi from the route); Exconvent of Santa María Magdalena (convent, mile 283, 1 mi from the route); Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 380, 0.5 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.