The Wayro route from Tampico to Actopan is 255 miles (411 km), about 4 h 47 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 255 mi (411 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 47 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-180 → MEX-180D → MEX-130D → MEX-132D → MEX-130 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Puebla, Hidalgo |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-180D, MEX-130D, MEX-132D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
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 Tampico to Actopan is like
MEX-132D (88 mi) and MEX-180 (44 mi) carry about 52% of the 255 miles. It runs through 4 states: Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Puebla, Hidalgo. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-180D, MEX-130D and MEX-132D. Of the 7 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Tampico to Actopan: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Tamaulipas |
| MEX-180 | 1–45 | 44 | Tamaulipas, Veracruz |
| local roads | 45–74 | 29 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 74–108 | 34 | Veracruz |
| MEX-130D | 108–123 | 15 | Veracruz |
| MEX-132D | 123–211 | 88 | Veracruz, Puebla, Hidalgo |
| MEX-130 | 211–230 | 19 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 230–255 | 25 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 7 of this route: Tamaulipas → Veracruz (state line)
- Mile 132 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 186 of this route: Puebla → Hidalgo (state line)
Stops between Tampico and Actopan
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Ecológico Cubitos (mile 232)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Ecológico Cubitos (mile 232), El Chico National Park (mile 236)
- Museums and history: El Tajín (mile 123), Museo de Datos Históricos (mile 205), Templo y exconvento de San Andrés Apóstol (mile 222)
El Tajín
From the early 9th century to the early 13th, El Tajín was at its height. Today this Veracruz site is on UNESCO's World Heritage List, and visitors come for the Pyramid of the Niches and its ballcourts.
Museo de Datos Históricos
Tulancingo's first station of the Hidalgo and Northeast Railroad, built in 1893, now houses the Museo de Datos Históricos, with regional archaeological pieces such as the Huapalcalco feline, traditional clothing from Santa Ana Hueytlalpan and a historical photo archive.
Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque
Built by Franciscan friar Francisco de Tembleque between 1554 and 1572, this 16th-century water system runs more than 48 km between Zempoala and Otumba. Its tallest arcade at Tepeyahualco reaches almost 40 meters, and UNESCO listed it in 2015.
Templo y exconvento de San Andrés Apóstol
Augustinian friars raised this 16th-century church and convent in Epazoyucan, Hidalgo; the complex keeps its posa chapels, open chapel and atrium, and its stonework mixes Plateresque carving with Indigenous tequitqui craftsmanship.
Parque Ecológico Cubitos
Between Pachuca de Soto and Mineral de la Reforma, Parque Ecológico Cubitos is a 90-hectare protected natural area whose public section has a botanical garden, an arboretum, a herpetarium, a farm, a maze, a zip line and a bike path.
Ex monastery of Saint Francis of Assisi, Pachuca de Soto, Hidalgo
The Templo y exconvento de San Francisco in Pachuca de Soto is mainly Baroque, with touches of Churrigueresque and Neoclassical style. Construction began in 1596 under Fray Francisco de Torantos, who chose the style of its facade and windows.
El Chico National Park
In Hidalgo, El Chico National Park is known for towering cliffs such as Las Ventanas and Peña del Cuervo, popular with climbers, and forest wildlife including gray foxes, ringtails, armadillos, hawks, falcons and woodpeckers.
More drives to Actopan
- Tulancingo to Actopan
- Tepotzotlán to Actopan
- Mexico City to Actopan
- Tequisquiapan to Actopan
- Toluca to Actopan
- Cuernavaca to Actopan
From Tampico to other places in Mexico
- Tampico to Huasca de Ocampo
- Tampico to Pachuca
- Tampico to Omitlán
- Tampico to Calpulalpan
- Tampico to Zacatelco
- Tampico to Cholula
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Tampico to Actopan?
About 4 h 47 min of driving without stops, over 255 miles.
How far is Actopan from Tampico by car?
About 255 miles (411 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 Tampico to Actopan?
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 Tampico to Actopan?
The U.S. State Department rates Tamaulipas Level 4: Do Not Travel; Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Tampico to Actopan use?
In order: MEX-180, MEX-180D, MEX-130D, MEX-132D and MEX-130. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Tampico to Actopan?
Closest to the road: Museo de Datos Históricos (museum, mile 205, 2 mi from the route); Templo y exconvento de San Andrés Apóstol (museum, mile 222, 2 mi from the route); Parque Ecológico Cubitos (park, mile 232, 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.