The Wayro route from Tampico to Jilotepec is 300 miles (483 km), about 5 h 10 min of driving without stops.
| Total distance | 300 mi (483 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 5 h 10 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-180 → MEX-180D → MEX-130D → MEX-132D → MEX-132 → MEX-M40D |
| Mexican states on the route | Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Puebla, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-180D, MEX-130D, MEX-132D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.0 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 Tampico to Jilotepec is like
MEX-132D (88 mi) and MEX-M40D (64 mi) carry about 51% of the 300 miles. It runs through 5 states: Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Puebla, Hidalgo, State of Mexico. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-180D, MEX-130D and MEX-132D. None of the 8 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Tampico to Jilotepec, road by road
| 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-132 | 211–234 | 23 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-M40D | 234–298 | 64 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| local roads | 298–300 | 2 | State of Mexico |
- 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)
- Mile 252 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 267 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 296 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
Places worth a stop between Tampico and Jilotepec
- Nature and outdoors: Tula National Park (mile 283)
- Museums and history: El Tajín (mile 123), Tulancingo Cathedral (mile 205), Museo de Datos Históricos (mile 205), Museo Arqueológico de Apaxco (mile 267), Tula (mile 283)
El Tajín
Look for elaborately carved reliefs on columns and friezes at El Tajín, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Veracruz, along with the Pyramid of the Niches and some of the site's 17 ballcourts.
Tulancingo Cathedral
Tulancingo Cathedral grew from a 16th-century Franciscan mission. The present church, designed by architect José Damián Ortiz de Castro and consecrated in 1806, has an unusual Neoclassical portico with Ionic columns and a triangular pediment.
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.
Church and former convent of Todos los Santos
Franciscan friars built this fortress-style convent in Zempoala, and the complex still keeps the classic layout of atrium, church, open chapel and cloister. It pairs well with a drive through the area's old pulque haciendas.
Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque
Running more than 48 km between Zempoala and Otumba, Padre Tembleque's 16th-century water system has been on UNESCO's list since 2015. The friar built it from 1554 to 1572.
Museo Arqueológico de Apaxco
Founded in 1985, the Museo Arqueológico de Apaxco sits across from the parish church of San Francisco de Asís and beside the town hall in Apaxco, State of Mexico.
Tula National Park
This park protects the ruins of Tula, ancient capital of the Toltecs. Walk up to the main pyramid to stand beside the Atlantes, basalt warrior figures more than four meters tall, and look for the Coatepantli wall's reliefs of snakes devouring skeletons.
Tula
Once the Toltec capital, the Tula archaeological zone is best known for its Atlantes, basalt warrior figures over four meters (13 feet) tall crowning the main pyramid. Visitors also see a ball court, the Burnt Palace and the Coatepantli wall, carved with snakes devouring skeletons.
More drives to Jilotepec
- Mexico City to Jilotepec
- Cuernavaca to Jilotepec
- Cuautla to Jilotepec
- Taxco to Jilotepec
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Jilotepec
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Jilotepec
From Tampico to other places in Mexico
- Tampico to Huasca de Ocampo
- Tampico to Pachuca
- Tampico to Omitlán
- Tampico to Actopan
- Tampico to Calpulalpan
- Tampico to Zacatelco
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Tampico to Jilotepec?
About 5 h 10 min of driving without stops, over 300 miles.
What is the driving distance from Tampico to Jilotepec?
About 300 miles (483 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 Jilotepec?
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 Jilotepec?
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; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Tampico to Jilotepec?
In order: MEX-180, MEX-180D, MEX-130D, MEX-132D, MEX-132 and MEX-M40D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Tampico to Jilotepec?
Closest to the road: Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque (aqueduct, mile 232, 2 mi from the route); Tula National Park (national park, mile 283, 1 mi from the route); Tula (archaeological site, mile 283, 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.