Plan on about 2 h 10 min of driving for the 132-mile (213 km) trip from Tehuacán to Oaxaca, before any stops.
| Total distance | 132 mi (213 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 2 h 10 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-135D → MEX-190 |
| Mexican states on the route | Puebla, Oaxaca |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-135D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 5.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
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.
Driving Tehuacán to Oaxaca: the shape of the trip
MEX-135D (121 mi) and MEX-190 (5 mi) carry about 95% of the 132 miles. It runs through 2 states: Puebla, Oaxaca. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-135D. Of the 3 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Tehuacán and Oaxaca
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Puebla |
| MEX-135D | 4–125 | 121 | Puebla, Oaxaca |
| MEX-190 | 125–130 | 5 | Oaxaca |
| local roads | 130–132 | 2 | Oaxaca |
- Mile 26 of this route: Puebla → Oaxaca (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Oaxaca
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Suchilquitongo (mile 114)
- Nature and outdoors: Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve (mile 17), Benito Juárez National Park (mile 125)
- Museums and history: Suchilquitongo (mile 114)
Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve
Cactus diversity reaches one of its peaks in the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley, a dry landscape shared by Puebla and Oaxaca. Ancient canals, wells, terraces and dams show how people managed its scarce water.
Suchilquitongo
Tomb 5 at Cerro de la Campana, excavated in 1985, holds murals and stucco carvings ranked among the finest funerary art of ancient Mexico. The Zapotec site crowns a hill in the northern Etla Valley.
Benito Juárez National Park
Hikers heading just north of Oaxaca City reach Benito Juárez National Park, where trails cross roughly 2,737 hectares of pine and oak. La Coronilla, a moderate loop, runs about 5 km.
Once you reach Oaxaca
Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Soledad
Built between 1682 and 1690, the Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Soledad in Oaxaca de Juárez is a sanctuary dedicated to Our Lady of Solitude, patron saint of Oaxaca.
Church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán
An example of New Spanish Baroque architecture, the Church and Convent of Santo Domingo de Guzmán in Oaxaca de Juárez traces back to 1551, when the city council granted 24 lots to the Dominican Order for a convent.
Historic centre of Oaxaca
The historic center of Oaxaca de Juárez has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987, listed together with the archaeological site of Monte Albán as an example of Spanish colonial town planning.
More drives to Oaxaca
- Puebla to Oaxaca
- Veracruz to Oaxaca
- Mexico City to Oaxaca
- Cuernavaca to Oaxaca
- Toluca to Oaxaca
- Tuxtla to Oaxaca
From Tehuacán to other places in Mexico
- Tehuacán to Córdoba
- Tehuacán to Huejotzingo
- Tehuacán to Tlaxcala
- Tehuacán to Calpulalpan
- Tehuacán to Otumba
- Tehuacán to Tepoztlán
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Tehuacán to Oaxaca?
About 2 h 10 min of driving without stops, over 132 miles.
How far is Oaxaca from Tehuacán by car?
About 132 miles (213 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 Tehuacán to Oaxaca?
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 Tehuacán to Oaxaca?
The U.S. State Department rates Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Oaxaca Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Tehuacán to Oaxaca?
In order: MEX-135D and MEX-190. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Tehuacán and Oaxaca?
Closest to the road: Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve (biosphere reserve, mile 17, 7 mi from the route); Suchilquitongo (archaeological site, mile 114, 0.4 mi from the route); Benito Juárez National Park (national park, mile 125, 3 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.