The Wayro route from Tlacotalpan to Bernal is 408 miles (656 km), about 7 h 43 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 408 mi (656 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 43 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-175 → MEX-180 → MEX-180D → MEX-140 → MEX-140D → MEX-136 → MEX-M40D → MEX-57D → MEX-120 → QRO 5 |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Querétaro (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-180D, MEX-140D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.3 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 Tlacotalpan to Bernal is like
MEX-140D (92 mi) and MEX-M40D (87 mi) carry about 44% of the 408 miles. MEX-180D, MEX-140D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-175, MEX-180, MEX-140, MEX-136, MEX-120 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 6 states: Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Tlacotalpan to Bernal, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-175 | 0–9 | 9 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180 | 9–68 | 59 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 68–80 | 12 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180 | 80–89 | 9 | Veracruz |
| MEX-140 | 89–98 | 9 | Veracruz |
| MEX-140D | 98–106 | 8 | Veracruz |
| MEX-140 | 106–109 | 3 | Veracruz |
| MEX-140D | 109–193 | 84 | Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala |
| connecting roads | 193–194 | 1 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-136 | 194–245 | 51 | Tlaxcala |
| connecting roads | 245–246 | 1 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-M40D | 246–333 | 87 | Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 333–334 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-57D | 334–377 | 43 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro |
| MEX-120 | 377–400 | 23 | Querétaro |
| QRO 5 | 400–404 | 4 | Querétaro |
| local roads | 404–408 | 4 | Querétaro |
- Mile 160 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 186 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 255 of this route: Tlaxcala → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 262 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 275 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 292 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 306 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 335 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 368 of this route: State of Mexico → Querétaro (state line)
Stops between Tlacotalpan and Bernal
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Nacional del Títere (mile 202), Galería Libertad (mile 389)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Nacional Cofre de Perote (mile 150), La Malinche National Park (mile 206)
- Museums and history: Cantona (mile 167), Museo de Sitio de Cantona (mile 169), Museo Nacional del Títere (mile 202), Teotihuacan (mile 274), Tula (mile 322), Galería Libertad (mile 389)
Parque Nacional Cofre de Perote
Cofre de Perote National Park protects the forested slopes of the mountain, and its role is practical as well as scenic: a little over 40 percent of the water used in Xalapa comes from here.
Cantona
High on the Puebla plateau near the Veracruz line, Cantona was a fortified pre-Hispanic city that controlled trade toward the Gulf; its explored southern section reveals interconnected streets, walled residential units and more than two dozen ballgame courts.
Museo de Sitio de Cantona
At the Cantona archaeological zone in Tepeyahualco, this site museum shows finds from more than 20 years of digs: pottery, obsidian and stone tools, musical instruments, greenstone and shell ornaments, and burial remains.
Museo Nacional del Títere
On the main square of Huamantla, the National Puppet Museum (Museo Nacional del Títere) fills eight galleries with puppets from Mexico and abroad, including pieces tied to the Rosete Aranda family, whose company toured Mexico for generations.
La Malinche National Park
Tlaxcala's La Malinche National Park surrounds the inactive Matlalcuéyetl volcano, with pine, oak and fir forests on its slopes, hiking trails, birdwatching, and stone cabins and campsites at the Malintzi Vacation Center.
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.
Teotihuacan
Built between the 1st and 7th centuries AD, this UNESCO-listed ancient city lines the Avenue of the Dead, where you can walk between the Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon and the Temple of the Feathered Serpent.
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.
Galería Libertad
Run by Querétaro's state culture department, Galería Libertad is a public gallery in the historic center of Santiago de Querétaro devoted to exhibiting, promoting and teaching the visual arts.
More drives to Bernal
- Celaya to Bernal
- Salamanca to Bernal
- Irapuato to Bernal
- Guanajuato to Bernal
- Pénjamo to Bernal
- León to Bernal
From Tlacotalpan to other places in Mexico
- Tlacotalpan to Chipilo
- Tlacotalpan to Oaxtepec
- Tlacotalpan to Huasca de Ocampo
- Tlacotalpan to Metztitlán
- Tlacotalpan to Tonatico
- Tlacotalpan to Ixcateopan
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tlacotalpan to Bernal?
About 7 h 43 min of driving without stops, over 408 miles.
How far is Bernal from Tlacotalpan by car?
About 408 miles (656 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 Tlacotalpan to Bernal?
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 Tlacotalpan to Bernal?
The U.S. State Department rates Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Tlacotalpan to Bernal use?
In order: MEX-175, MEX-180, MEX-180D, MEX-140, MEX-140D, MEX-136, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-120 and QRO 5. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Tlacotalpan and Bernal?
Closest to the road: Museo Nacional del Títere (museum, mile 202, 0.9 mi from the route); Tula (archaeological site, mile 322, 1 mi from the route); Galería Libertad (art museum, mile 389, 0.4 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.