The Wayro route from Tlacotalpan to El Oro is 391 miles (629 km), about 7 h 5 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 391 mi (629 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 5 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-175 → MEX-180 → MEX-180D → MEX-140 → MEX-140D → MEX-136 → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → MEX-561 → EM 5 |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-180D, MEX-140D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.6 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 El Oro is like
MEX-M40D (121 mi) and MEX-140D (92 mi) carry about 54% of the 391 miles. MEX-180D, MEX-140D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-175, MEX-180, MEX-140, MEX-136, MEX-561 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 5 states: Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Tlacotalpan to El Oro, 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 | 246–367 | 121 | Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 367–378 | 11 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-561 | 378–383 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| EM 5 | 383–391 | 8 | State of Mexico |
- 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 336 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
Stops between Tlacotalpan and El Oro
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Nacional del Títere (mile 202)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Nacional Cofre de Perote (mile 150), La Malinche National Park (mile 206), Parque nacional Xicoténcatl (mile 221)
- Museums and history: Cantona (mile 167), Museo de Sitio de Cantona (mile 169), Museo Nacional del Títere (mile 202), Jorge R. Acosta Museum (mile 322), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 368)
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.
Parque nacional Xicoténcatl
Covering roughly 600 hectares in central Tlaxcala, Xicohténcatl National Park takes in the historic center of Tlaxcala city plus Quiahuixtlán, Ocotelulco and Tepeticpac, which correspond to three of the old Tlaxcalan lordships.
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.
Jorge R. Acosta Museum
Next to the Tula ruins, the Museo de Sitio Jorge R. Acosta traces the rise and decline of the Toltecs and their city, Tollan Xicocotitlan. It moved into new facilities in 1982 and covers nearly 20 years of digs led by archaeologist Jorge R. Acosta.
Cathedral of Atlacomulco
Atlacomulco's cathedral, the Catedral de la Divina Providencia, is the seat of the Diocese of Atlacomulco and is dedicated to Divine Providence, making it the town's principal Catholic church.
When you get to El Oro
Museo del Ferrocarril del Oro
The Museo del Ferrocarril is in El Oro de Hidalgo, State of Mexico, a town seen as an important part of Mexico's mining and railroad history and named a Pueblo Mágico in 2011.
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.
More drives to El Oro
- Amatitán to El Oro
- Pabellón de Arteaga to El Oro
- Tequila to El Oro
- Calvillo to El Oro
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to El Oro
- Zacatecas to El Oro
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
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tlacotalpan to El Oro?
About 7 h 5 min of driving without stops, over 391 miles.
How far is El Oro from Tlacotalpan by car?
About 391 miles (629 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 El Oro?
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 El Oro?
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 (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Tlacotalpan to El Oro use?
In order: MEX-175, MEX-180, MEX-180D, MEX-140, MEX-140D, MEX-136, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-561 and EM 5. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Tlacotalpan and El Oro?
Closest to the road: Museo Nacional del Títere (museum, mile 202, 0.9 mi from the route); Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque (aqueduct, mile 272, 2 mi from the route); Jorge R. Acosta Museum (museum, mile 322, 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 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.