Tlaxcala to Balancán is about 524 road miles (843 km): roughly 9 h 46 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Total distance | 524 mi (843 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 46 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-119 → MEX-150D → MEX-145D → MEX-180D → MEX-180 → MEX-186 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala, Puebla, Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-150D, MEX-145D, MEX-180D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.0 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.
Driving Tlaxcala to Balancán: the shape of the trip
MEX-150D (131 mi) and MEX-186 (96 mi) carry about 43% of the 524 miles. It runs through 5 states: Tlaxcala, Puebla, Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-150D, MEX-145D and MEX-180D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Tlaxcala to Balancán, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-119 | 2–17 | 15 | Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| connecting roads | 17–19 | 2 | Puebla |
| MEX-150D | 19–150 | 131 | Puebla, Veracruz |
| local roads | 150–261 | 111 | Veracruz |
| MEX-145D | 261–293 | 32 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 293–313 | 20 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180 | 313–332 | 19 | Veracruz, Tabasco |
| MEX-180D | 332–365 | 33 | Tabasco |
| MEX-180 | 365–405 | 40 | Tabasco |
| local roads | 405–408 | 3 | Tabasco |
| MEX-186 | 408–504 | 96 | Tabasco, Chiapas |
| local roads | 504–524 | 20 | Tabasco |
- Mile 16 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 83 of this route: Puebla → Veracruz (state line)
- Mile 331 of this route: Veracruz → Tabasco (state line)
- Mile 455 of this route: Tabasco → Chiapas (state line)
- Mile 498 of this route: Chiapas → Tabasco (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Balancán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 95), Villahermosa Cathedral (mile 407), Museo de Historia de Tabasco Casa de los Azulejos (mile 408)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque ecológico Los Ladrillos (mile 10), Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 95)
- Museums and history: Casa del Alfeñique (mile 19), Cathedral of Córdoba, Veracruz (mile 117), La Venta (mile 333), Villahermosa Cathedral (mile 407), Museo de Historia de Tabasco Casa de los Azulejos (mile 408)
Parque ecológico Los Ladrillos
Opened on April 2, 2015, Los Ladrillos Ecological Park is a nature reserve in the municipality of Zacatelco, in Tlaxcala.
Casa del Alfeñique
Founded in 1926, the Museo Regional Casa de Alfeñique is a museum in the city of Puebla, housed in the building known as the Casa de Alfeñique.
Cañón del Río Blanco National Park
Veracruz is home to Cañón del Río Blanco National Park, a natural area that the Mexican government has set aside for protection.
Teatro Llave
In central Orizaba, the Gran Teatro Ignacio de la Llave hosts artistic and cultural performances, and its exhibition room shows temporary collections, mostly by artists from the surrounding valley.
Cathedral of Córdoba, Veracruz
An octagonal dome covered in tiles crowns Córdoba's Immaculate Conception Cathedral, the city's main church, finished in a neoclassical style.
La Venta
La Venta was an important city of the Olmec civilization, in Tabasco near Huimanguillo. Its site museum displays more than 200 artifacts, including monumental sandstone sculptures found at the foot of the main pyramid.
Villahermosa Cathedral
Rising on Paseo Tabasco in Villahermosa, the Cathedral of the Lord of Tabasco has tall towers above a monumental facade. The current building dates from 1960–1963; an earlier cathedral was destroyed in the anticlerical campaigns of 1928–1934.
Museo de Historia de Tabasco Casa de los Azulejos
The Museo de Historia de Tabasco, housed in the Casa de los Azulejos, is a history museum in the historic center of Villahermosa, Tabasco.
Arriving in Balancán
Museo de Balancán Dr. José Gómez Panaco
Museo de Balancán Dr. José Gómez Panaco is an archaeology museum in the town of Balancán de Domínguez, in the Mexican state of Tabasco.
More drives to Balancán
- Tuxtla to Balancán
- Córdoba, Mexico to Balancán
- Orizaba to Balancán
- Xico to Balancán
- Puebla to Balancán
- Cholula to Balancán
From Tlaxcala to other places in Mexico
- Tlaxcala to Omitlán
- Tlaxcala to Atlatlahucan
- Tlaxcala to Huasca de Ocampo
- Tlaxcala to Actopan
- Tlaxcala to Metepec
- Tlaxcala to Malinalco
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Tlaxcala to Balancán?
About 9 h 46 min of driving without stops, over 524 miles.
What is the driving distance from Tlaxcala to Balancán?
About 524 miles (843 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 Tlaxcala to Balancán?
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 Tlaxcala to Balancán?
The U.S. State Department rates Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tabasco Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Chiapas Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Tlaxcala to Balancán use?
In order: MEX-119, MEX-150D, MEX-145D, MEX-180D, MEX-180 and MEX-186. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Tlaxcala and Balancán?
Closest to the road: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (national park, mile 95, 0.4 mi from the route); Villahermosa Cathedral (cathedral, mile 407, 0.9 mi from the route); Museo de Historia de Tabasco Casa de los Azulejos (museum, mile 408, 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.