Plan on about 7 h 57 min of driving for the 440-mile (708 km) trip from Tlaxcala to Copainalá, before any stops.
| Distance | 440 mi (708 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 57 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-119 → MEX-150D → MEX-145D → MEX-180D → MEX-180 → MEX-187D |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala, Puebla, Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-150D, MEX-145D, MEX-180D, MEX-187D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
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.
The Tlaxcala–Copainalá drive in a few lines
MEX-150D (131 mi) and MEX-187D (82 mi) carry about 48% of the 440 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 6 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Tlaxcala and Copainalá
| 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 | 313–318 | 5 | Veracruz |
| MEX-187D | 318–400 | 82 | Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas |
| local roads | 400–440 | 40 | Chiapas |
- Mile 16 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 83 of this route: Puebla → Veracruz (state line)
- Mile 379 of this route: Veracruz → Tabasco (state line)
- Mile 386 of this route: Tabasco → Chiapas (state line)
Places worth a stop between Tlaxcala and Copainalá
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 95)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque ecológico Los Ladrillos (mile 10), La Malinche National Park (mile 27), Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 95)
- Museums and history: Museo Regional de la Revolución Mexicana (mile 19), Orizaba Cathedral (mile 104), Cathedral of Córdoba, Veracruz (mile 117)
Parque ecológico Los Ladrillos
Opened on April 2, 2015, Los Ladrillos Ecological Park is a nature reserve in the municipality of Zacatelco, in Tlaxcala.
Museo Regional de la Revolución Mexicana
The Serdán family home in downtown Puebla, now the Museo Regional de la Revolución Mexicana, recalls Aquiles, Máximo and Carmen Serdán and the start of the 1910 Revolution. It opened in 1960.
La Malinche National Park
Pine, oak and fir forests cover the slopes of the inactive Matlalcuéyetl volcano, the centerpiece of La Malinche National Park in Tlaxcala.
Cañón del Río Blanco National Park
Protected as a national park by Mexico's government, Cañón del Río Blanco is a natural area in Veracruz state.
Orizaba Cathedral
The Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel is the main Catholic church of Orizaba, in the state of Veracruz, and the seat of the Diocese of Orizaba.
Cathedral of Córdoba, Veracruz
Built in the first half of the 17th century, Córdoba's Immaculate Conception Cathedral is the city's main church; look up to see its octagonal dome covered in tiles, finished in a neoclassical style.
More drives to Copainalá
- Zacatelco to Copainalá
- Huejotzingo to Copainalá
- Calpulalpan to Copainalá
- Zacualpan de Amilpas to Copainalá
- Zacatlán to Copainalá
- Otumba to Copainalá
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 is the drive from Tlaxcala to Copainalá?
About 7 h 57 min of driving without stops, over 440 miles.
What is the driving distance from Tlaxcala to Copainalá?
About 440 miles (708 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 Copainalá?
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 Copainalá?
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 Copainalá use?
In order: MEX-119, MEX-150D, MEX-145D, MEX-180D, MEX-180 and MEX-187D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Tlaxcala and Copainalá?
Closest to the road: Parque ecológico Los Ladrillos (park, mile 10, 1 mi from the route); Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (national park, mile 95, 0.4 mi from the route); Orizaba Cathedral (cathedral, mile 104, 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.