By road, Tulancingo and Copainalá are about 517 miles (832 km) apart, or roughly 9 h 4 min of driving.
| Distance by road | 517 mi (832 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 4 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-130 → MEX-132 → MEX-M40D → MEX-150D → MEX-145D → MEX-180D → MEX-180 → MEX-187D |
| Mexican states on the route | Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Tlaxcala, Puebla, Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-M40D, MEX-150D, MEX-145D, MEX-180D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
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 Tulancingo–Copainalá drive in a few lines
MEX-150D (152 mi) and MEX-187D (83 mi) carry about 45% of the 517 miles. It runs through 7 states: Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Tlaxcala, Puebla, Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-M40D, MEX-150D and MEX-145D. Of the 7 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Tulancingo to Copainalá, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-130 | 2–6 | 4 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-132 | 6–29 | 23 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-M40D | 29–75 | 46 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| MEX-150D | 75–227 | 152 | Puebla, Veracruz |
| local roads | 227–337 | 110 | Veracruz |
| MEX-145D | 337–369 | 32 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 369–390 | 21 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180 | 390–394 | 4 | Veracruz |
| MEX-187D | 394–477 | 83 | Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas |
| local roads | 477–517 | 40 | Chiapas |
- Mile 29 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 41 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 48 of this route: Hidalgo → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 71 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 160 of this route: Puebla → Veracruz (state line)
- Mile 455 of this route: Veracruz → Tabasco (state line)
- Mile 462 of this route: Tabasco → Chiapas (state line)
Places worth a stop between Tulancingo and Copainalá
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 171)
- Nature and outdoors: La Malinche National Park (mile 103), Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 171)
- Museums and history: Xochitecatl (mile 80), Cacaxtla (mile 81), Museo del Ejercito, Puebla (mile 95), Orizaba Cathedral (mile 180)
Church and former convent of Todos los Santos
Franciscan friars built this fortress-style convent in Zempoala, and the complex still keeps the classic layout of atrium, church, open chapel and cloister. It pairs well with a drive through the area's old pulque haciendas.
Xochitecatl
Xochitécatl is a pre-Hispanic archaeological site in the state of Tlaxcala. INAH runs it together with nearby Cacaxtla as a single zone, and the Xochitécatl site museum displays finds from the area.
Cacaxtla
Built on a hill rising above the Tlaxcala-Puebla valley, Cacaxtla is known for its pre-Hispanic murals on the Gran Basamento, a large platform now sheltered under a roof. INAH manages it together with nearby Xochitécatl.
Museo del Ejercito, Puebla
On 4 Poniente in Puebla's historic center, beside the old Belén hospital church, this museum and library honors General Ignacio Zaragoza, the Battle of Puebla and the history of the Mexican Army.
La Malinche National Park
Hiking trails, birdwatching, and stone cabins and campsites at the Malintzi Vacation Center draw visitors to La Malinche National Park in Tlaxcala.
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.
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.
More drives to Copainalá
- Zacatelco to Copainalá
- Tlaxcala to Copainalá
- Huejotzingo to Copainalá
- Calpulalpan to Copainalá
- Zacualpan de Amilpas to Copainalá
- Zacatlán to Copainalá
From Tulancingo to other places in Mexico
- Tulancingo to Tepotzotlán
- Tulancingo to Zimapán
- Tulancingo to Metepec
- Tulancingo to Atlatlahucan
- Tulancingo to Malinalco
- Tulancingo to Tonatico
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tulancingo to Copainalá?
About 9 h 4 min of driving without stops, over 517 miles.
What is the driving distance from Tulancingo to Copainalá?
About 517 miles (832 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 Tulancingo 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 Tulancingo to Copainalá?
The U.S. State Department rates Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; 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.
Which highways go from Tulancingo to Copainalá?
In order: MEX-130, MEX-132, MEX-M40D, 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 Tulancingo and Copainalá?
Closest to the road: Xochitecatl (archaeological site, mile 80, 2 mi from the route); Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (national park, mile 171, 0.6 mi from the route); Orizaba Cathedral (cathedral, mile 180, 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.