Plan on about 7 h 47 min of driving for the 368-mile (592 km) trip from Tuxpan, Veracruz to Montemorelos, before any stops.
What the State Department tells travelers on this route:
- Nuevo León: “Those traveling between the U.S. border and Monterrey on highways 85/85D, 54, and 40/40D should exercise caution and avoid travel after dark.”
- Nuevo León: “Armed robberies and carjackings have occurred along these highways even during daylight hours.”
| Distance | 368 mi (592 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 47 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-180D → MEX-180 → MEX-80 → MEX-81 → MEX-83 → MEX-85 → NL 85 |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz, Tamaulipas, Nuevo León |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-180D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
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 Tuxpan, Veracruz–Montemorelos drive in a few lines
MEX-85 (106 mi) and MEX-83 (58 mi) carry about 45% of the 368 miles. It runs through 3 states: Veracruz, Tamaulipas, Nuevo León. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-180D. Of the 3 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Tuxpan, Veracruz to Montemorelos, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 4–6 | 2 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 6–62 | 56 | Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 62–63 | 1 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180 | 63–106 | 43 | Veracruz, Tamaulipas |
| MEX-80 | 106–148 | 42 | Tamaulipas |
| MEX-81 | 148–199 | 51 | Tamaulipas |
| MEX-83 | 199–257 | 58 | Tamaulipas |
| MEX-85 | 257–363 | 106 | Tamaulipas, Nuevo León |
| NL 85 | 363–367 | 4 | Nuevo León |
| local roads | 367–368 | 1 | Nuevo León |
- Mile 101 of this route: Veracruz → Tamaulipas (state line)
- Mile 321 of this route: Tamaulipas → Nuevo León (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Tuxpan, Veracruz and Montemorelos
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Catedral de San Felipe Apóstol (mile 336)
- Museums and history: Tampico Cathedral (mile 101), Aduana de Tampico (mile 101), Catedral de San Felipe Apóstol (mile 336)
Tampico Cathedral
Facing the Plaza de Armas in Tampico's historic center, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is the city's main church and a downtown landmark.
Aduana de Tampico
Tampico's old customs house is a Porfirian-era building on the north bank of the Pánuco River mouth that began operating in 1902. Its ground floor now holds a museum on the 1829 Battle of Tampico, with a period cannon, weapons and uniforms.
Catedral de San Felipe Apóstol
The seat of the Diocese of Linares, the Catedral de San Felipe Apóstol has a Latin-cross layout and a limestone-faced Baroque facade, with oil paintings of the four Evangelists inside.
More drives to Montemorelos
- Ciudad Valles to Montemorelos
- Fresnillo to Montemorelos
- Zacatecas to Montemorelos
- Lagos de Moreno to Montemorelos
- San Miguel de Allende to Montemorelos
- Guanajuato to Montemorelos
From Tuxpan, Veracruz to other places in Mexico
- Tuxpan, Veracruz to Omitlán
- Tuxpan, Veracruz to Otumba
- Tuxpan, Veracruz to Chiautempan
- Tuxpan, Veracruz to Tlaxcala
- Tuxpan, Veracruz to Actopan
- Tuxpan, Veracruz to Metztitlán
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Tuxpan, Veracruz to Montemorelos?
About 7 h 47 min of driving without stops, over 368 miles.
What is the driving distance from Tuxpan, Veracruz to Montemorelos?
About 368 miles (592 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 Tuxpan, Veracruz to Montemorelos?
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 Tuxpan, Veracruz to Montemorelos?
The U.S. State Department rates Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tamaulipas Level 4: Do Not Travel; Nuevo León Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Tuxpan, Veracruz to Montemorelos use?
In order: MEX-180D, MEX-180, MEX-80, MEX-81, MEX-83, MEX-85 and NL 85. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Tuxpan, Veracruz to Montemorelos?
Closest to the road: Tampico Cathedral (cathedral, mile 101, 1 mi from the route); Aduana de Tampico (museum, mile 101, 2 mi from the route); Catedral de San Felipe Apóstol (cathedral, mile 336, 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.