Tuxpan, Veracruz to Otumba Road Trip: Route, Tolls & Stops

By admin, 3 October, 2026

The Wayro route from Tuxpan, Veracruz to Otumba is 145 miles (234 km), about 2 h 30 min of driving without stops.

U.S. State Department travel advisory: Veracruz — Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla — Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo — Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico — Level 2, Exercise Increased CautionAdvisory issued May 29, 2026; checked September 29, 2026. State of Mexico is the Mexican state that contains Otumba. See the full advisory for current details.
El TajínMuseo del FerrocarrilChurch and former convent of Todos los SantosAqueduct of Padre TemblequeTuxpan, VeracruzOtumba
Route from Tuxpan, Veracruz to Otumba with the 4 stops listed below (blue dots).
Distance145 mi (234 km)
Driving time, no stops2 h 30 min
Main roads, in orderMEX-130D → MEX-132D → MEX-132
Mexican states on the routeVeracruz (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2)
Toll roadsMEX-130D, MEX-132D
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 5.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below4

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 insuranceRequired 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 Tuxpan, Veracruz to Otumba is like

MEX-132D (88 mi) and MEX-132 (29 mi) carry about 81% of the 145 miles. MEX-130D, MEX-132D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-132 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 4 states: Veracruz, Puebla, Hidalgo, State of Mexico. None of the 4 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.

The route from Tuxpan, Veracruz to Otumba, road by road

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miState
local roads0–11Veracruz
MEX-130D1–2423Veracruz
MEX-132D24–11288Veracruz, Puebla, Hidalgo
MEX-132112–14129Hidalgo, State of Mexico
connecting roads141–1421State of Mexico
local roads142–1453State of Mexico
  • Mile 33 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
  • Mile 87 of this route: Puebla → Hidalgo (state line)
  • Mile 134 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)

Stops between Tuxpan, Veracruz and Otumba

El Tajín

Mile 23 · Archaeological site · 17 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

A UNESCO World Heritage Site in Veracruz, El Tajín peaked from the early 9th to the early 13th century. Look for the Pyramid of the Niches, elaborately carved reliefs on columns and friezes, and some of the site's 17 ballcourts.

Museo del Ferrocarril

Mile 106 · Railway museum · 2 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

This former railway station on the old Hidalgo Railroad line to Mexico City now works as a museum, with photographs of its construction and the office and bookkeeping objects used in its day.

Church and former convent of Todos los Santos

Mile 130 · Convent · 2 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

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.

Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque

Mile 133 · Aqueduct · 2 mi from the route

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.

When you get to Otumba

Pyramid of the Sun

Temple · about 6 mi from Otumba

Rising along the Avenue of the Dead between the Pyramid of the Moon and the Ciudadela, the Pyramid of the Sun is the largest building in Teotihuacan, believed to date to about AD 200.

Museo del Ferrocarril en Otumba

Museum · in Otumba

The Museo del Ferrocarril en Otumba is a museum in the town of Otumba de Gómez Farías devoted, as its name says, to the railroad.

Teotihuacan

Historic site · about 6 mi from Otumba

Built between the 1st and 7th centuries AD, this UNESCO-listed ancient city lines the Avenue of the Dead, where you can walk between the Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon and the Temple of the Feathered Serpent.

More drives to Otumba

From Tuxpan, Veracruz to other places in Mexico

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from Tuxpan, Veracruz to Otumba?

About 2 h 30 min of driving without stops, over 145 miles.

How far is Otumba from Tuxpan, Veracruz by car?

About 145 miles (234 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 Otumba?

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 Otumba?

The U.S. State Department rates Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla 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 Tuxpan, Veracruz to Otumba use?

In order: MEX-130D, MEX-132D and MEX-132. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.

What are good stops between Tuxpan, Veracruz and Otumba?

Closest to the road: Museo del Ferrocarril (railway museum, mile 106, 2 mi from the route); Church and former convent of Todos los Santos (convent, mile 130, 2 mi from the route); Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque (aqueduct, mile 133, 2 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.