The Wayro route from Tuxpan, Veracruz to Real de Catorce is 426 miles (685 km), about 9 h 33 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 426 mi (685 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 33 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-180D → MEX-180 → MEX-80 → MEX-81 → MEX-85 → MEX-101 → MEX-57 → MEX-57D → MEX-62 |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz, Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-180D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
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–Real de Catorce drive in a few lines
MEX-80 (113 mi) and MEX-180D (56 mi) carry about 40% of the 426 miles. It runs through 3 states: Veracruz, Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-180D and MEX-57D. None of the 4 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Roads you'll take from Tuxpan, Veracruz to Real de Catorce
| 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 | 148–163 | 15 | Tamaulipas |
| connecting roads | 163–165 | 2 | Tamaulipas |
| MEX-80 | 165–201 | 36 | Tamaulipas |
| MEX-85 | 201–208 | 7 | Tamaulipas |
| local roads | 208–274 | 66 | Tamaulipas |
| MEX-101 | 274–300 | 26 | Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí |
| connecting roads | 300–301 | 1 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-80 | 301–336 | 35 | San Luis Potosí |
| connecting roads | 336–337 | 1 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 337–383 | 46 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 383–392 | 9 | San Luis Potosí |
| connecting roads | 392–393 | 1 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-62 | 393–411 | 18 | San Luis Potosí |
| local roads | 411–426 | 15 | San Luis Potosí |
- Mile 101 of this route: Veracruz → Tamaulipas (state line)
- Mile 298 of this route: Tamaulipas → San Luis Potosí (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Real de Catorce
- Nature and outdoors: El Cielo Biosphere Reserve (mile 217)
- Museums and history: Tampico Cathedral (mile 101), Aduana de Tampico (mile 101), Matehuala Cathedral (mile 388)
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.
El Cielo Biosphere Reserve
In the Sierra Madre Oriental near Gómez Farías, Tamaulipas, El Cielo Biosphere Reserve protects the northernmost tropical forest and cloud forest in Mexico.
Matehuala Cathedral
Still open for worship, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral serves as the seat of the Catholic Diocese of Matehuala, a city in the state of San Luis Potosí.
Arriving in Real de Catorce
High in the mountains of northern San Luis Potosí Real de Catorce is a former silver-mining town whose most prosperous era began in 1778. It joined the Pueblos Mágicos program in 2001, and its identity grew out of both its mining past and the culture of the Huichol (Wixárika) people.
- Túnel de Ogarrio: The Túnel de Ogarrio, the town's famous tunnel, is one of the landmarks SECTUR highlights for visitors to Real de Catorce. source
- Parroquia de la Purísima Concepción: The Parroquia de la Purísima Concepción is the parish church at the center of town life, and the feast of St. Francis of Assisi on October 4 is its biggest celebration. source
- Museo Parroquial Padre José Robledo: The Museo Parroquial Padre José Robledo preserves pieces of the town's religious history. source
More drives to Real de Catorce
- Comfort, TX to Real de Catorce
- San Antonio, TX to Real de Catorce
- Boerne, TX to Real de Catorce
- San Marcos, TX to Real de Catorce
- McAllen, TX to Real de Catorce
- Bandera, TX to Real de Catorce
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
Coming to Real de Catorce from the United States? Border crossings, permits and routes from U.S. cities: Driving to Real de Catorce, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Tuxpan, Veracruz to Real de Catorce?
About 9 h 33 min of driving without stops, over 426 miles.
What is the driving distance from Tuxpan, Veracruz to Real de Catorce?
About 426 miles (685 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 Real de Catorce?
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 Real de Catorce?
The U.S. State Department rates Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tamaulipas Level 4: Do Not Travel; San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Tuxpan, Veracruz to Real de Catorce?
In order: MEX-180D, MEX-180, MEX-80, MEX-81, MEX-85, MEX-101, MEX-57, MEX-57D and MEX-62. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Tuxpan, Veracruz and Real de Catorce?
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); Matehuala Cathedral (cathedral, mile 388, 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 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.