Tuxtepec to Bernal Road Trip: Route, Tolls & Stops

By admin, 3 October, 2026

The Wayro route from Tuxtepec to Bernal is 397 miles (639 km), about 7 h 20 min of driving without stops.

U.S. State Department travel advisory: Oaxaca — Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution; Veracruz — Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla — Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala — Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo — Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico — Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution; Querétaro — Level 2, Exercise Increased CautionAdvisory issued May 29, 2026; checked September 29, 2026. Querétaro is the Mexican state that contains Bernal. See the full advisory for current details.
HuatuscoOrizaba CathedralCañón del Río Blanco National ParkCasa del AlfeñiqueTeotihuacanChurch and former convent of Todos los SantosTulaGalería LibertadTuxtepecBernal
Route from Tuxtepec to Bernal with the 8 stops listed below (blue dots).
Distance397 mi (639 km)
Driving time, no stops7 h 20 min
Main roads, in orderMEX-175 → MEX-145 → MEX-150D → MEX-M40D → MEX-57D → MEX-120 → QRO 5
Mexican states on the routeOaxaca (Level 2), Veracruz (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Querétaro (Level 2)
Toll roadsMEX-145D, MEX-150D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 15.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below8

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 Tuxtepec to Bernal is like

MEX-150D (156 mi) and MEX-M40D (105 mi) carry about 66% of the 397 miles. MEX-150D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-175, MEX-145, MEX-120 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 7 states: Oaxaca, Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.

The route from Tuxtepec to Bernal, road by road

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miState
local roads0–11Oaxaca
MEX-1751–76Oaxaca, Veracruz
MEX-1457–5649Veracruz
connecting roads56–604Veracruz
MEX-150D60–216156Veracruz, Puebla
connecting roads216–2171Puebla
MEX-M40D217–322105Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico
connecting roads322–3231Hidalgo
MEX-57D323–36643Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro
connecting roads366–3671Querétaro
MEX-120367–38922Querétaro
QRO 5389–3934Querétaro
local roads393–3974Querétaro
  • Mile 4 of this route: Oaxaca → Veracruz (state line)
  • Mile 128 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
  • Mile 221 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
  • Mile 244 of this route: Tlaxcala → Hidalgo (state line)
  • Mile 252 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
  • Mile 265 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
  • Mile 281 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
  • Mile 295 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
  • Mile 324 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
  • Mile 357 of this route: State of Mexico → Querétaro (state line)

Stops between Tuxtepec and Bernal

  • Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 115), Galería Libertad (mile 378)
  • Nature and outdoors: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 115)
  • Museums and history: Huatusco (mile 66), Orizaba Cathedral (mile 106), Casa del Alfeñique (mile 197), Teotihuacan (mile 263), Tula (mile 311), Galería Libertad (mile 378)

Huatusco

Mile 66 · Archaeological site · 2 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Above the Atoyac River in Carrillo Puerto, the ruins of Huatusco (Cuauhtochco) include a Mexica-era temple that still keeps original surface finishes. There are no visitor facilities; reaching it means crossing a suspension bridge and climbing a steep trail, ideally with a local guide.

Orizaba Cathedral

Mile 106 · Cathedral · 1 mi from the route

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.

Cañón del Río Blanco National Park

Mile 115 · National Park of Mexico · 0.6 mi from the route

Cañón del Río Blanco National Park is a protected natural area in the Mexican state of Veracruz, set aside by the government as a national park.

Casa del Alfeñique

Mile 197 · Museum · 3 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Founded in 1926, the Museo Regional Casa de Alfeñique is a museum in the city of Puebla, housed in the building known as the Casa de Alfeñique.

Teotihuacan

Mile 263 · Historic site · 13 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

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.

Church and former convent of Todos los Santos

Mile 265 · Convent · 5 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.

Tula

Mile 311 · Archaeological site · 1 mi from the route

Once the Toltec capital, the Tula archaeological zone is best known for its Atlantes, basalt warrior figures over four meters (13 feet) tall crowning the main pyramid. Visitors also see a ball court, the Burnt Palace and the Coatepantli wall, carved with snakes devouring skeletons.

Galería Libertad

Mile 378 · Art museum · 0.4 mi from the route

Run by Querétaro's state culture department, Galería Libertad is a public gallery in the historic center of Santiago de Querétaro devoted to exhibiting, promoting and teaching the visual arts.

More drives to Bernal

From Tuxtepec to other places in Mexico

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from Tuxtepec to Bernal?

About 7 h 20 min of driving without stops, over 397 miles.

How far is Bernal from Tuxtepec by car?

About 397 miles (639 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 Tuxtepec to Bernal?

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 Tuxtepec to Bernal?

The U.S. State Department rates Oaxaca Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.

What roads does the drive from Tuxtepec to Bernal use?

In order: MEX-175, MEX-145, MEX-150D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-120 and QRO 5. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.

What are good stops between Tuxtepec and Bernal?

Closest to the road: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 115, 0.6 mi from the route); Tula (archaeological site, mile 311, 1 mi from the route); Galería Libertad (art museum, mile 378, 0.4 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.