The Wayro route from Tuxtepec to Pacanda is 496 miles (798 km), about 8 h 32 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 496 mi (798 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 32 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-175 → MEX-145 → MEX-150D → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → MEX-37D |
| Mexican states on the route | Oaxaca (Level 2), Veracruz (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Michoacán (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-145D, MEX-150D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
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.
What the drive from Tuxtepec to Pacanda is like
MEX-150D (156 mi) and MEX-M40D (139 mi) carry about 59% of the 496 miles. MEX-150D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-175, MEX-145 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 7 states: Oaxaca, Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán. Of the 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Tuxtepec to Pacanda, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-175 | 1–7 | 6 | Oaxaca, Veracruz |
| MEX-145 | 7–56 | 49 | Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 56–60 | 4 | Veracruz |
| MEX-150D | 60–216 | 156 | Veracruz, Puebla |
| connecting roads | 216–217 | 1 | Puebla |
| MEX-M40D | 217–356 | 139 | Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 356–357 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 357–447 | 90 | State of Mexico, Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 447–484 | 37 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 484–489 | 5 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 489–496 | 7 | Michoacán |
- 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 326 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 375 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
Stops between Tuxtepec and Pacanda
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 115)
- Nature and outdoors: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 115), Tula National Park (mile 312)
- Museums and history: Casa de los muñecos (mile 197), Teotihuacan (mile 263), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 357), Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 396), Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro (mile 487)
Teatro Llave
In central Orizaba, the Gran Teatro Ignacio de la Llave hosts artistic and cultural performances, and its exhibition room shows temporary collections, mostly by artists from the surrounding valley.
Cañón del Río Blanco National Park
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 de los muñecos
A block northeast of Puebla's zócalo, the 18th-century Casa de los Muñecos is a notable example of the city's civil architecture and now houses the BUAP University Museum.
Teotihuacan
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.
Tula National Park
This park protects the ruins of Tula, ancient capital of the Toltecs. Walk up to the main pyramid to stand beside the Atlantes, basalt warrior figures more than four meters tall, and look for the Coatepantli wall's reliefs of snakes devouring skeletons.
Cathedral of Atlacomulco
Atlacomulco's cathedral, the Catedral de la Divina Providencia, is the seat of the Diocese of Atlacomulco and is dedicated to Divine Providence, making it the town's principal Catholic church.
Teatro Morelos de Maravatío
Maravatío's Teatro Morelos is a late-19th-century theater in a French-influenced neoclassical style, designed by architect Rafael Guerrero Torres. It opened on January 11, 1879, with a performance by opera singer Ángela Peralta.
Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro
Pátzcuaro's basilica (Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Salud) rises on pre-Hispanic platforms beside its own plaza. Bishop Vasco de Quiroga planned it as a five-nave cathedral, only one nave was finished, and his remains rest inside.
When you get to Pacanda
Lake Pátzcuaro
Boats leave the shore of Lake Pátzcuaro for its islands, including Janitzio, topped by a statue of José María Morelos. Purépecha fishers here are known for butterfly-shaped nets, and whitefish is the local specialty.
Ihuatzio
On the shore of Lake Pátzcuaro, Ihuatzio was one of three main Purépecha power centers. Visitors can see raised walkways and two semicircular pyramids called yácatas; excavations here also turned up Chac Mool and coyote sculptures carved from volcanic rock.
More drives to Pacanda
- Amatitán to Pacanda
- Tequila to Pacanda
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Pacanda
- Real de Asientos to Pacanda
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Pacanda
- Zacatecas to Pacanda
From Tuxtepec to other places in Mexico
- Tuxtepec to Zacatelco
- Tuxtepec to Huejotzingo
- Tuxtepec to Calpulalpan
- Tuxtepec to Otumba
- Tuxtepec to Tlaltizapán
- Tuxtepec to Tepoztlán
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tuxtepec to Pacanda?
About 8 h 32 min of driving without stops, over 496 miles.
How far is Pacanda from Tuxtepec by car?
About 496 miles (798 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 Pacanda?
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 Pacanda?
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; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Tuxtepec to Pacanda use?
In order: MEX-175, MEX-145, MEX-150D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D and MEX-37D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Tuxtepec and Pacanda?
Closest to the road: Teatro Llave (theatre building, mile 106, 1 mi from the route); Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 115, 0.6 mi from the route); Tula National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 312, 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 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.