Plan on about 6 h 36 min of driving for the 254-mile (409 km) trip from Tuxtepec to Santa Catarina Juquila, before any stops.
| Distance | 254 mi (409 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 6 h 36 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-175 → MEX-131 |
| Mexican states on the route | Oaxaca |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.2 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.
On the road from Tuxtepec to Santa Catarina Juquila
MEX-175 (133 mi) and MEX-131 (82 mi) carry about 85% of the 254 miles. Of the 4 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Tuxtepec to Santa Catarina Juquila: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-175 | 1–134 | 133 | Oaxaca |
| local roads | 134–150 | 16 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-131 | 150–173 | 23 | Oaxaca |
| local roads | 173–176 | 3 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-131 | 176–235 | 59 | Oaxaca |
| local roads | 235–254 | 19 | Oaxaca |
Breaking up the drive: stops between Tuxtepec and Santa Catarina Juquila
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Oaxaca Cathedral (mile 137), Zaachila (mile 144)
- Nature and outdoors: Benito Juárez National Park (mile 130)
- Museums and history: Oaxaca Cathedral (mile 137), Zaachila (mile 144)
Benito Juárez National Park
Hikers heading just north of Oaxaca City reach Benito Juárez National Park, where trails cross roughly 2,737 hectares of pine and oak. La Coronilla, a moderate loop, runs about 5 km.
Oaxaca Cathedral
Oaxaca Cathedral, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, is the seat of the Catholic Archdiocese of Antequera, Oaxaca. Construction began around 1535, and the church was consecrated on July 12, 1733.
Monastery of Santiago Apóstol, Cuilapan de Guerrero
In the town of Cuilapan de Guerrero, the fortress-like former monastery of Santiago Apóstol is easy to spot from the highway south of Oaxaca City toward Villa de Zaachila and draws Mexican and international visitors.
Zaachila
Occupied as far back as about 1500 BC, Zaachila was a Zapotec city, later shared with Mixtecs. People still lived there when the Spanish arrived.
More drives to Santa Catarina Juquila
- Tehuacán to Santa Catarina Juquila
- Orizaba to Santa Catarina Juquila
- Córdoba, Mexico to Santa Catarina Juquila
- Huamantla to Santa Catarina Juquila
- Puebla to Santa Catarina Juquila
- Cholula to Santa Catarina Juquila
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 Santa Catarina Juquila?
About 6 h 36 min of driving without stops, over 254 miles.
What is the driving distance from Tuxtepec to Santa Catarina Juquila?
About 254 miles (409 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 Santa Catarina Juquila?
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 Santa Catarina Juquila?
The U.S. State Department rates Oaxaca Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Tuxtepec to Santa Catarina Juquila?
In order: MEX-175 and MEX-131. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Tuxtepec and Santa Catarina Juquila?
Closest to the road: Oaxaca Cathedral (cathedral, mile 137, 0.7 mi from the route); Monastery of Santiago Apóstol, Cuilapan de Guerrero (monastery, mile 142, 2 mi from the route); Zaachila (archaeological site, mile 144, 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 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.