The Wayro route from Tuxtepec to Zacatelco is 207 miles (333 km), about 4 h 1 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 207 mi (333 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 1 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-175 → MEX-145 → MEX-150D → MEX-119 |
| Mexican states on the route | Oaxaca (Level 2), Veracruz (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-145D, MEX-150D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
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 Zacatelco is like
MEX-150D (136 mi) and MEX-145 (49 mi) carry about 89% of the 207 miles. MEX-150D is a toll highway (cuota); MEX-175, MEX-145, MEX-119 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: Oaxaca, Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala. Of the 7 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Tuxtepec to Zacatelco, 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 | 60–196 | 136 | Veracruz, Puebla |
| connecting roads | 196–198 | 2 | Puebla |
| MEX-119 | 198–207 | 9 | Puebla, Tlaxcala |
- Mile 4 of this route: Oaxaca → Veracruz (state line)
- Mile 128 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 199 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
Stops between Tuxtepec and Zacatelco
- 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), La Malinche National Park (mile 189)
- Museums and history: Huatusco (mile 66), Cathedral of Córdoba, Veracruz (mile 93), Veracruz State Art Museum (mile 104), Orizaba Cathedral (mile 106), Casa del Alfeñique (mile 197)
Huatusco
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.
Cathedral of Córdoba, Veracruz
Built in the first half of the 17th century, Córdoba's Immaculate Conception Cathedral is the city's main church; look up to see its octagonal dome covered in tiles, finished in a neoclassical style.
Veracruz State Art Museum
Housed in Orizaba's 18th-century former Oratorio of San Felipe Neri, later a hospital and then a jail, the Veracruz State Art Museum (Museo de Arte del Estado) holds more than 700 works, including 36 by Diego Rivera.
Orizaba Cathedral
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
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.
La Malinche National Park
Tlaxcala's La Malinche National Park surrounds the inactive Matlalcuéyetl volcano, with pine, oak and fir forests on its slopes, hiking trails, birdwatching, and stone cabins and campsites at the Malintzi Vacation Center.
Casa del Alfeñique
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.
When you get to Zacatelco
Laguna de Acomulco
A quiet lagoon in the state of Tlaxcala, Laguna de Acomulco is surrounded by vegetation and rural scenery and works well for a short walk, landscape photos or a calm break in nature.
Parque ecológico Los Ladrillos
Opened on April 2, 2015, Los Ladrillos Ecological Park is a nature reserve in the municipality of Zacatelco, in Tlaxcala.
More drives to Zacatelco
- Huamantla to Zacatelco
- Cuautla to Zacatelco
- Pachuca to Zacatelco
- Tulancingo to Zacatelco
- Tepotzotlán to Zacatelco
- Cuernavaca to Zacatelco
From Tuxtepec to other places in Mexico
- Tuxtepec to Huejotzingo
- Tuxtepec to Calpulalpan
- Tuxtepec to Otumba
- Tuxtepec to Tlaltizapán
- Tuxtepec to Tepoztlán
- Tuxtepec to Tulancingo
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tuxtepec to Zacatelco?
About 4 h 1 min of driving without stops, over 207 miles.
How far is Zacatelco from Tuxtepec by car?
About 207 miles (333 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 Zacatelco?
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 Zacatelco?
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 (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Tuxtepec to Zacatelco use?
In order: MEX-175, MEX-145, MEX-150D and MEX-119. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Tuxtepec and Zacatelco?
Closest to the road: Veracruz State Art Museum (art museum, mile 104, 1 mi from the route); Orizaba Cathedral (cathedral, 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). 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.