The Wayro route from Tuxtepec to Zitácuaro is 372 miles (599 km), about 6 h 43 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 372 mi (599 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 43 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-175 → MEX-145 → MEX-150D → Viaducto → Periférico → MEX-134D → MEX-A6D → MEX-A7D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 |
| Mexican states on the route | Oaxaca (Level 2), Veracruz (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Mexico City (Level 2), Michoacán (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-145D, MEX-150D, MEX-134D, MEX-A6D, MEX-A7D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.9 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 Zitácuaro is like
MEX-150D (204 mi) and MEX-145 (49 mi) carry about 68% of the 372 miles. MEX-150D, MEX-134D, MEX-A6D, MEX-A7D, MEX-15D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-175, MEX-145, MEX-15 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 6 states: Oaxaca, Veracruz, Puebla, State of Mexico, Mexico City, Michoacán. Of the 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Tuxtepec to Zitácuaro, 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 | 60–264 | 204 | Veracruz, Puebla, State of Mexico |
| local roads | 264–270 | 6 | State of Mexico, Mexico City |
| Viaducto | 270–277 | 7 | Mexico City |
| connecting roads | 277–278 | 1 | Mexico City |
| Periférico | 278–281 | 3 | Mexico City |
| connecting roads | 281–283 | 2 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 283–288 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-134D | 288–309 | 21 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-A6D | 309–325 | 16 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-A7D | 325–360 | 35 | State of Mexico, Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 360–367 | 7 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 367–370 | 3 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 370–372 | 2 | Michoacán |
- Mile 4 of this route: Oaxaca → Veracruz (state line)
- Mile 128 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 235 of this route: Puebla → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 268 of this route: State of Mexico → Mexico City (state line)
- Mile 281 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 357 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
Stops between Tuxtepec and Zitácuaro
- 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), Desierto de los Leones National Park (mile 298), Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (mile 364)
- Museums and history: Huatusco (mile 66), Fort Guadalupe (mile 196), Xochitecatl (mile 212), Museo Nacional de las Culturas (mile 273), Estela de Luz (mile 279)
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.
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.
Fort Guadalupe
Fort Guadalupe is a fort you'll find in the city of Puebla, within the Mexican state of the same name.
Xochitecatl
Xochitécatl is a pre-Hispanic archaeological site in the state of Tlaxcala. INAH runs it together with nearby Cacaxtla as a single zone, and the Xochitécatl site museum displays finds from the area.
Museo Nacional de las Culturas
Housed in a colonial-era building that once served as the mint, the Museo Nacional de las Culturas in Mexico City explores the world's cultures, past and present.
Estela de Luz
Built in 2011 for the bicentennial of Mexico's independence, the Estela de Luz is a Mexico City monument that combines quartz with electric lighting.
Desierto de los Leones National Park
Declared a national park in 1917, this fir, ash and oak forest in Mexico City's Cuajimalpa and Álvaro Obregón boroughs surrounds a former Carmelite monastery. Locals come to hike, run and cycle, and more than 100 bird species live here.
Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve
Every fall, millions of monarch butterflies from across North America return to the oyamel fir forests about 100 km northwest of Mexico City, clustering so densely they bend branches. The reserve became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008.
More drives to Zitácuaro
- San Juan del Río to Zitácuaro
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Zitácuaro
- Zacatecas to Zitácuaro
- Fresnillo to Zitácuaro
- Durango to Zitácuaro
- Mazatlán to Zitácuaro
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 Zitácuaro?
About 6 h 43 min of driving without stops, over 372 miles.
How far is Zitácuaro from Tuxtepec by car?
About 372 miles (599 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 Zitácuaro?
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 Zitácuaro?
The U.S. State Department rates Oaxaca Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Mexico City 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 Zitácuaro use?
In order: MEX-175, MEX-145, MEX-150D, Viaducto, Periférico, MEX-134D, MEX-A6D, MEX-A7D, MEX-15D and MEX-15. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Tuxtepec and Zitácuaro?
Closest to the road: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 115, 0.6 mi from the route); Xochitecatl (archaeological site, mile 212, 2 mi from the route); Estela de Luz (monument, mile 279, 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.