Tuxtla to Calpulalpan is about 491 road miles (790 km): roughly 7 h 42 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance | 491 mi (790 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 7 h 42 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-190 → MEX-187D → MEX-180 → MEX-180D → MEX-145D → MEX-150D → MEX-M40D → MEX-136 |
| Mexican states on the route | Chiapas, Tabasco, Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-187D, MEX-180D, MEX-145D, MEX-150D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.6 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.
The Tuxtla–Calpulalpan drive in a few lines
MEX-150D (157 mi) and MEX-145D (142 mi) carry about 61% of the 491 miles. It runs through 5 states: Chiapas, Tabasco, Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-187D, MEX-180D and MEX-145D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Tuxtla and Calpulalpan
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–7 | 7 | Chiapas |
| MEX-190 | 7–16 | 9 | Chiapas |
| MEX-187D | 16–137 | 121 | Chiapas, Tabasco, Veracruz |
| MEX-180 | 137–142 | 5 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 142–163 | 21 | Veracruz |
| MEX-145D | 163–305 | 142 | Veracruz |
| MEX-150D | 305–462 | 157 | Veracruz, Puebla |
| connecting roads | 462–463 | 1 | Puebla |
| MEX-M40D | 463–481 | 18 | Puebla, Tlaxcala |
| connecting roads | 481–482 | 1 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-136 | 482–490 | 8 | Tlaxcala |
| local roads | 490–491 | 1 | Tlaxcala |
- Mile 71 of this route: Chiapas → Tabasco (state line)
- Mile 76 of this route: Tabasco → Veracruz (state line)
- Mile 373 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 467 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Tuxtla and Calpulalpan
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 360)
- Nature and outdoors: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 360), La Malinche National Park (mile 435)
- Museums and history: Huatusco (mile 313), Orizaba Cathedral (mile 352), Museo Regional de la Revolución Mexicana (mile 442), Museo Nacional de los Ferrocarriles Mexicanos (mile 443), Cacaxtla (mile 457), Xochitecatl (mile 458)
Huatusco
Getting to the ruins of Huatusco (Cuauhtochco) means crossing a suspension bridge and hiking a steep trail; a local guide is a good idea, and there are no visitor facilities. The Mexica-era temple keeps its original finishes.
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
Hiking trails, birdwatching, and stone cabins and campsites at the Malintzi Vacation Center draw visitors to La Malinche National Park in Tlaxcala.
Museo Regional de la Revolución Mexicana
The Serdán family home in downtown Puebla, now the Museo Regional de la Revolución Mexicana, recalls Aquiles, Máximo and Carmen Serdán and the start of the 1910 Revolution. It opened in 1960.
Museo Nacional de los Ferrocarriles Mexicanos
In Puebla's historic center, this national railway museum studies, preserves and shares Mexico's railroad heritage through exhibits on the history of the trains.
Cacaxtla
Built on a hill rising above the Tlaxcala-Puebla valley, Cacaxtla is known for its pre-Hispanic murals on the Gran Basamento, a large platform now sheltered under a roof. INAH manages it together with nearby Xochitécatl.
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.
Once you reach Calpulalpan
Tecoaque
Near Calpulalpan in western Tlaxcala, Tecoaque is a Mesoamerican archaeological site once inhabited by the Acolhua, one of the three groups that made up the Aztec Empire.
More drives to Calpulalpan
- Mexico City to Calpulalpan
- Pachuca to Calpulalpan
- Tepotzotlán to Calpulalpan
- Toluca to Calpulalpan
- Cuautla to Calpulalpan
- Cuernavaca to Calpulalpan
From Tuxtla to other places in Mexico
- Tuxtla to Tapijulapa
- Tuxtla to Teapa
- Tuxtla to Cholula
- Tuxtla to Chiautempan
- Tuxtla to Huejotzingo
- Tuxtla to Tlaxcala
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Tuxtla to Calpulalpan?
About 7 h 42 min of driving without stops, over 491 miles.
How far is Calpulalpan from Tuxtla by car?
About 491 miles (790 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 Tuxtla to Calpulalpan?
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 Tuxtla to Calpulalpan?
The U.S. State Department rates Chiapas Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Tabasco 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.
Which highways go from Tuxtla to Calpulalpan?
In order: MEX-190, MEX-187D, MEX-180, MEX-180D, MEX-145D, MEX-150D, MEX-M40D and MEX-136. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Tuxtla to Calpulalpan?
Closest to the road: Orizaba Cathedral (cathedral, mile 352, 1 mi from the route); Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (national park, mile 360, 0.5 mi from the route); Xochitecatl (archaeological site, mile 458, 2 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.