The Wayro route from Uruapan to Tuxtepec is 517 miles (832 km), about 8 h 42 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 517 mi (832 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 42 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-14D → MEX-37D → MEX-15D → MEX-M40D → MEX-150D → MEX-145 → MEX-175 |
| Mexican states on the route | Michoacán (Level 4), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Veracruz (Level 2), Oaxaca (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-14D, MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-150D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.7 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 Uruapan to Tuxtepec is like
MEX-150D (152 mi) and MEX-M40D (139 mi) carry about 56% of the 517 miles. MEX-14D, MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-150D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-145, MEX-175 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 7 states: Michoacán, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala, Puebla, Veracruz, Oaxaca. None of the 8 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Uruapan to Tuxtepec, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Michoacán |
| MEX-14D | 4–37 | 33 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 37–75 | 38 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 75–167 | 92 | Michoacán, State of Mexico |
| MEX-M40D | 167–306 | 139 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| MEX-150D | 306–458 | 152 | Puebla, Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 458–460 | 2 | Veracruz |
| MEX-145 | 460–509 | 49 | Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 509–510 | 1 | Veracruz |
| MEX-175 | 510–516 | 6 | Veracruz, Oaxaca |
| local roads | 516–517 | 1 | Oaxaca |
- Mile 149 of this route: Michoacán → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 198 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 228 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 242 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 259 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 272 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 279 of this route: Hidalgo → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 302 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 390 of this route: Puebla → Veracruz (state line)
- Mile 513 of this route: Veracruz → Oaxaca (state line)
Stops between Uruapan and Tuxtepec
- Nature and outdoors: Rayón National Park (mile 145)
- Museums and history: Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares (mile 33), Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl (mile 211), Teotihuacan (mile 260), Museo Poblano de Arte Virreinal (mile 326), Veracruz State Art Museum (mile 413), Cathedral of Córdoba, Veracruz (mile 425)
Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares
Housed in an 18th-century building adapted from the Colegio de San Nicolás, which Vasco de Quiroga founded in the 16th century, this INAH museum in Pátzcuaro shows Purépecha pottery, textiles, woodwork and lacquerware.
Historic Centre of Morelia
Morelia's old core, founded in the 16th century as Valladolid, keeps more than 200 historic buildings in the region's pink stone around its cathedral and checkerboard streets. UNESCO added it to the World Heritage List in 1991.
Rayón National Park
Just outside Tlalpujahua, Rayón National Park (Parque Nacional Rayón) marks the start of the area's famous butterfly reserve country, which stretches south and west from here.
Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl
The Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl is an archaeological museum located in Tula de Allende, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
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.
Museo Poblano de Arte Virreinal
Puebla's San Pedro Museo de Arte, formerly the Museo Poblano de Arte Virreinal, opened in 2000 and focuses on New Spanish painting, with galleries for permanent and temporary exhibitions.
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.
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.
More drives to Tuxtepec
- Cholula to Tuxtepec
- Mexico City to Tuxtepec
- Pachuca to Tuxtepec
- Toluca to Tuxtepec
- San Juan del Río to Tuxtepec
- Querétaro to Tuxtepec
From Uruapan to other places in Mexico
- Uruapan to Amatitán
- Uruapan to Tequila
- Uruapan to Pabellón de Arteaga
- Uruapan to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Uruapan to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Uruapan to Real de Asientos
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Uruapan to Tuxtepec?
About 8 h 42 min of driving without stops, over 517 miles.
How far is Tuxtepec from Uruapan by car?
About 517 miles (832 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 Uruapan to Tuxtepec?
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 Uruapan to Tuxtepec?
The U.S. State Department rates Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Oaxaca Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Uruapan to Tuxtepec use?
In order: MEX-14D, MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-150D, MEX-145 and MEX-175. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Uruapan and Tuxtepec?
Closest to the road: Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares (museum, mile 33, 1 mi from the route); Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl (museum, mile 211, 1 mi from the route); Veracruz State Art Museum (art museum, mile 413, 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.