The Wayro route from Veracruz to Actopan is 257 miles (413 km), about 4 h 47 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 257 mi (413 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 47 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-180D → MEX-180 → MEX-140 → MEX-140D → MEX-136 → MEX-M40D → MEX-132 → MEX-88 |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-180D, MEX-140D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
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 Veracruz to Actopan is like
MEX-140D (93 mi) and MEX-136 (51 mi) carry about 56% of the 257 miles. MEX-180D, MEX-140D, MEX-M40D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-180, MEX-140, MEX-136, MEX-132, MEX-88 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 5 states: Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico. None of the 9 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Veracruz to Actopan, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 4–21 | 17 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180 | 21–30 | 9 | Veracruz |
| MEX-140 | 30–39 | 9 | Veracruz |
| MEX-140D | 39–47 | 8 | Veracruz |
| MEX-140 | 47–50 | 3 | Veracruz |
| MEX-140D | 50–135 | 85 | Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala |
| MEX-136 | 135–186 | 51 | Tlaxcala |
| connecting roads | 186–187 | 1 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-M40D | 187–214 | 27 | Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| MEX-132 | 214–217 | 3 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| connecting roads | 217–218 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-88 | 218–234 | 16 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 234–257 | 23 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 101 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 127 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 196 of this route: Tlaxcala → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 203 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 216 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
Stops between Veracruz and Actopan
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Nacional Cofre de Perote (mile 91), La Malinche National Park (mile 147), Parque nacional Xicoténcatl (mile 162), El Chico National Park (mile 238)
- Museums and history: Cantona (mile 108), Museo de Sitio de Cantona (mile 110), Teotihuacan (mile 214), Museo Nacional de la Fotografía (mile 234)
- With kids: Bioparque de Convivencia en Pachuca, Hidalgo (mile 235)
Parque Nacional Cofre de Perote
Cofre de Perote National Park protects the forested slopes of the mountain, and its role is practical as well as scenic: a little over 40 percent of the water used in Xalapa comes from here.
Cantona
High on the Puebla plateau near the Veracruz line, Cantona was a fortified pre-Hispanic city that controlled trade toward the Gulf; its explored southern section reveals interconnected streets, walled residential units and more than two dozen ballgame courts.
Museo de Sitio de Cantona
At the Cantona archaeological zone in Tepeyahualco, this site museum shows finds from more than 20 years of digs: pottery, obsidian and stone tools, musical instruments, greenstone and shell ornaments, and burial remains.
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.
Parque nacional Xicoténcatl
Covering roughly 600 hectares in central Tlaxcala, Xicohténcatl National Park takes in the historic center of Tlaxcala city plus Quiahuixtlán, Ocotelulco and Tepeticpac, which correspond to three of the old Tlaxcalan lordships.
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 Nacional de la Fotografía
Pachuca de Soto, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo, is home to the Museo Nacional de la Fotografía, a museum devoted to photography.
Bioparque de Convivencia en Pachuca, Hidalgo
Pachuca's Bioparque de Convivencia is a rescue and recovery center for wild, exotic and endemic animals saved from abuse, abandonment or risk, housing a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation unit.
El Chico National Park
In Hidalgo, El Chico National Park is known for towering cliffs such as Las Ventanas and Peña del Cuervo, popular with climbers, and forest wildlife including gray foxes, ringtails, armadillos, hawks, falcons and woodpeckers.
More drives to Actopan
- Tulancingo to Actopan
- Tepotzotlán to Actopan
- Mexico City to Actopan
- Tequisquiapan to Actopan
- Toluca to Actopan
- Cuernavaca to Actopan
From Veracruz to other places in Mexico
- Veracruz to Tecolutla
- Veracruz to Poza Rica
- Veracruz to Zacatelco
- Veracruz to Huejotzingo
- Veracruz to Cuautla
- Veracruz to Oaxtepec
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Veracruz to Actopan?
About 4 h 47 min of driving without stops, over 257 miles.
How far is Actopan from Veracruz by car?
About 257 miles (413 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 Veracruz to Actopan?
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 Veracruz to Actopan?
The U.S. State Department rates Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Veracruz to Actopan use?
In order: MEX-180D, MEX-180, MEX-140, MEX-140D, MEX-136, MEX-M40D, MEX-132 and MEX-88. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Veracruz and Actopan?
Closest to the road: Cantona (archaeological site, mile 108, 3 mi from the route); Museo Nacional de la Fotografía (museum, mile 234, 2 mi from the route); Bioparque de Convivencia en Pachuca, Hidalgo (zoo, mile 235, 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 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.