The Wayro route from Veracruz to Zitácuaro is 341 miles (548 km), about 5 h 51 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 341 mi (548 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 51 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-180D → MEX-180 → MEX-140 → MEX-140D → MEX-136 → MEX-117D → MEX-150D → Viaducto → Periférico → MEX-134D → MEX-A6D → MEX-A7D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Mexico City (Level 2), Michoacán (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-180D, MEX-140D, MEX-117D, MEX-M40D, MEX-150D, MEX-134D, MEX-A6D, MEX-A7D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.6 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.
What the drive from Veracruz to Zitácuaro is like
MEX-140D (93 mi) and MEX-150D (47 mi) carry about 41% of the 341 miles. MEX-180D, MEX-140D, MEX-117D, MEX-150D, MEX-134D, MEX-A6D, MEX-A7D, MEX-15D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-180, MEX-140, MEX-136, MEX-15 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 6 states: Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala, State of Mexico, Mexico City, Michoacán. Of the 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Veracruz to Zitácuaro, 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 | 135–163 | 28 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-117D | 163–183 | 20 | Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| connecting roads | 183–185 | 2 | Puebla |
| MEX-150D | 185–232 | 47 | Puebla, State of Mexico |
| local roads | 232–238 | 6 | State of Mexico, Mexico City |
| Viaducto | 238–245 | 7 | Mexico City |
| connecting roads | 245–246 | 1 | Mexico City |
| Periférico | 246–250 | 4 | Mexico City, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 250–251 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 251–256 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 256–257 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-134D | 257–277 | 20 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 277–278 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-A6D | 278–293 | 15 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-A7D | 293–328 | 35 | State of Mexico, Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 328–335 | 7 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 335–339 | 4 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 339–341 | 2 | Michoacán |
- Mile 101 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 127 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 181 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 203 of this route: Puebla → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 236 of this route: State of Mexico → Mexico City (state line)
- Mile 249 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 326 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
Stops between Veracruz and Zitácuaro
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Chapultepec Zoo (mile 247)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Nacional Cofre de Perote (mile 91), La Malinche National Park (mile 147), Desierto de los Leones National Park (mile 267), Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (mile 332)
- Museums and history: Tlaxcala Cathedral (mile 171), Museo Nacional de las Culturas (mile 241), Estela de Luz (mile 247)
- With kids: Chapultepec Zoo (mile 247)
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.
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.
Tlaxcala Cathedral
Part of a 16th-century Franciscan complex among the earliest in the Americas, Tlaxcala's cathedral is famous for its carved Mudéjar-style wooden ceiling. Look for the freestanding bell tower and the stone font where Tlaxcalan lords were baptized.
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.
Chapultepec Zoo
Founded on July 6, 1923, by biologist Alfonso Luis Herrera, Chapultepec Zoo sits inside Mexico City's Chapultepec Park.
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 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
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Veracruz to Zitácuaro?
About 5 h 51 min of driving without stops, over 341 miles.
How far is Zitácuaro from Veracruz by car?
About 341 miles (548 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 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 Veracruz to Zitácuaro?
The U.S. State Department rates Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala 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 Veracruz to Zitácuaro use?
In order: MEX-180D, MEX-180, MEX-140, MEX-140D, MEX-136, MEX-117D, 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 Veracruz and Zitácuaro?
Closest to the road: Tlaxcala Cathedral (catholic cathedral, mile 171, 1 mi from the route); Chapultepec Zoo (zoo, mile 247, 0.5 mi from the route); Estela de Luz (monument, mile 247, 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.