Villahermosa to Actopan is about 502 road miles (808 km): roughly 8 h 23 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Total distance | 502 mi (808 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 23 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-180 → MEX-180D → MEX-145D → MEX-150D → MEX-M40D → MEX-132 → MEX-88 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tabasco, Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-180D, MEX-145D, MEX-150D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.1 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.
How the Villahermosa to Actopan drive plays out
MEX-150D (156 mi) and MEX-145D (143 mi) carry about 60% of the 502 miles. It runs through 6 states: Tabasco, Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-180D, MEX-145D and MEX-150D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Villahermosa to Actopan
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Tabasco |
| MEX-180 | 2–40 | 38 | Tabasco |
| MEX-180D | 40–74 | 34 | Tabasco |
| MEX-180 | 74–93 | 19 | Tabasco, Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 93–114 | 21 | Veracruz |
| MEX-145D | 114–257 | 143 | Veracruz |
| MEX-150D | 257–413 | 156 | Veracruz, Puebla |
| connecting roads | 413–414 | 1 | Puebla |
| MEX-M40D | 414–459 | 45 | Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 459–460 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-132 | 460–463 | 3 | Hidalgo |
| connecting roads | 463–464 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-88 | 464–479 | 15 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 479–502 | 23 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 76 of this route: Tabasco → Veracruz (state line)
- Mile 324 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 418 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 441 of this route: Tlaxcala → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 449 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 460 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
Places worth a stop between Villahermosa and Actopan
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 311), Parque Cultural Hidalguense (mile 481), Centro Interactivo Mundo Futbol (mile 481)
- Nature and outdoors: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 311), La Malinche National Park (mile 386), Parque Cultural Hidalguense (mile 481)
- Museums and history: La Venta (mile 73), Huatusco (mile 263), Museo José Luis Bello y Zetina (mile 393), Centro Interactivo Mundo Futbol (mile 481)
La Venta
La Venta was an important city of the Olmec civilization, in Tabasco near Huimanguillo. Its site museum displays more than 200 artifacts, including monumental sandstone sculptures found at the foot of the main pyramid.
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.
Teatro Llave
In central Orizaba, the Gran Teatro Ignacio de la Llave hosts artistic and cultural performances, and its exhibition room shows temporary collections, mostly by artists from the surrounding valley.
Cañón del Río Blanco National Park
Veracruz is home to Cañón del Río Blanco National Park, a natural area that the Mexican government has set aside for protection.
La Malinche National Park
Pine, oak and fir forests cover the slopes of the inactive Matlalcuéyetl volcano, the centerpiece of La Malinche National Park in Tlaxcala.
Teatro de la Ciudad de Puebla
The Teatro de la Ciudad is a performance venue on the Portal Hidalgo, in the historic center of the city of Puebla.
Museo José Luis Bello y Zetina
Next to the Templo de Santo Domingo in downtown Puebla, the Museo José Luis Bello y Zetina shows a house and art collection donated by the Puebla philanthropist it's named for.
Parque Cultural Hidalguense
Formerly Parque David Ben Gurión, Pachuca's Parque Cultural Hidalguense reopened in 2025 after a major renovation, with a monumental chess board, an artificial lake with fountains, a skate park and Byron Gálvez's restored artwork known as el Pisal.
Centro Interactivo Mundo Futbol
Centro Interactivo Mundo Fútbol is an interactive museum devoted to soccer, located in the city of Pachuca de Soto in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
More drives to Actopan
- Tulancingo to Actopan
- Tepotzotlán to Actopan
- Mexico City to Actopan
- Tequisquiapan to Actopan
- Toluca to Actopan
- Cuernavaca to Actopan
From Villahermosa to other places in Mexico
- Villahermosa to Tehuacán
- Villahermosa to Cholula
- Villahermosa to Chiautempan
- Villahermosa to Tlaxcala
- Villahermosa to Calpulalpan
- Villahermosa to San Miguel, Morelos
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Villahermosa to Actopan?
About 8 h 23 min of driving without stops, over 502 miles.
What is the driving distance from Villahermosa to Actopan?
About 502 miles (808 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 Villahermosa 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 Villahermosa to Actopan?
The U.S. State Department rates Tabasco Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; 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 Villahermosa to Actopan use?
In order: MEX-180, MEX-180D, MEX-145D, MEX-150D, MEX-M40D, MEX-132 and MEX-88. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Villahermosa to Actopan?
Closest to the road: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (national park, mile 311, 0.5 mi from the route); Parque Cultural Hidalguense (park, mile 481, 0.7 mi from the route); Centro Interactivo Mundo Futbol (museum, mile 481, 0.8 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.