Plan on about 7 h 52 min of driving for the 482-mile (775 km) trip from Villahermosa to Pachuca, before any stops.
| Distance | 482 mi (775 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 52 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 19.3 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 Villahermosa to Pachuca is like
MEX-150D (156 mi) and MEX-145D (143 mi) carry about 62% of the 482 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, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Villahermosa to Pachuca: the road sequence
| 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 | 464–480 | 16 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 480–482 | 2 | 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 Pachuca
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 311), Church and former convent of Todos los Santos (mile 466)
- Nature and outdoors: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 311), La Malinche National Park (mile 386)
- Museums and history: La Venta (mile 73), Huatusco (mile 263), Veracruz State Art Museum (mile 301), Capilla del Arte (mile 393)
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
Above the Atoyac River in Carrillo Puerto, the ruins of Huatusco (Cuauhtochco) include a Mexica-era temple that still keeps original surface finishes. There are no visitor facilities; reaching it means crossing a suspension bridge and climbing a steep trail, ideally with a local guide.
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.
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 Principal
The Teatro Principal is a historic theater in the city of Puebla that is still active as a stage for performances.
Capilla del Arte
Capilla del Arte is a cultural space of the Universidad de las Américas Puebla in the old Las Fábricas de Francia building, with a contemporary art gallery and a reading nook.
Convento de Huejotzingo
Founded by Franciscans in the 16th century, the former convent of San Miguel Arcángel in Huejotzingo shows colonial Plateresque architecture on the western slopes of Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl. UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 1994.
Church and former convent of Todos los Santos
Franciscan friars built this fortress-style convent in Zempoala, and the complex still keeps the classic layout of atrium, church, open chapel and cloister. It pairs well with a drive through the area's old pulque haciendas.
When you get to Pachuca
Monumental Clock of Pachuca
Rising over Plaza Independencia in Pachuca's historic center, the Monumental Clock tower was built between 1904 and 1910 to mark the centennial of Mexico's War of Independence.
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.
Cuartel del Arte en Pachuca, Hidalgo
In downtown Pachuca, the Cuartel del Arte is an art gallery presenting painting and sculpture exhibitions by Mexican and international artists.
More drives to Pachuca
- Mexico City to Pachuca
- Toluca to Pachuca
- Cuernavaca to Pachuca
- San Juan del Río to Pachuca
- Celaya to Pachuca
- Morelia to Pachuca
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 Pachuca?
About 7 h 52 min of driving without stops, over 482 miles.
What is the driving distance from Villahermosa to Pachuca?
About 482 miles (775 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 Pachuca?
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 Pachuca?
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.
Which highways go from Villahermosa to Pachuca?
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 Pachuca?
Closest to the road: Veracruz State Art Museum (art museum, mile 301, 1 mi from the route); Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (national park, mile 311, 0.5 mi from the route); Church and former convent of Todos los Santos (convent, mile 466, 0.6 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.