The Wayro route from Villahermosa to Tulancingo is 488 miles (786 km), about 7 h 55 min of driving without stops.
| Total distance | 488 mi (786 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 55 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-180 → MEX-180D → MEX-145D → MEX-150D → MEX-M40D → MEX-132 → MEX-130 |
| 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 19.5 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.
How the Villahermosa to Tulancingo drive plays out
MEX-150D (156 mi) and MEX-145D (143 mi) carry about 61% of the 488 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 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Villahermosa to Tulancingo: 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 | 460–482 | 22 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-130 | 482–487 | 5 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 487–488 | 1 | 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)
Where to stop on the way to Tulancingo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 311)
- Nature and outdoors: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 311)
- Museums and history: La Venta (mile 73), Huatusco (mile 263), Veracruz State Art Museum (mile 301), Casa de los muñecos (mile 393), Cacaxtla (mile 408)
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.
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.
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
Cañón del Río Blanco National Park is a protected natural area in the Mexican state of Veracruz, set aside by the government as a national park.
Casa de los muñecos
A block northeast of Puebla's zócalo, the 18th-century Casa de los Muñecos is a notable example of the city's civil architecture and now houses the BUAP University Museum.
Cacaxtla
Built on a hill rising above the Tlaxcala-Puebla valley, Cacaxtla is known for its pre-Hispanic murals on the Gran Basamento, a large platform now sheltered under a roof. INAH manages it together with nearby Xochitécatl.
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.
In Tulancingo itself
Tulancingo Cathedral
Tulancingo Cathedral grew from a 16th-century Franciscan mission. The present church, designed by architect José Damián Ortiz de Castro and consecrated in 1806, has an unusual Neoclassical portico with Ionic columns and a triangular pediment.
El Santo Museum
Wrestling fans can stop in Tulancingo, birthplace of the masked luchador El Santo, where this museum opened in 1985. Displays include original masks and ring outfits, movie promotional material and photos from his career and private life.
Museo de Datos Históricos
Tulancingo's first station of the Hidalgo and Northeast Railroad, built in 1893, now houses the Museo de Datos Históricos, with regional archaeological pieces such as the Huapalcalco feline, traditional clothing from Santa Ana Hueytlalpan and a historical photo archive.
More drives to Tulancingo
- Mexico City to Tulancingo
- Toluca to Tulancingo
- Cuernavaca to Tulancingo
- Cuautla to Tulancingo
- Zamora to Tulancingo
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Tulancingo
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 Tulancingo?
About 7 h 55 min of driving without stops, over 488 miles.
How far is Tulancingo from Villahermosa by car?
About 488 miles (786 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 Tulancingo?
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 Tulancingo?
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 Tulancingo?
In order: MEX-180, MEX-180D, MEX-145D, MEX-150D, MEX-M40D, MEX-132 and MEX-130. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Villahermosa and Tulancingo?
Closest to the road: Veracruz State Art Museum (art museum, mile 301, 1 mi from the route); Teatro Llave (theater, mile 303, 1 mi from the route); Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (national park, mile 311, 0.5 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.