Plan on about 9 h 32 min of driving for the 516-mile (830 km) trip from Zacatelco to Balancán, before any stops.
| Distance by road | 516 mi (830 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 32 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-119 → MEX-150D → MEX-145D → MEX-180D → MEX-180 → MEX-186 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala, Puebla, Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-150D, MEX-145D, MEX-180D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.6 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 Zacatelco to Balancán is like
MEX-150D (131 mi) and MEX-186 (95 mi) carry about 44% of the 516 miles. It runs through 5 states: Tlaxcala, Puebla, Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-150D, MEX-145D and MEX-180D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Zacatelco to Balancán: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-119 | 0–9 | 9 | Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| connecting roads | 9–11 | 2 | Puebla |
| MEX-150D | 11–142 | 131 | Puebla, Veracruz |
| local roads | 142–253 | 111 | Veracruz |
| MEX-145D | 253–285 | 32 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 285–305 | 20 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180 | 305–324 | 19 | Veracruz, Tabasco |
| MEX-180D | 324–357 | 33 | Tabasco |
| MEX-180 | 357–397 | 40 | Tabasco |
| local roads | 397–401 | 4 | Tabasco |
| MEX-186 | 401–496 | 95 | Tabasco, Chiapas |
| local roads | 496–516 | 20 | Tabasco |
- Mile 8 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 75 of this route: Puebla → Veracruz (state line)
- Mile 322 of this route: Veracruz → Tabasco (state line)
- Mile 447 of this route: Tabasco → Chiapas (state line)
- Mile 490 of this route: Chiapas → Tabasco (state line)
What to see on the way from Zacatelco to Balancán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 87), Museo de Historia de Tabasco Casa de los Azulejos (mile 400)
- Nature and outdoors: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 87)
- Museums and history: Capilla del Arte (mile 11), Orizaba Cathedral (mile 96), Veracruz State Art Museum (mile 98), Huatusco (mile 135), La Venta (mile 325), Museo de Antropología Carlos Pellicer (mile 400), Museo de Historia de Tabasco Casa de los Azulejos (mile 400)
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.
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.
Orizaba Cathedral
The Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel is the main Catholic church of Orizaba, in the state of Veracruz, and the seat of the Diocese of Orizaba.
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.
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.
La Venta
Once an important Olmec city, La Venta sits in Tabasco close to Huimanguillo. Monumental sandstone sculptures found at the foot of its main pyramid are among the 200-plus pieces in the site museum.
Museo de Antropología Carlos Pellicer
Villahermosa's regional anthropology museum, named for poet Carlos Pellicer Cámara, displays Olmec and Maya pieces found across Tabasco, along with loans from other parts of Mexico such as Teotihuacan. It opened in 1980.
Museo de Historia de Tabasco Casa de los Azulejos
The Museo de Historia de Tabasco, housed in the Casa de los Azulejos, is a history museum in the historic center of Villahermosa, Tabasco.
When you get to Balancán
Museo de Balancán Dr. José Gómez Panaco
Museo de Balancán Dr. José Gómez Panaco is an archaeology museum in the town of Balancán de Domínguez, in the Mexican state of Tabasco.
More drives to Balancán
- Tuxtla to Balancán
- Córdoba, Mexico to Balancán
- Orizaba to Balancán
- Xico to Balancán
- Puebla to Balancán
- Cholula to Balancán
From Zacatelco to other places in Mexico
- Zacatelco to Tlaxco
- Zacatelco to Calpulalpan
- Zacatelco to Otumba
- Zacatelco to Atlatlahucan
- Zacatelco to Omitlán
- Zacatelco to Huasca de Ocampo
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Zacatelco to Balancán?
About 9 h 32 min of driving without stops, over 516 miles.
What is the driving distance from Zacatelco to Balancán?
About 516 miles (830 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 Zacatelco to Balancán?
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 Zacatelco to Balancán?
The U.S. State Department rates Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tabasco Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Chiapas Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Zacatelco to Balancán?
In order: MEX-119, MEX-150D, MEX-145D, MEX-180D, MEX-180 and MEX-186. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Zacatelco to Balancán?
Closest to the road: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (national park, mile 87, 0.4 mi from the route); Veracruz State Art Museum (art museum, mile 98, 1 mi from the route); Museo de Historia de Tabasco Casa de los Azulejos (museum, mile 400, 0.7 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.