The Wayro route from Zacatelco to Naolinco is 124 miles (199 km), about 2 h 23 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 124 mi (199 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 2 h 23 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-119 → MEX-150D → MEX-140D → VER 65 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Veracruz (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-150D, MEX-140D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 4.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
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 Naolinco is like
MEX-140D (65 mi) and VER 65 (12 mi) carry about 62% of the 124 miles. MEX-150D, MEX-140D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-119 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 3 states: Tlaxcala, Puebla, Veracruz. None of the 5 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Zacatelco to Naolinco, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-119 | 0–9 | 9 | Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| connecting roads | 9–11 | 2 | Puebla |
| MEX-150D | 11–18 | 7 | Puebla |
| local roads | 18–44 | 26 | Puebla, Tlaxcala |
| MEX-140D | 44–109 | 65 | Tlaxcala, Puebla, Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 109–111 | 2 | Veracruz |
| VER 65 | 111–123 | 12 | Veracruz |
| local roads | 123–124 | 1 | Veracruz |
- Mile 8 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 30 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 37 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 43 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 53 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 78 of this route: Puebla → Veracruz (state line)
Stops between Zacatelco and Naolinco
- Nature and outdoors: La Malinche National Park (mile 28), Parque Nacional Cofre de Perote (mile 87)
- Museums and history: Museo Poblano de Arte Virreinal (mile 11), Museo de Sitio de Cantona (mile 69), Cantona (mile 70)
Museo Poblano de Arte Virreinal
Puebla's San Pedro Museo de Arte, formerly the Museo Poblano de Arte Virreinal, opened in 2000 and focuses on New Spanish painting, with galleries for permanent and temporary exhibitions.
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.
Museo de Sitio de Cantona
At the Cantona archaeological zone in Tepeyahualco, this site museum shows finds from more than 20 years of digs: pottery, obsidian and stone tools, musical instruments, greenstone and shell ornaments, and burial remains.
Cantona
High on the Puebla plateau near the Veracruz line, Cantona was a fortified pre-Hispanic city that controlled trade toward the Gulf; its explored southern section reveals interconnected streets, walled residential units and more than two dozen ballgame courts.
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.
More drives to Naolinco
- Cholula to Naolinco
- Huejotzingo to Naolinco
- Atlixco to Naolinco
- Cuautla to Naolinco
- Tepotzotlán to Naolinco
- Cuernavaca to Naolinco
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
- Zacatelco to Sombrerete Road Trip: Distance, Time & Stops
- Zacatelco to Pinal de Amoles Road Trip: Distance, Time & Stops
- Zacatelco to Jalpa de Cánovas Road Trip: Route, Stops & Safety
- Zacatelco to Nochistlán Road Trip: Where to Stop on the Way
- Zacatelco to Ihuatzio Road Trip: Stops, Tolls & Drive Time
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Zacatelco to Naolinco?
About 2 h 23 min of driving without stops, over 124 miles.
How far is Naolinco from Zacatelco by car?
About 124 miles (199 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 Naolinco?
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 Naolinco?
The U.S. State Department rates Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Zacatelco to Naolinco use?
In order: MEX-119, MEX-150D, MEX-140D and VER 65. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Zacatelco and Naolinco?
Closest to the road: Museo Poblano de Arte Virreinal (museum, mile 11, 3 mi from the route); Museo de Sitio de Cantona (museum, mile 69, 3 mi from the route); Cantona (archaeological site, mile 70, 3 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.