Zacatlán to Copainalá is about 480 road miles (773 km): roughly 9 h 2 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance by road | 480 mi (773 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 9 h 2 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-119 → MEX-136 → MEX-150D → MEX-145D → MEX-180D → MEX-180 → MEX-187D |
| Mexican states on the route | Puebla, Tlaxcala, Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-150D, MEX-145D, MEX-180D, MEX-187D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.2 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 Zacatlán to Copainalá drive plays out
MEX-187D (83 mi) and MEX-150D (81 mi) carry about 34% of the 480 miles. It runs through 5 states: Puebla, Tlaxcala, 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.
Road-by-road breakdown: Zacatlán to Copainalá
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Puebla |
| MEX-119 | 1–42 | 41 | Puebla, Tlaxcala |
| connecting roads | 42–45 | 3 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-136 | 45–69 | 24 | Tlaxcala |
| local roads | 69–109 | 40 | Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| MEX-150D | 109–190 | 81 | Puebla, Veracruz |
| local roads | 190–301 | 111 | Veracruz |
| MEX-145D | 301–332 | 31 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 332–353 | 21 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180 | 353–358 | 5 | Veracruz |
| MEX-187D | 358–441 | 83 | Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas |
| local roads | 441–480 | 39 | Chiapas |
- Mile 25 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 70 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 123 of this route: Puebla → Veracruz (state line)
- Mile 419 of this route: Veracruz → Tabasco (state line)
- Mile 426 of this route: Tabasco → Chiapas (state line)
Places worth a stop between Zacatlán and Copainalá
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Nacional del Títere (mile 61), Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 135)
- Nature and outdoors: Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (mile 135)
- Museums and history: Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Apizaco (mile 44), Museo Nacional del Títere (mile 61), Veracruz State Art Museum (mile 146), Cathedral of Córdoba, Veracruz (mile 157), Huatusco (mile 183)
Santuario de Nuestro Padre Jesús de Aquixtla
In the Sierra Norte de Puebla, the sanctuary of Nuestro Padre Jesús in Aquixtla draws thousands of pilgrims during the year who come to give thanks for favors received.
Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Apizaco
In the city of Apizaco, this Catholic basilica (Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Misericordia) was begun in the third decade of the 20th century and completed in 1961.
Museo Nacional del Títere
On the main square of Huamantla, the National Puppet Museum (Museo Nacional del Títere) fills eight galleries with puppets from Mexico and abroad, including pieces tied to the Rosete Aranda family, whose company toured Mexico for generations.
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.
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.
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.
Cathedral of Córdoba, Veracruz
Córdoba's main church, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, was built in the first half of the 17th century. Look up to see its tiled octagonal dome.
Huatusco
Above the Atoyac River in Carrillo Puerto, Cuauhtochco has a Mexica-era temple that still keeps original surface finishes. Expect no visitor facilities, and consider hiring a local guide.
More drives to Copainalá
- Zacatelco to Copainalá
- Tlaxcala to Copainalá
- Huejotzingo to Copainalá
- Calpulalpan to Copainalá
- Zacualpan de Amilpas to Copainalá
- Otumba to Copainalá
From Zacatlán to other places in Mexico
- Zacatlán to Chipilo
- Zacatlán to Omitlán
- Zacatlán to Otumba
- Zacatlán to Actopan
- Zacatlán to Metztitlán
- Zacatlán to Jilotepec
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Zacatlán to Copainalá?
About 9 h 2 min of driving without stops, over 480 miles.
What is the driving distance from Zacatlán to Copainalá?
About 480 miles (773 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 Zacatlán to Copainalá?
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 Zacatlán to Copainalá?
The U.S. State Department rates Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala 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 Zacatlán to Copainalá?
In order: MEX-119, MEX-136, MEX-150D, MEX-145D, MEX-180D, MEX-180 and MEX-187D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Zacatlán to Copainalá?
Closest to the road: Museo Nacional del Títere (museum, mile 61, 0.9 mi from the route); Cañón del Río Blanco National Park (national park, mile 135, 0.4 mi from the route); Teatro Llave (theater, mile 144, 1 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.