Cheap bus tickets from Mexico City to Tampico

Find and compare the best ground travel options in one place.

Bus from Mexico City to Tampico: Journey Information

There are 19 intercity buses per day from Mexico City to Tampico. Traveling by bus from Mexico City to Tampico usually takes around 7 hours and 26 minutes, but the fastest ETN bus can make the trip in 5 hours and 50 minutes.

Distance: 210 mi (338 km)
Shortest duration: 5h 50m
Cheapest price: RON 282.74
Trips per day: 19
Most frequent service: ADO
Bus lines: 5

Millions of travelers trust Wanderu every year to get:

Lowest Prices

We find the cheapest bus & train tickets, so you can wander for less.

Best Travel Options

We partner with 500+ carriers to bring you the most bus & train options.

Quick & Easy Booking

Book trips quickly with a simple, hassle-free checkout – online & on our app.

Fast Customer Support

We don’t monkey around. We respond within minutes to help you out.

See what travelers are saying about Wanderu:

Download our free app!

Find, compare & book buses and trains on the go with the Wanderu app.

4.8 Rating

5k Reviews

4.5 Rating

4.8k Reviews

Mexico City to Tampico Bus Schedule

There are several bus options that can take you from Mexico City to Tampico:

See more details

How much is a bus ticket from Mexico City to Tampico?

Bus tickets for a trip from Mexico City to Tampico cost about RON 311 when you book at the cheapest time, 23 days ahead. While it’s a bit pricey for a bus ticket, it’s still significantly more cost-effective than flying. If you book your trip ahead of time using Wanderu, you can easily find bus tickets at or below this price.

Average bus ticket prices from Mexico City to Tampico by travel date

If you're planning to travel by bus from Mexico City to Tampico in the next month, the average ticket price is expected to range from RON 307 to RON 321. The cheapest bus tickets available in the next few weeks are for trips departing on November 14, 2026. If you’re looking to travel to Tampico this week, bus tickets are available starting at RON 311.

Average bus ticket prices from Mexico City to Tampico by month

Taking the bus from Mexico City to Tampico is usually cheapest in January, when the average ticket price is only RON 283. If you're planning to take the bus from Mexico City to Tampico during May, keep in mind that bus ticket prices may be higher than usual, with an average price of RON 340. However, booking your trip in advance can help you score a ticket at a better price.

Prices as travel date approaches

Most bus companies charge higher ticket prices closer to the date of travel, so it’s a good idea to buy your bus tickets as early as possible. To find the cheapest bus tickets, book your trip at least 23 days in advance. This way, you can save up to RON 11.31 on your bus ticket compared to booking last-minute.

What bus companies travel from Mexico City to Tampico?

There are 5 bus lines from Mexico City to Tampico available for you to search and compare on Wanderu. With 11 daily trips, ADO usually has the most buses running on any given day. Here are some time and price comparisons for all the available options:

Bus	Daily Trips	Avg. Time	Avg. Price
ADO	11	8h 1m	RON 288.96
ADO GL	2	7h 25m	RON 310.69
ADO Platino	5	6h 41m	RON 337.22
ETN	2	6h 39m	RON 391.08
Turistar	1	6h 30m	RON 390.94

Book ADO from Mexico City to Tampico from RON 282.74. There are 11 trips per day offered by ADO from Mexico City to Tampico and you can expect on average to pay RON 288.96 for a ADO ticket to Tampico. In Mexico City, ADO departs to Tampico from Central de Autobuses and 2 other stations. In Tampico, ADO arrives at Tampico ADO Central Tampico.
An average trip on ADO from Mexico City to Tampico takes 8 hours and 1 minute, while the fastest available ADO trip will get you to Tampico in 6 hours and 50 minutes.
On weekends, ADO offers 11 trips per day. A one way ticket costs RON 282.74 for a weekend trip to Tampico.
ADO GL is a prominent Mexican passenger bus company that has been operating since 1992. It is part of the renowned ADO group and focuses on luxury travel, primarily serving Mexico's southern and eastern regions, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Yucatan Peninsula. ADO GL offers deluxe coaches with executive-style seats, ample legroom, and various amenities such as air conditioning, restrooms, power outlets, and beverage services, providing a truly luxurious experience for passengers.
ADO Platino, a luxury intercity bus service in Mexico, offers a premium travel experience for passengers seeking comfort and elegance. As a sub-brand of ADO, ADO Platino lives up to its name by providing a platinum-level service. Popular routes include the Mexico City to Oaxaca journey, which takes approximately seven hours, and the trip from Merida to Cancun. With affordable ticket prices, ADO Platino ensures that travelers can enjoy luxury travel at a reasonable cost. On board, passengers can enjoy air-conditioned cabins with reclining seats, restrooms, USB power outlets, and complimentary Wi-Fi.
Book ETN from Mexico City to Tampico from RON 378.58. There are 2 trips per day offered by ETN from Mexico City to Tampico and you can expect on average to pay RON 391.08 for a ETN ticket to Tampico. In Mexico City, ETN departs to Tampico from Central de Autobuses. In Tampico, ETN arrives at Tampico ADO Central Tampico.
An average trip on ETN from Mexico City to Tampico takes 6 hours and 39 minutes, while the fastest available ETN trip will get you to Tampico in 5 hours and 50 minutes.
On weekends, ETN offers 2 trips per day. A one way ticket costs RON 378.58 for a weekend trip to Tampico.
Book Turistar from Mexico City to Tampico from RON 378.58. Typically there is one Turistar schedule per day from Mexico City to Tampico and you can expect on average to pay RON 390.94 for a Turistar ticket to Tampico. In Mexico City, Turistar departs to Tampico from Central de Autobuses. In Tampico, Turistar arrives at Tampico ADO Central Tampico.
An average trip on Turistar from Mexico City to Tampico takes 6 hours and 30 minutes.
On weekends, Turistar offers 1 trip per day and you could expect to pay RON 378.58 for a one way ticket for your weekend getaway trip to Tampico.

Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from Mexico City to Tampico

There are 19 scheduled buses that travel from Mexico City to Tampico every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. Furthermore, all of these are direct buses which you can take the entire route from Mexico City to Tampico without transferring.

Trips per day

Direct trips

The bus takes an average of 7 hours and 26 minutes to cover the 210 miles from Mexico City to Tampico. However, the fastest bus only takes 5 hours and 50 minutes. It’s definitely on the longer side, so plan to get comfortable for a long road trip. Keep in mind that your actual bus may arrive earlier or later than scheduled, depending on whether there is more or less traffic than usual.

Distance (mi)

210

Distance (km)

338

The first bus leaves at 12:10 AM and the last bus leaves at 11:59 PM. To see the times for all buses from Mexico City to Tampico, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.

Earliest bus

12:10am

Latest bus

11:59pm

Friday is the busiest travel day for buses as people head from Mexico City to Tampico for the weekend. If you are planning to travel on a Friday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out. On the other hand, Tuesday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you’re looking for a little extra space, a Tuesday ticket is the way to go.

Most crowded

Friday

Least crowded

Tuesday

City Information

Mexico City

Mexico City is one of the most vibrant and liveliest cities in the world, making it an exciting destination for all travelers. One of the must-see attractions in the city is the famous Museo Nacional de Antropología, which features an extensive collection from the city’s pre-Columbian era. Its star attraction is the famous Aztec Calendar Stone, also known as Piedra del Sol. For those who enjoy exploring the city’s amazing cultural life, the Palacio de Bellas Artes is a must-see destination. The art deco-style palace hosts some of the grandest cultural events around, including concerts, operas, etc. Another unique destination to check out is Teotihuacán, a world heritage site that contains some of the largest pre-Columbian pyramids in Mexico.

Mexico City’s food scene is so vast that it can be quite hard to fully explore in just a few days. Some notable foodie destinations include Pujol, Contramar, and Quintonil. If you want to grab one of those famous Mexican churros, head over to Churreria El Moro.

Mexico City’s four major bus stations are North, South, Observatorio, and TAPO. Some intercity buses leave directly from the Mexico City International Airport, which is located just about 7 miles east of the city center.

Station Information

Where does the bus leave from in Mexico City?

Main departure station: Central de Autobuses

The bus station on Eje Central Lázaro Cárdenas is a curbside stop where intercity and local buses connect to the Lázaro Cárdenas metro station. The metro station is located on Line 9 of the local metro system and includes all the basic amenities of a public station: public restrooms, ATMs, and a waiting area with roofs. The aboveground bus station is at the intersection of Eje Central Lázaro Cárdenas and Eje 3 in Mexico City. The intersection has a supermarket, and the surrounding blocks are home to many eateries and retail stores.

All bus stations in Mexico City:

Central de Autobuses
Mexico City Bus Station
Mexico City TAPO San Lazaro Bus Station

Where does the bus arrive in Tampico?

Main arrival station: Tampico ADO Central Tampico

All buses from Mexico City arrive at one main station in Tampico.

All bus stations in Tampico:

Tampico ADO Central Tampico

Need a return trip from Tampico to Mexico City?

Search Bus Tickets

Wanderu is the simplest way to book bus and train travel.

With just a quick search on Wanderu, you can compare bus and train schedules and prices from hundreds of travel companies in one convenient place to find the trip that works best for you. Wanderu’s simple checkout process makes it easy to book cheap bus and train tickets hassle-free. Most importantly, as Wanderu is an official partner of all leading bus and train companies, we always have the best bus and train deals out there.