ADO bus stations in Northern Veracruz & Tamaulipas: terminal guide

Travelling by bus in Northern Veracruz & Tamaulipas

Northern Veracruz is Totonac country. Here you will find the El Tajín ruins near Papantla, the vanilla-growing hills, and quiet Gulf beaches at Tecolutla, with the oil city of Poza Rica as the main transport hub. Further north, the port of Tampico and the border city of Reynosa connect the Gulf coast with northeastern Mexico and Texas.

Distances along this coast are long and direct buses between smaller towns are limited. Most travellers change in Poza Rica, so knowing how its terminals work, and where each town's ADO station sits, makes planning much easier.

How ADO serves Northern Veracruz & Tamaulipas

ADO runs a dense network along the northern Gulf coast, and Poza Rica's Central de Autobuses is its main hub, with ADO, ADO GL and ADO Platino alongside other national lines. ADO runs frequent buses between Poza Rica and Tuxpan and Papantla. It links Papantla and Tecolutla with Mexico City's Terminal Norte, and it serves Tampico. Long-distance ADO routes also run from Reynosa south to Veracruz, and the CAVE terminal in Veracruz lists both Tampico and Reynosa among its destinations.

Poza Rica de Hidalgo Álamo (Central de Autobuses Poza Rica)

Address: Álamo, 93320, Poza Rica de Hidalgo
Coordinates: 20.54186, -97.46746
ADO lines: ADO, ADO GL
Departures: about 229 ADO connections a day to 39 cities

Poza Rica's main bus station is on Av. Puebla in the Palma Sola area, in the north-west of the city near federal highway 180. More than 30 lines use it, including ADO, ADO GL, ADO Platino, Futura, Estrella Blanca and Omnibus de México. It is the main transfer point for Papantla, El Tajín, Tuxpan and the rest of the coast.

Getting there: Taxis are plentiful and are the usual choice for visitors. Uber also works in Poza Rica. Locals use peseros (shared minibuses) on fixed routes around the city and to nearby towns.

Facilities: There are restrooms, food outlets and a spacious waiting area.

Tip: For many coastal destinations, changing buses in Poza Rica is easier than finding a direct service. El Tajín is only about 15 km away.

Tuxpam de Rodriguez Cano Bus Station (Terminal ADO Tuxpan)

Address: C. Genaro Rodríguez, Centro, 92800, Túxpam de Rodríguez Cano
Coordinates: 20.95132, -97.40227
ADO lines: ADO, ADO GL
Departures: about 197 ADO connections a day to 30 cities

Tuxpan's ADO terminal is on Calle Genaro Rodríguez in the centre of this river port. ADO buses arrive frequently, with hourly services to and from Poza Rica.

Getting there: The terminal is in the town centre. Other companies, such as Omnibus de México and Estrella Blanca, have their own separate stations on Av. Cuauhtémoc.

Facilities: It is a compact terminal with limited seating and a ticket counter.

Tip: Each bus company in Tuxpan has its own station, so check which one your ticket names. For Veracruz or Mexico City, you may need to change at Poza Rica.

Tampico Central Bus Station (Central de Autobuses Tampico)

Address: Av Rosalio Bustamante, 89130, Tampico
Coordinates: 22.24895, -97.85855
ADO lines: ADO, ADO GL, ADO Platino
Departures: about 188 ADO connections a day to 35 cities

Tampico's central bus station, at Av. Rosalío Bustamante 210 in Colonia Allende, has buses to dozens of destinations. ADO, Omnibus de México and Futura are the main intercity lines, with routes to Mexico City, northern Mexican cities and Texas.

Getting there: Use a taxi or rideshare between the terminal and the historic centre or your hotel.

Tip: Connections from the south are limited, so from Veracruz it is often better to split the trip at Tuxpan or Poza Rica. The route to Mexico City crosses the Sierra Madre Oriental and is very scenic.

Papantla Bus Station (Terminal ADO Papantla)

Address: Benito Juarez 408, 93400, Papantla
Coordinates: 20.45127, -97.31990
ADO lines: ADO
Departures: about 77 ADO connections a day to 22 cities

Papantla's ADO station, at Juárez 207, is the gateway for visitors to the El Tajín archaeological site. ADO links the town with Poza Rica, Veracruz and Mexico City's Terminal Norte.

Getting there: The terminal is about five blocks downhill from the zócalo, an easy walk. Local buses to El Tajín leave from the corner of 16 de Septiembre and Curato in town.

Tip: Papantla has a separate terminal for local lines, so ask specifically for the ADO terminal. Bring insect repellent for El Tajín, which is hot and humid.

Tecolutla Bus Station (Tecolutla)

Address: Juan Ahumada 87, 93570, Tecolutla
Coordinates: 20.47888, -97.00900
ADO lines: ADO
Departures: about 28 ADO connections a day to 8 cities

Tecolutla is a small beach town about 40 km from El Tajín. ADO runs services from here to Mexico City's Terminal Norte, and local buses connect it with Papantla and Gutiérrez Zamora.

Getting there: Tecolutla has a small, walkable downtown, so the beach and most hotels are reachable on foot or by a short taxi ride.

Tip: Direct departures are limited, so buy tickets online in advance, especially for holiday weekends. Other connections usually go through Papantla or Poza Rica.

Reynosa Central Bus Station (Central de Autobuses de Reynosa)

Address: Calle Loma Escondida 1150, 88736, Reynosa
Coordinates: 26.08493, -98.27238
ADO lines: ADO, ADO GL
Departures: about 46 ADO connections a day to 17 cities

Reynosa's central bus station is at Calle López Velarde 100, Colonia del Prado, about 1.6 km from the Hidalgo international bridge to McAllen, Texas. ADO, Futura, Ómnibus de Oriente, Transportes Frontera and other lines run from here, including long-distance ADO services south to Veracruz.

Getting there: Mexican buses end on the Mexican side of the border. To reach the Hidalgo bridge, take a taxi or walk the short distance from the terminal.

Tip: The US government rates Tamaulipas 'Do Not Travel', and in 2026 consular alerts reported roadblocks and violence in the Reynosa area. Check current advisories, travel in daylight, and go directly between the bridge and the terminal.