Acapulco to Coatzacoalcos is about 535 road miles (861 km): roughly 8 h 55 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance by road | 535 mi (861 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 55 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-95D → MEX-95 → MEX-94D → PUE 438D → MEX-190D → MEX-190 → MEX-150D → MEX-145D → MEX-180D → MEX-185 |
| Mexican states on the route | Guerrero, Morelos, Puebla, Veracruz |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-95D, MEX-94D, MEX-190D, MEX-150D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
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.
The Acapulco–Coatzacoalcos drive in a few lines
MEX-95D (142 mi) and MEX-150D (125 mi) carry about 50% of the 535 miles. It runs through 4 states: Guerrero, Morelos, Puebla, Veracruz. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-95D, MEX-94D and MEX-190D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Acapulco and Coatzacoalcos
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Guerrero |
| MEX-95D | 3–63 | 60 | Guerrero |
| MEX-95 | 63–70 | 7 | Guerrero |
| MEX-95D | 70–152 | 82 | Guerrero, Morelos |
| MEX-94D | 152–190 | 38 | Morelos |
| PUE 438D | 190–224 | 34 | Morelos, Puebla |
| MEX-190D | 224–234 | 10 | Puebla |
| connecting roads | 234–235 | 1 | Puebla |
| MEX-190 | 235–250 | 15 | Puebla |
| MEX-150D | 250–375 | 125 | Puebla, Veracruz |
| local roads | 375–486 | 111 | Veracruz |
| MEX-145D | 486–518 | 32 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 518–521 | 3 | Veracruz |
| MEX-185 | 521–532 | 11 | Veracruz |
| local roads | 532–535 | 3 | Veracruz |
- Mile 150 of this route: Guerrero → Morelos (state line)
- Mile 198 of this route: Morelos → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 308 of this route: Puebla → Veracruz (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Acapulco and Coatzacoalcos
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Interactivo "La Avispa" (mile 65), Museo Regional de Guerrero (mile 66), Cuetlajuchitlán (mile 124)
- Nature and outdoors: Jardín Botánico Universitario de la Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (mile 239)
- Museums and history: Tehuacalco (mile 39), Museo Interactivo "La Avispa" (mile 65), Museo Regional de Guerrero (mile 66), Cuetlajuchitlán (mile 124), Historic centre of Puebla (mile 237), Convent Church of Santo Domingo, Puebla (mile 245), Cathedral of Córdoba, Veracruz (mile 342), Huatusco (mile 368)
Tehuacalco
Near Chilpancingo, Tehuacalco is an archaeological site tied to the Yope people, with excavation work carried out in the 2000s.
Museo Interactivo "La Avispa"
La Avispa is an interactive science museum in Chilpancingo, set along Federal Highway 95 and opened in 1998 as part of a state effort to promote education.
Museo Regional de Guerrero
Chilpancingo's former Government Palace, a Neoclassical building from 1902, now houses the INAH regional museum, with Mezcala-culture stone miniatures, Manila galleon and independence-era pieces, and four murals around the central courtyard.
Cuetlajuchitlán
Discovered in 1991 while the Autopista del Sol was being built, Cuetlajuchitlán (Los Querende) preserves plazas, ritual baths, sunken courtyards and pink stone walls with drainage channels from a settlement that peaked between 200 BC and AD 200.
Historic centre of Puebla
Laid out from scratch in 1531, Puebla's UNESCO-listed core is a grid of tile-covered houses, colonial churches and the 16th–17th-century cathedral, with the old archbishop's palace that houses the Palafox Library, established in 1646.
Jardín Botánico Universitario de la Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla
On the Ciudad Universitaria campus of BUAP in Puebla, the university botanical garden covers about 10.7 hectares and was formerly named after Ignacio Rodríguez Alconedo.
Convent Church of Santo Domingo, Puebla
Behind the facade of Puebla's Santo Domingo church hides the Capilla del Rosario, inaugurated in 1690. Gold covers its walls, pilasters and vaults, and contemporaries hailed it as the eighth wonder of the New World.
Cathedral of Córdoba, Veracruz
An octagonal dome covered in tiles crowns Córdoba's Immaculate Conception Cathedral, the city's main church, finished in a neoclassical style.
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.
When you get to Coatzacoalcos
Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Coatzacoalcos
Officially the Cathedral of Saint Joseph (Catedral de San José), this Catholic church in Coatzacoalcos was raised to cathedral rank and serves as the seat of the Diocese of Coatzacoalcos.
More drives to Coatzacoalcos
- Mexico City to Coatzacoalcos
- Cuernavaca to Coatzacoalcos
- Toluca to Coatzacoalcos
- Querétaro to Coatzacoalcos
- Celaya to Coatzacoalcos
- Salamanca to Coatzacoalcos
From Acapulco to other places in Mexico
- Acapulco to Iguala
- Acapulco to Tlaltizapán
- Acapulco to Oaxtepec
- Acapulco to Malinalco
- Acapulco to Zacualpan de Amilpas
- Acapulco to Tepoztlán
Continue Your Adventure
- Coatzacoalcos to Tequisquiapan Road Trip: Route, Tolls & Stops
- Coatzacoalcos to Pedro Escobedo Road Trip: Route & Stops
- Coatzacoalcos to Orizaba Road Trip: Where to Stop on the Way
- Coatzacoalcos to Ezequiel Montes Road Trip: Stops & Drive Time
- Coatzacoalcos to Metztitlán Road Trip: Route, Tolls & Stops
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Acapulco to Coatzacoalcos?
About 8 h 55 min of driving without stops, over 535 miles.
What is the driving distance from Acapulco to Coatzacoalcos?
About 535 miles (861 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 Acapulco to Coatzacoalcos?
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 Acapulco to Coatzacoalcos?
The U.S. State Department rates Guerrero Level 4: Do Not Travel; Morelos Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Acapulco to Coatzacoalcos?
In order: MEX-95D, MEX-95, MEX-94D, PUE 438D, MEX-190D, MEX-190, MEX-150D, MEX-145D, MEX-180D and MEX-185. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Acapulco and Coatzacoalcos?
Closest to the road: Museo Interactivo "La Avispa" (museum, mile 65, 0.2 mi from the route); Museo Regional de Guerrero (museum, mile 66, 0.6 mi from the route); Cuetlajuchitlán (archaeological site, mile 124, 0.2 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.