The Wayro route from Balancán to San José del Pacífico is 552 miles (888 km), about 11 h 23 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 552 mi (888 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 11 h 23 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-186 → MEX-180 → MEX-180D → MEX-145D → MEX-185 → MEX-185D → MEX-200 → MEX-175 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tabasco, Chiapas, Veracruz, Oaxaca |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-180D, MEX-145D, MEX-185D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 22.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
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 Balancán to San José del Pacífico drive plays out
MEX-185 (98 mi) and MEX-186 (95 mi) carry about 35% of the 552 miles. It runs through 4 states: Tabasco, Chiapas, Veracruz, Oaxaca. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-180D, MEX-145D and MEX-185D. Of the 4 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Balancán to San José del Pacífico: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–20 | 20 | Tabasco |
| MEX-186 | 20–115 | 95 | Tabasco, Chiapas |
| local roads | 115–119 | 4 | Tabasco |
| MEX-180 | 119–158 | 39 | Tabasco |
| MEX-180D | 158–191 | 33 | Tabasco |
| MEX-180 | 191–210 | 19 | Tabasco, Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 210–231 | 21 | Veracruz |
| MEX-145D | 231–255 | 24 | Veracruz |
| MEX-185 | 255–314 | 59 | Veracruz, Oaxaca |
| local roads | 314–318 | 4 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-185 | 318–334 | 16 | Oaxaca |
| local roads | 334–339 | 5 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-185 | 339–362 | 23 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-185D | 362–408 | 46 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-200 | 408–496 | 88 | Oaxaca |
| local roads | 496–537 | 41 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-175 | 537–552 | 15 | Oaxaca |
- Mile 27 of this route: Tabasco → Chiapas (state line)
- Mile 69 of this route: Chiapas → Tabasco (state line)
- Mile 193 of this route: Tabasco → Veracruz (state line)
- Mile 298 of this route: Veracruz → Oaxaca (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Balancán and San José del Pacífico
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Villahermosa Cathedral (mile 116), Musevi (mile 117)
- Nature and outdoors: Huatulco National Park (mile 490)
- Museums and history: Villahermosa Cathedral (mile 116), Musevi (mile 117), La Venta (mile 191)
Villahermosa Cathedral
Rising on Paseo Tabasco in Villahermosa, the Cathedral of the Lord of Tabasco has tall towers above a monumental facade. The current building dates from 1960–1963; an earlier cathedral was destroyed in the anticlerical campaigns of 1928–1934.
Musevi
Built for Mexico's independence bicentennial, Musevi is a bridge by Las Ilusiones lagoon and Tomás Garrido Park in Villahermosa, with a museum of regional artists and a coffee shop on top.
La Venta
La Venta was an important city of the Olmec civilization, in Tabasco near Huimanguillo. Its site museum displays more than 200 artifacts, including monumental sandstone sculptures found at the foot of the main pyramid.
Huatulco National Park
Also called Bahías de Huatulco National Park, this protected area in the Mexican state of Oaxaca was decreed a national park on July 24, 1998.
More drives to San José del Pacífico
- Capulalpam de Méndez to San José del Pacífico
- Tehuacán to San José del Pacífico
- Tuxtepec to San José del Pacífico
- Orizaba to San José del Pacífico
- Córdoba, Mexico to San José del Pacífico
- Tlacotalpan to San José del Pacífico
From Balancán to other places in Mexico
- Balancán to Tlacotalpan
- Balancán to Ixtenco
- Balancán to Chipilo
- Balancán to Boca del Cielo
- Balancán to El Castaño
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Balancán to San José del Pacífico?
About 11 h 23 min of driving without stops, over 552 miles.
How far is San José del Pacífico from Balancán by car?
About 552 miles (888 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 Balancán to San José del Pacífico?
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 Balancán to San José del Pacífico?
The U.S. State Department rates Tabasco Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Chiapas Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Oaxaca Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Balancán to San José del Pacífico use?
In order: MEX-186, MEX-180, MEX-180D, MEX-145D, MEX-185, MEX-185D, MEX-200 and MEX-175. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Balancán to San José del Pacífico?
Closest to the road: Villahermosa Cathedral (cathedral, mile 116, 0.8 mi from the route); Musevi (museum, mile 117, 0.2 mi from the route); La Venta (archaeological site, mile 191, 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 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.