Plan on about 4 h 43 min of driving for the 230-mile (370 km) trip from Calkiní to Akumal, before any stops.
| Total distance | 230 mi (370 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 4 h 43 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-180 → MEX-180D → YUC-MEX-180 → QR 109 → MEX-307 |
| Mexican states on the route | Campeche, Yucatán, Quintana Roo |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-180D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.2 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.
The Calkiní–Akumal drive in a few lines
MEX-180 (98 mi) and MEX-180D (55 mi) carry about 67% of the 230 miles. It runs through 3 states: Campeche, Yucatán, Quintana Roo. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-180D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Calkiní to Akumal
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Campeche |
| MEX-180 | 1–47 | 46 | Campeche, Yucatán |
| local roads | 47–56 | 9 | Yucatán |
| MEX-180 | 56–94 | 38 | Yucatán |
| MEX-180D | 94–149 | 55 | Yucatán |
| connecting roads | 149–150 | 1 | Yucatán |
| local roads | 150–153 | 3 | Yucatán |
| MEX-180 | 153–167 | 14 | Yucatán |
| YUC-MEX-180 | 167–186 | 19 | Yucatán, Quintana Roo |
| QR 109 | 186–214 | 28 | Quintana Roo |
| MEX-307 | 214–229 | 15 | Quintana Roo |
| local roads | 229–230 | 1 | Quintana Roo |
- Mile 7 of this route: Campeche → Yucatán (state line)
- Mile 180 of this route: Yucatán → Quintana Roo (state line)
What to see on the way from Calkiní to Akumal
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Tulum (mile 215)
- Museums and history: Oxkintok (mile 15), Museo Conmemorativo de la Inmigración Coreana a Yucatán (mile 53), Cuca (mile 68), Gran Museo de Chichén Itzá (mile 126), Coba (mile 187), Tulum (mile 215)
Oxkintok
Oxkintok is a pre-Columbian Maya archaeological site in the Puuc region of Yucatán state, in southeastern Mexico.
Museo Conmemorativo de la Inmigración Coreana a Yucatán
In Mérida's historic center, this memorial museum tells the story of the first Korean immigrants to Yucatán and their work in the henequen industry, with more than 200 photos, documents, newspapers and pieces of traditional clothing.
Cuca
Near the town of Tixpéhual in Yucatán, Cuca is a pre-Columbian Maya site of about 10 hectares, where dozens of structures and their remains lie scattered inside a low wall.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988, is a former Maya city between Mérida and Valladolid where you can walk past El Castillo (Temple of Kukulkan), the Temple of the Warriors, the Great Ball Court and the round El Caracol observatory.
Gran Museo de Chichén Itzá
Opened on February 28, 2024, near Pisté, the Gran Museo de Chichén Itzá holds more than 1,000 pieces, including finds recovered during salvage work for the Maya Train.
Cenote Zací
Cenote Zací sits inside the city of Valladolid, Yucatán. Its name comes from the Maya settlement that once stood on the site.
Coba
Coba is an ancient Maya city in Quintana Roo at the hub of a network of stone causeways, with engraved and sculpted stelae recording ceremonial life of the Late Classic Period.
Tulum
Tulum is a pre-Columbian Maya walled city that served as a port for Coba. Its ruins sit on 12-meter cliffs above the Caribbean on the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula in Quintana Roo.
More drives to Akumal
- Valladolid to Akumal
- Río Lagartos to Akumal
- Izamal to Akumal
- Cuzamá to Akumal
- Motul to Akumal
- Mérida to Akumal
From Calkiní to other places in Mexico
- Calkiní to Tapijulapa
- Calkiní to Boca del Cielo
- Calkiní to Cuzamá
- Calkiní to Espita
- Calkiní to El Cuyo
- Calkiní to Punta Allen
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Calkiní to Akumal?
About 4 h 43 min of driving without stops, over 230 miles.
How far is Akumal from Calkiní by car?
About 230 miles (370 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 Calkiní to Akumal?
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 Calkiní to Akumal?
The U.S. State Department rates Campeche Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions; Yucatán Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions; Quintana Roo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Calkiní to Akumal use?
In order: MEX-180, MEX-180D, YUC-MEX-180, QR 109 and MEX-307. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Calkiní to Akumal?
Closest to the road: Oxkintok (archaeological site, mile 15, 2 mi from the route); Coba (archaeological site, mile 187, 1 mi from the route); Tulum (archaeological site, mile 215, 0.5 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.