By road, Calkiní and Bacalar are about 221 miles (356 km) apart, or roughly 5 h 41 min of driving.
| Distance by road | 221 mi (356 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 41 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-180 → MEX-184 → MEX-293 → MEX-307 |
| Mexican states on the route | Campeche, Yucatán, Quintana Roo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
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.
Driving Calkiní to Bacalar: the shape of the trip
MEX-184 (119 mi) and MEX-293 (63 mi) carry about 82% of the 221 miles. It runs through 3 states: Campeche, Yucatán, Quintana Roo. Of the 3 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Calkiní to Bacalar: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Campeche |
| MEX-180 | 1–16 | 15 | Campeche, Yucatán |
| MEX-184 | 16–135 | 119 | Yucatán, Quintana Roo |
| MEX-293 | 135–198 | 63 | Quintana Roo |
| MEX-307 | 198–220 | 22 | Quintana Roo |
| local roads | 220–221 | 1 | Quintana Roo |
- Mile 7 of this route: Campeche → Yucatán (state line)
- Mile 102 of this route: Yucatán → Quintana Roo (state line)
What to see on the way from Calkiní to Bacalar
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Chacchoben (mile 193)
- Museums and history: Oxkintok (mile 18), Uxmal (mile 34), Chacchoben (mile 193)
Oxkintok
Oxkintok is a pre-Columbian Maya archaeological site in the Puuc region of Yucatán state, in southeastern Mexico.
Uxmal
Founded around A.D. 700, the Maya city of Uxmal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where Puuc-style buildings such as the Pyramid of the Soothsayer, the Governor's Palace and the Nunnery Quadrangle carry carvings of the rain god Chaac.
Chacchoben
About 110 miles south of Tulum, Chacchoben is a Maya ruin some 7 miles from the village that gave it its name.
Once you reach Bacalar
San Felipe Fortress
San Felipe Fortress (Fuerte de San Felipe de Bacalar) was an 18th-century Spanish colonial garrison in Bacalar, Quintana Roo. Today it houses the Bacalar Piracy Museum.
More drives to Bacalar
- Escárcega to Bacalar
- Tizimín to Bacalar
- Mérida to Bacalar
- Izamal to Bacalar
- Motul to Bacalar
- Ocosingo to Bacalar
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 Akumal
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Calkiní to Bacalar?
About 5 h 41 min of driving without stops, over 221 miles.
What is the driving distance from Calkiní to Bacalar?
About 221 miles (356 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 Bacalar?
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 Bacalar?
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 Bacalar use?
In order: MEX-180, MEX-184, MEX-293 and MEX-307. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Calkiní and Bacalar?
Closest to the road: Oxkintok (archaeological site, mile 18, 1 mi from the route); Uxmal (archaeological site, mile 34, 9 mi from the route); Chacchoben (archaeological site, mile 193, 0.3 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.