By road, Cárdenas and Mahahual are about 450 miles (724 km) apart, or roughly 10 h 34 min of driving.
| Total distance | 450 mi (724 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 10 h 34 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-180 → MEX-186 → MEX-307 → QR |
| Mexican states on the route | Tabasco, Chiapas, Campeche, Quintana Roo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
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.
On the road from Cárdenas to Mahahual
MEX-186 (343 mi) and MEX-307 (40 mi) carry about 85% of the 450 miles. It runs through 4 states: Tabasco, Chiapas, Campeche, Quintana Roo. Of the 7 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Cárdenas to Mahahual, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Tabasco |
| MEX-180 | 1–29 | 28 | Tabasco |
| local roads | 29–32 | 3 | Tabasco |
| MEX-186 | 32–375 | 343 | Tabasco, Chiapas, Campeche, Quintana Roo |
| MEX-307 | 375–415 | 40 | Quintana Roo |
| QR | 415–450 | 35 | Quintana Roo |
- Mile 79 of this route: Tabasco → Chiapas (state line)
- Mile 122 of this route: Chiapas → Tabasco (state line)
- Mile 130 of this route: Tabasco → Campeche (state line)
- Mile 336 of this route: Campeche → Quintana Roo (state line)
Places worth a stop between Cárdenas and Mahahual
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo de Historia de Tabasco Casa de los Azulejos (mile 32), Chicanná (mile 306), Becan (mile 308), Xpuhil (mile 311), San Felipe Fortress (mile 386)
- Nature and outdoors: Calakmul Biosphere Reserve (mile 301)
- Museums and history: Museo de Historia de Tabasco Casa de los Azulejos (mile 32), Becan (mile 308), Xpuhil (mile 311), San Felipe Fortress (mile 386)
Museo de Historia de Tabasco Casa de los Azulejos
The Museo de Historia de Tabasco, housed in the Casa de los Azulejos, is a history museum in the historic center of Villahermosa, Tabasco.
Balamku
Balamku is a small Maya archaeological site in Campeche, known for elaborate plaster facades from the Early Classic period.
Calakmul Biosphere Reserve
Bordering Guatemala's Petén department, the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve covers 7,231 square kilometers of southern Campeche, more than 14 percent of the state; it was established in 1989.
Chicanná
Chicanná is a Classic-period Maya city site named after Structure II, whose Maya name means "House of the Serpent Mouth."
Becan
Becan is a Maya archaeological site near the center of the Yucatán Peninsula in Campeche, about 150 km north of Tikal.
Xpuhil
Near the town of Xpujil in Campeche, Xpuhil is a Maya archaeological site along Federal Highway 186, in an area with other Maya sites such as Becan, Chicanná and Calakmul.
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 Mahahual
- Mérida to Mahahual
- Calkiní to Mahahual
- Hopelchén to Mahahual
- Celestún to Mahahual
- Campeche to Mahahual
- Coatzacoalcos to Mahahual
From Cárdenas to other places in Mexico
- Cárdenas to Zacatelco
- Cárdenas to Chiautempan
- Cárdenas to Huejotzingo
- Cárdenas to Tlaxcala
- Cárdenas to Calpulalpan
- Cárdenas to Ocuituco
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Cárdenas to Mahahual?
About 10 h 34 min of driving without stops, over 450 miles.
What is the driving distance from Cárdenas to Mahahual?
About 450 miles (724 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 Cárdenas to Mahahual?
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 Cárdenas to Mahahual?
The U.S. State Department rates Tabasco Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Chiapas Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Campeche Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions; Quintana Roo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Cárdenas to Mahahual?
In order: MEX-180, MEX-186, MEX-307 and QR. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Cárdenas to Mahahual?
Closest to the road: Becan (archaeological site, mile 308, 0.4 mi from the route); Xpuhil (archaeological site, mile 311, 0.1 mi from the route); San Felipe Fortress (museum, mile 386, 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.