The Wayro route from Cárdenas to Xpujil is 312 miles (502 km), about 7 h 12 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 312 mi (502 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 12 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-180 → MEX-186 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tabasco, Chiapas, Campeche |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.5 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 Cárdenas to Xpujil drive plays out
MEX-186 (280 mi) and MEX-180 (28 mi) carry about 99% of the 312 miles. It runs through 3 states: Tabasco, Chiapas, Campeche. Of the 4 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Cárdenas to Xpujil
| 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 | 32–312 | 280 | Tabasco, Chiapas, Campeche |
- 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)
What to see on the way from Cárdenas to Xpujil
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Musevi (mile 30), Casa Museo Carlos Pellicer Cámara (mile 32)
- Nature and outdoors: Calakmul Biosphere Reserve (mile 301)
- Museums and history: Musevi (mile 30), Casa Museo Carlos Pellicer Cámara (mile 32)
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.
Casa Museo Carlos Pellicer Cámara
Poet Carlos Pellicer Cámara, a major voice of 20th-century Mexican poetry, was born in this house in Villahermosa's historic center, now a museum since 1985.
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.
When you get to Xpujil
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.
More drives to Xpujil
- Tecax to Xpujil
- Hecelchakán to Xpujil
- Campeche to Xpujil
- Calkiní to Xpujil
- Mérida to Xpujil
- Celestún to Xpujil
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 Xpujil?
About 7 h 12 min of driving without stops, over 312 miles.
What is the driving distance from Cárdenas to Xpujil?
About 312 miles (502 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 Xpujil?
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 Xpujil?
The U.S. State Department rates Tabasco Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Chiapas Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Campeche Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Cárdenas to Xpujil?
In order: MEX-180 and MEX-186. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Cárdenas to Xpujil?
Closest to the road: Musevi (museum, mile 30, 0.3 mi from the route); Casa Museo Carlos Pellicer Cámara (museum, mile 32, 0.7 mi from the route); Balamku (maya site, mile 275, 1 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.