By road, Cartagena and Santa Marta are about 143 miles (230 km) apart, or roughly 2 h 60 min of driving.
Read the full advisory before you go: Colombia. Advisory issued: Colombia March 31, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Colombia: “Highways may not have lights or signs showing destinations.”
| Total distance | 143 mi (230 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 2 h 60 min |
| Departments on the route | Bolívar, Atlántico, Magdalena |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 5.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
The Cartagena–Santa Marta drive in a few lines
It runs through 3 departments: Bolívar, Atlántico, Magdalena. Of the 3 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Cartagena and Santa Marta
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–143 | 143 | Bolívar, Atlántico, Magdalena |
- Mile 28 of this route: Bolívar → Atlántico (department line)
- Mile 85 of this route: Atlántico → Magdalena (department line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Cartagena and Santa Marta
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Salamanca Island Road Park (mile 101)
- Nature and outdoors: Salamanca Island Road Park (mile 101)
- Museums and history: Queen Mary Cathedral, Barranquilla (mile 83)
Queen Mary Cathedral, Barranquilla
Dedicated to the Virgin Mary, the Queen Mary Cathedral (Metropolitan Cathedral of Queen Mary) stands in central Barranquilla on the western side of Plaza de la Paz, the city's zero point.
Teatro Rex
Designed as a theater in the mid-1930s by Cuban architect Manuel Carrerá, Teatro Rex is an Art Deco building in Barranquilla, Colombia.
Salamanca Island Road Park
On the western outskirts of Ciénaga in Magdalena, Salamanca Island Road Park is a protected area where fresh water from the Magdalena River meets the salt water of the Caribbean, supporting abundant plants and wildlife.
Arriving in Santa Marta
Rodadero Sea Aquarium and Museum
Opened in 1965 by Captain Francisco Ospina Navia, the Rodadero Sea Aquarium and Museum is a public aquarium and maritime museum in Inca Inca Cove off Rodadero beach in Santa Marta.
Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino
Built in 1608, the Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino in Mamatoco, Santa Marta, is the hacienda where Simón Bolívar died on December 17, 1830.
Casa de la Aduana
On Plaza de Bolívar in Santa Marta, the colonial Casa de la Aduana houses the regional Gold Museum of Colombia's Banco de la República.
More drives to Santa Marta
From Cartagena to other places in Colombia
- Cartagena to Cúcuta
- Cartagena to Manizales
- Cartagena to Quibdó
- Cartagena to Tunja
- Cartagena to Palomino
- Cartagena to Guachaca
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Cartagena to Santa Marta?
About 2 h 60 min of driving without stops, over 143 miles.
How far is Santa Marta from Cartagena by car?
About 143 miles (230 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.
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Cartagena to Santa Marta drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Colombia Level 3: Reconsider Travel. Read the full advisory before you go.
What are good stops between Cartagena and Santa Marta?
Closest to the road: Queen Mary Cathedral, Barranquilla (cathedral, mile 83, 3 mi from the route); Teatro Rex (theater, mile 83, 2 mi from the route); Salamanca Island Road Park (park, mile 101, 0.4 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 October 10, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.