Plan on about 3 h 22 min of driving for the 173-mile (278 km) trip from Champotón to Motul, before any stops.
| Distance | 173 mi (278 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 3 h 22 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-180 → MEX-180D → MEX-202 → MEX-176 |
| Mexican states on the route | Campeche, Yucatán |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-180D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 6.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
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 Champotón to Motul: the shape of the trip
MEX-180 (104 mi) and MEX-180D (24 mi) carry about 74% of the 173 miles. It runs through 2 states: Campeche, Yucatán. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-180D. Of the 6 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Champotón and Motul
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Campeche |
| MEX-180 | 1–12 | 11 | Campeche |
| MEX-180D | 12–36 | 24 | Campeche |
| MEX-202 | 36–46 | 10 | Campeche |
| MEX-180 | 46–139 | 93 | Campeche, Yucatán |
| local roads | 139–152 | 13 | Yucatán |
| MEX-176 | 152–173 | 21 | Yucatán |
- Mile 99 of this route: Campeche → Yucatán (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Motul
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo de Arqueología Maya del Camino Real de Hecelchakán (mile 78)
- Museums and history: Museo de Barcos y Armas Fuerte de San José el Alto (mile 42), Museo de Arqueología Maya del Camino Real de Hecelchakán (mile 78), Uxmal (mile 97), Oxkintok (mile 107), Museo Conmemorativo de la Inmigración Coreana a Yucatán (mile 145)
Historic Fortified Town of Campeche
Founded by the Spanish on the Gulf of Mexico, Campeche's walled center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sections of the hexagonal wall built from 1686 to 1704 against pirate raids survive with bastions and gates, framing a grid of colonial streets.
Museo de Barcos y Armas Fuerte de San José el Alto
Inside Fuerte de San José el Alto in Campeche city, the museum displays more than 900 objects recovered from underwater archaeological sites in the Gulf of Mexico, the Mexican Caribbean and the cenotes, lakes and rivers of the Yucatán Peninsula.
Museo de Arqueología Maya del Camino Real de Hecelchakán
On Highway 180 about 40 miles north of Campeche city, Hecelchakán's INAH museum displays Maya archaeology from the Camino Real region. It is the only museum of its kind along this historic route toward Calkiní.
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.
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.
More drives to Motul
From Champotón to other places in Mexico
- Champotón to Maxcanú
- Champotón to Kabah
- Champotón to Calkiní
- Champotón to Izamal
- Champotón to Cuzamá
- Champotón to Espita
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Champotón to Motul?
About 3 h 22 min of driving without stops, over 173 miles.
How far is Motul from Champotón by car?
About 173 miles (278 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 Champotón to Motul?
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 Champotón to Motul?
The U.S. State Department rates Campeche Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions; Yucatán Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Champotón to Motul use?
In order: MEX-180, MEX-180D, MEX-202 and MEX-176. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Champotón and Motul?
Closest to the road: Museo de Arqueología Maya del Camino Real de Hecelchakán (museum, mile 78, 0.5 mi from the route); Oxkintok (archaeological site, mile 107, 2 mi from the route); Museo Conmemorativo de la Inmigración Coreana a Yucatán (history museum, mile 145, 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.