By road, Coatepec and San Juan Chamula are about 446 miles (717 km) apart, or roughly 7 h 29 min of driving.
| Distance | 446 mi (717 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 29 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-140 → MEX-140D → MEX-180 → MEX-150D → MEX-145D → MEX-180D → MEX-187D → MEX-190 → MEX-190D |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-140D, MEX-150D, MEX-145D, MEX-180D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.8 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 Coatepec to San Juan Chamula
MEX-145D (141 mi) and MEX-187D (122 mi) carry about 59% of the 446 miles. It runs through 3 states: Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-140D, MEX-150D and MEX-145D. Of the 7 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Coatepec to San Juan Chamula
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–15 | 15 | Veracruz |
| MEX-140 | 15–20 | 5 | Veracruz |
| MEX-140D | 20–28 | 8 | Veracruz |
| MEX-140 | 28–37 | 9 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180 | 37–70 | 33 | Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 70–71 | 1 | Veracruz |
| MEX-150D | 71–98 | 27 | Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 98–99 | 1 | Veracruz |
| MEX-145D | 99–240 | 141 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 240–260 | 20 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180 | 260–265 | 5 | Veracruz |
| MEX-187D | 265–387 | 122 | Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas |
| MEX-190 | 387–396 | 9 | Chiapas |
| local roads | 396–405 | 9 | Chiapas |
| MEX-190 | 405–409 | 4 | Chiapas |
| MEX-190D | 409–438 | 29 | Chiapas |
| local roads | 438–446 | 8 | Chiapas |
- Mile 327 of this route: Veracruz → Tabasco (state line)
- Mile 334 of this route: Tabasco → Chiapas (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Coatepec and San Juan Chamula
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Regional Museum of Anthropology and History of Chiapas (mile 401)
- Nature and outdoors: Selva El Ocote (mile 418)
- Museums and history: St. Mark's Cathedral, Tuxtla Gutiérrez (mile 401), Regional Museum of Anthropology and History of Chiapas (mile 401), Museo de Ciencia y Tecnología de Chiapas (mile 405), La Pila fountain (mile 410), Museo de la Laca and the Santo Domingo monastery (mile 410)
- With kids: Zoológico Miguél Álvarez del Toro (mile 405)
St. Mark's Cathedral, Tuxtla Gutiérrez
Tuxtla Gutiérrez Cathedral, dedicated to St. Mark, is the Catholic church that serves as the seat of the Archdiocese of Tuxtla in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas.
Regional Museum of Anthropology and History of Chiapas
Two main halls cover Chiapas's Mesoamerican archaeology and the state's history since the Spanish conquest at this regional museum of anthropology and history in Tuxtla Gutiérrez.
Zoológico Miguél Álvarez del Toro
Tuxtla Gutiérrez's zoo, named for Miguel Álvarez del Toro, dates back to 1942, when it opened as the Zoológico de Tuxtla Gutiérrez.
Museo de Ciencia y Tecnología de Chiapas
Opened in 2006 on the site of the former Cerro Hueco prison, the Chiapas Museum of Science and Technology in Tuxtla Gutiérrez aims to spark children's and teens' interest in science and technology.
La Pila fountain
Built of brick in a diamond shape in 1562, La Pila fountain in the square of Chiapa de Corzo, Chiapas, is an example of Mudéjar-Renaissance style.
Museo de la Laca and the Santo Domingo monastery
Dominican friars built this convent in Chiapa de Corzo in the second half of the 16th century; today it is a cultural center whose Museo de la Laca is devoted to Chiapas' traditional lacquerwork.
Selva El Ocote
Selva El Ocote Biosphere Reserve covers about 101,288 hectares of Chiapas, protecting tall evergreen rain forest on karst terrain, a landscape also known for its extensive caverns.
In San Juan Chamula itself
Museo de los Altos de Chiapas Ex Convento Santo Domingo de Guzmán
Attached to the baroque church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán in San Cristóbal de Las Casas, this museum occupies the former convent and is one of the city's most traditional landmarks.
Museo Mesoamericano del Jade
The Museo Mesoamericano del Jade in San Cristóbal de Las Casas is housed in the Casa del Jade, a cultural center and company specializing in jade, with its own workshops.
San Cristobal Cathedral
Seat of the Diocese of San Cristóbal de Las Casas, the San Cristobal Cathedral (Catedral de San Cristóbal de Las Casas) stands on the north side of the city's central plaza in Chiapas.
More drives to San Juan Chamula
- Copainalá to San Juan Chamula
- Cárdenas to San Juan Chamula
- Comalcalco to San Juan Chamula
- Coatzacoalcos to San Juan Chamula
- Paraiso to San Juan Chamula
- San Andrés Tuxtla to San Juan Chamula
From Coatepec to other places in Mexico
- Coatepec to Huamantla
- Coatepec to Ixtenco
- Coatepec to Apizaco
- Coatepec to Cuetzalan
- Coatepec to Chiautempan
- Coatepec to Tlaxcala
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Coatepec to San Juan Chamula?
About 7 h 29 min of driving without stops, over 446 miles.
What is the driving distance from Coatepec to San Juan Chamula?
About 446 miles (717 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 Coatepec to San Juan Chamula?
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 Coatepec to San Juan Chamula?
The U.S. State Department rates Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tabasco Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Chiapas Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Coatepec to San Juan Chamula use?
In order: MEX-140, MEX-140D, MEX-180, MEX-150D, MEX-145D, MEX-180D, MEX-187D, MEX-190 and MEX-190D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Coatepec to San Juan Chamula?
Closest to the road: Regional Museum of Anthropology and History of Chiapas (museum, mile 401, 0.7 mi from the route); St. Mark's Cathedral, Tuxtla Gutiérrez (cathedral, mile 401, 1 mi from the route); La Pila fountain (monument, mile 410, 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.