Plan on about 7 h 51 min of driving for the 396-mile (638 km) trip from Coatzacoalcos to Calkiní, before any stops.
| Distance | 396 mi (638 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 51 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-180 → MEX-180D → MEX-202 |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz, Tabasco, Campeche |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-180D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.9 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.
On the road from Coatzacoalcos to Calkiní
MEX-180 (312 mi) and MEX-180D (71 mi) carry about 97% of the 396 miles. It runs through 3 states: Veracruz, Tabasco, Campeche. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-180D. Of the 4 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Coatzacoalcos to Calkiní: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | |
| MEX-180 | 2–30 | 28 | Veracruz, Tabasco |
| MEX-180D | 30–63 | 33 | Tabasco |
| MEX-180 | 63–98 | 35 | Tabasco |
| MEX-180D | 98–111 | 13 | Tabasco |
| MEX-180 | 111–314 | 203 | Tabasco, Campeche |
| MEX-180D | 314–339 | 25 | Campeche |
| MEX-202 | 339–349 | 10 | Campeche |
| MEX-180 | 349–395 | 46 | Campeche |
| local roads | 395–396 | 1 | Campeche |
- Mile 29 of this route: Veracruz → Tabasco (state line)
- Mile 168 of this route: Tabasco → Campeche (state line)
Stops between Coatzacoalcos and Calkiní
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo de Arqueología Maya del Camino Real de Hecelchakán (mile 380)
- Museums and history: La Venta (mile 31), Museo de Barcos y Armas Fuerte de San José el Alto (mile 345), Museo de Arqueología Maya del Camino Real de Hecelchakán (mile 380)
La Venta
More than 200 artifacts fill the site museum at La Venta, among them massive sandstone sculptures discovered at the base of the main pyramid. The once-important Olmec city lies in Tabasco, near Huimanguillo.
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.
More drives to Calkiní
- Champotón to Calkiní
- Teapa to Calkiní
- Izamal to Calkiní
- Motul to Calkiní
- Progreso to Calkiní
- Puerto Aventuras to Calkiní
From Coatzacoalcos to other places in Mexico
- Coatzacoalcos to Orizaba
- Coatzacoalcos to Cholula
- Coatzacoalcos to Zacatelco
- Coatzacoalcos to Huejotzingo
- Coatzacoalcos to Tlaxcala
- Coatzacoalcos to Atlixco
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Coatzacoalcos to Calkiní?
About 7 h 51 min of driving without stops, over 396 miles.
How far is Calkiní from Coatzacoalcos by car?
About 396 miles (638 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 Coatzacoalcos to Calkiní?
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 Coatzacoalcos to Calkiní?
The U.S. State Department rates Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tabasco Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Campeche Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Coatzacoalcos to Calkiní use?
In order: MEX-180, MEX-180D and MEX-202. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Coatzacoalcos to Calkiní?
Closest to the road: La Venta (archaeological site, mile 31, 3 mi from the route); Museo de Barcos y Armas Fuerte de San José el Alto (museum, mile 345, 3 mi from the route); Museo de Arqueología Maya del Camino Real de Hecelchakán (museum, mile 380, 0.5 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.