Plan on about 11 h 52 min of driving for the 524-mile (844 km) trip from Coatzacoalcos to Mahahual, before any stops.
| Distance | 524 mi (844 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 11 h 52 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-180 → MEX-180D → MEX-186 → MEX-307 → QR |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas, Campeche, Quintana Roo |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-180D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
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 Coatzacoalcos to Mahahual: the shape of the trip
MEX-186 (342 mi) and MEX-180 (68 mi) carry about 78% of the 524 miles. It runs through 5 states: Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas, Campeche, Quintana Roo. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-180D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Coatzacoalcos to Mahahual
| 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 | 63–103 | 40 | Tabasco |
| local roads | 103–107 | 4 | Tabasco |
| MEX-186 | 107–449 | 342 | Tabasco, Chiapas, Campeche, Quintana Roo |
| MEX-307 | 449–490 | 41 | Quintana Roo |
| QR | 490–524 | 34 | Quintana Roo |
- Mile 29 of this route: Veracruz → Tabasco (state line)
- Mile 153 of this route: Tabasco → Chiapas (state line)
- Mile 196 of this route: Chiapas → Tabasco (state line)
- Mile 204 of this route: Tabasco → Campeche (state line)
- Mile 409 of this route: Campeche → Quintana Roo (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Coatzacoalcos and Mahahual
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Musevi (mile 104), Chicanná (mile 380), Becan (mile 382), Xpuhil (mile 385), San Felipe Fortress (mile 460)
- Nature and outdoors: Calakmul Biosphere Reserve (mile 375)
- Museums and history: La Venta (mile 31), Musevi (mile 104), Museo de Antropología Carlos Pellicer (mile 106), Becan (mile 382), Xpuhil (mile 385), San Felipe Fortress (mile 460)
La Venta
Once an important Olmec city, La Venta sits in Tabasco close to Huimanguillo. Monumental sandstone sculptures found at the foot of its main pyramid are among the 200-plus pieces in the site museum.
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.
Museo de Antropología Carlos Pellicer
Villahermosa's regional anthropology museum, named for poet Carlos Pellicer Cámara, displays Olmec and Maya pieces found across Tabasco, along with loans from other parts of Mexico such as Teotihuacan. It opened in 1980.
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.
Chicanná
Chicanná is a Classic-period Maya city site named after Structure II, whose Maya name means "House of the Serpent Mouth."
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.
San Felipe Fortress
San Felipe Fortress (Fuerte de San Felipe de Bacalar) was an 18th-century Spanish colonial garrison in Bacalar, Quintana Roo. Today it houses the Bacalar Piracy Museum.
More drives to Mahahual
- Mérida to Mahahual
- Calkiní to Mahahual
- Hopelchén to Mahahual
- Celestún to Mahahual
- Campeche to Mahahual
- Cárdenas to Mahahual
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 is the drive from Coatzacoalcos to Mahahual?
About 11 h 52 min of driving without stops, over 524 miles.
How far is Mahahual from Coatzacoalcos by car?
About 524 miles (844 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 Mahahual?
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 Mahahual?
The U.S. State Department rates Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tabasco Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Chiapas Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Campeche Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions; Quintana Roo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Coatzacoalcos to Mahahual?
In order: MEX-180, MEX-180D, MEX-186, MEX-307 and QR. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Coatzacoalcos to Mahahual?
Closest to the road: Musevi (museum, mile 104, 0.3 mi from the route); Becan (archaeological site, mile 382, 0.2 mi from the route); San Felipe Fortress (museum, mile 460, 0.2 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.