By road, Comitán and Cárdenas are about 213 miles (343 km) apart, or roughly 4 h 19 min of driving.
| Total distance | 213 mi (343 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 4 h 19 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-190 → MEX-190D → MEX-187D → MEX-187 |
| Mexican states on the route | Chiapas, Tabasco, Veracruz |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-190D, MEX-187D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.5 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.
What the drive from Comitán to Cárdenas is like
MEX-187D (64 mi) and MEX-190 (62 mi) carry about 59% of the 213 miles. It runs through 3 states: Chiapas, Tabasco, Veracruz. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-190D and MEX-187D. Of the 6 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Comitán to Cárdenas, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-190 | 0–54 | 54 | Chiapas |
| MEX-190D | 54–88 | 34 | Chiapas |
| local roads | 88–98 | 10 | Chiapas |
| MEX-190 | 98–106 | 8 | Chiapas |
| MEX-187D | 106–170 | 64 | Chiapas, Tabasco, Veracruz |
| local roads | 170–180 | 10 | Veracruz, Tabasco |
| MEX-187 | 180–213 | 33 | Tabasco |
- Mile 161 of this route: Chiapas → Tabasco (state line)
- Mile 167 of this route: Tabasco → Veracruz (state line)
- Mile 172 of this route: Veracruz → Tabasco (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Comitán and Cárdenas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Regional Museum of Anthropology and History of Chiapas (mile 91)
- Nature and outdoors: Selva El Ocote (mile 76)
- Museums and history: Casa Na Bolom (mile 54), Chiapa de Corzo (mile 83), Museo de la Laca and the Santo Domingo monastery (mile 83), St. Mark's Cathedral, Tuxtla Gutiérrez (mile 91), Regional Museum of Anthropology and History of Chiapas (mile 91)
Casa Na Bolom
Once the home of archaeologist Frans Blom and photographer Gertrude Duby Blom, Casa Na Bolom in San Cristóbal de las Casas occupies an 1891 building and shows pre-Hispanic, textile, ethnographic and colonial collections.
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.
Chiapa de Corzo
Near the town of Chiapa de Corzo in Chiapas lies a pre-Columbian archaeological site of the same name that grew into a regional center around 700–500 BCE, during the Middle Formative period.
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.
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.
More drives to Cárdenas
- Orizaba to Cárdenas
- Tehuacán to Cárdenas
- Cholula to Cárdenas
- Papantla to Cárdenas
- Cuautla to Cárdenas
- Mexico City to Cárdenas
From Comitán to other places in Mexico
- Comitán to Ocozocoautla de Espinosa
- Comitán to Copainalá
- Comitán to Teapa
- Comitán to Comalcalco
- Comitán to Paraiso
- Comitán to San Andrés Tuxtla
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Comitán to Cárdenas?
About 4 h 19 min of driving without stops, over 213 miles.
What is the driving distance from Comitán to Cárdenas?
About 213 miles (343 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 Comitán to Cárdenas?
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 Comitán to Cárdenas?
The U.S. State Department rates Chiapas Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Tabasco Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Comitán to Cárdenas?
In order: MEX-190, MEX-190D, MEX-187D and MEX-187. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Comitán to Cárdenas?
Closest to the road: Casa Na Bolom (museum, mile 54, 1 mi from the route); Regional Museum of Anthropology and History of Chiapas (museum, mile 91, 0.7 mi from the route); St. Mark's Cathedral, Tuxtla Gutiérrez (cathedral, mile 91, 1 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.