Felipe Carrillo Puerto to Río Lagartos Road Trip

By admin, 13 October, 2026

The Wayro route from Felipe Carrillo Puerto to Río Lagartos is 160 miles (258 km), about 3 h 57 min of driving without stops.

U.S. State Department travel advisory: Quintana Roo — Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution; Yucatán — Level 1, Exercise Normal PrecautionsAdvisory issued May 29, 2026; checked September 29, 2026. Yucatán is the Mexican state that contains Río Lagartos. See the full advisory for current details.
Chichen ItzaCenote ZacíParque Zoológico La ReinaFelipe Carrillo PuertoRío Lagartos
Route from Felipe Carrillo Puerto to Río Lagartos with the 3 stops listed below (blue dots).
Distance160 mi (258 km)
Time at the wheel, no stops3 h 57 min
Main roads, in orderMEX-295 → MEX-180
Mexican states on the routeQuintana Roo, Yucatán
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 6.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below3

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 insuranceRequired 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 Felipe Carrillo Puerto to Río Lagartos

MEX-295 (145 mi) and MEX-180 (5 mi) carry about 94% of the 160 miles. It runs through 2 states: Quintana Roo, Yucatán. None of the 3 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.

Road-by-road breakdown: Felipe Carrillo Puerto to Río Lagartos

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miState
local roads0–11Quintana Roo
MEX-2951–8483Quintana Roo, Yucatán
local roads84–884Yucatán
MEX-18088–935Yucatán
local roads93–974Yucatán
connecting roads97–981Yucatán
MEX-29598–16062Yucatán
  • Mile 69 of this route: Quintana Roo → Yucatán (state line)

What to see on the way from Felipe Carrillo Puerto to Río Lagartos

  • Nature and outdoors: Parque Zoológico La Reina (mile 127)
  • With kids: Parque Zoológico La Reina (mile 127)

Chichen Itza

Mile 88 · Ancient city · 18 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Chichen Itza, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988, is a former Maya city between Mérida and Valladolid where you can walk past El Castillo (Temple of Kukulkan), the Temple of the Warriors, the Great Ball Court and the round El Caracol observatory.

Cenote Zací

Mile 98 · Cenote · 2 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Cenote Zací sits inside the city of Valladolid, Yucatán. Its name comes from the Maya settlement that once stood on the site.

Parque Zoológico La Reina

Mile 127 · Park · 1 mi from the route

Also called the Tizimín Zoo, Parque Zoológico La Reina is a zoo in the city of Tizimín, in the state of Yucatán.

More drives to Río Lagartos

From Felipe Carrillo Puerto to other places in Mexico

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from Felipe Carrillo Puerto to Río Lagartos?

About 3 h 57 min of driving without stops, over 160 miles.

How far is Río Lagartos from Felipe Carrillo Puerto by car?

About 160 miles (258 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 Felipe Carrillo Puerto to Río Lagartos?

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 Felipe Carrillo Puerto to Río Lagartos?

The U.S. State Department rates Quintana Roo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Yucatán Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.

Which highways go from Felipe Carrillo Puerto to Río Lagartos?

In order: MEX-295 and MEX-180. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.

What are good stops between Felipe Carrillo Puerto and Río Lagartos?

Closest to the road: Chichen Itza (ancient city, mile 88, 18 mi from the route); Cenote Zací (cenote, mile 98, 2 mi from the route); Parque Zoológico La Reina (park, mile 127, 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.