Plan on about 4 h 59 min of driving for the 245-mile (394 km) trip from Hecelchakán to Akumal, before any stops.
| Distance by road | 245 mi (394 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 59 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-180 → MEX-180D → YUC-MEX-180 → QR 109 → MEX-307 |
| Mexican states on the route | Campeche, Yucatán, Quintana Roo |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-180D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.8 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.
The Hecelchakán–Akumal drive in a few lines
MEX-180 (113 mi) and MEX-180D (54 mi) carry about 68% of the 245 miles. It runs through 3 states: Campeche, Yucatán, Quintana Roo. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-180D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Hecelchakán to Akumal
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Campeche |
| MEX-180 | 1–62 | 61 | Campeche, Yucatán |
| local roads | 62–71 | 9 | Yucatán |
| MEX-180 | 71–109 | 38 | Yucatán |
| MEX-180D | 109–163 | 54 | Yucatán |
| connecting roads | 163–165 | 2 | Yucatán |
| local roads | 165–169 | 4 | Yucatán |
| MEX-180 | 169–183 | 14 | Yucatán |
| YUC-MEX-180 | 183–202 | 19 | Yucatán, Quintana Roo |
| QR 109 | 202–229 | 27 | Quintana Roo |
| MEX-307 | 229–244 | 15 | Quintana Roo |
| local roads | 244–245 | 1 | Quintana Roo |
- Mile 22 of this route: Campeche → Yucatán (state line)
- Mile 195 of this route: Yucatán → Quintana Roo (state line)
Stops between Hecelchakán and Akumal
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Xiol (mile 76), Tulum (mile 230)
- Museums and history: Uxmal (mile 21), Museo Conmemorativo de la Inmigración Coreana a Yucatán (mile 69), Xiol (mile 76), Cuca (mile 83), Coba (mile 203), Tulum (mile 230)
Uxmal
Founded around A.D. 700, the Maya city of Uxmal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where Puuc-style buildings such as the Pyramid of the Soothsayer, the Governor's Palace and the Nunnery Quadrangle carry carvings of the rain god Chaac.
Museo Conmemorativo de la Inmigración Coreana a Yucatán
In Mérida's historic center, this memorial museum tells the story of the first Korean immigrants to Yucatán and their work in the henequen industry, with more than 200 photos, documents, newspapers and pieces of traditional clothing.
Xiol
Xiol is a Maya archaeological site in Kanasín, about 10 kilometers from Mérida, found by accident in 2018 during construction of an industrial complex. Its Maya name means "the spirit of man."
Cuca
Near the town of Tixpéhual in Yucatán, Cuca is a pre-Columbian Maya site of about 10 hectares, where dozens of structures and their remains lie scattered inside a low wall.
Chichen Itza
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.
Ik Kil
Outside Pisté near Chichen Itza, Ik Kil is a cenote within the Ik Kil Archeological Park in Yucatán's Tinúm Municipality.
Cenote Zací
Cenote Zací sits inside the city of Valladolid, Yucatán. Its name comes from the Maya settlement that once stood on the site.
Coba
Coba is an ancient Maya city in Quintana Roo at the hub of a network of stone causeways, with engraved and sculpted stelae recording ceremonial life of the Late Classic Period.
Tulum
Tulum is a pre-Columbian Maya walled city that served as a port for Coba. Its ruins sit on 12-meter cliffs above the Caribbean on the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula in Quintana Roo.
More drives to Akumal
- Valladolid to Akumal
- Río Lagartos to Akumal
- Izamal to Akumal
- Cuzamá to Akumal
- Motul to Akumal
- Mérida to Akumal
From Hecelchakán to other places in Mexico
- Hecelchakán to Tapijulapa
- Hecelchakán to Boca del Cielo
- Hecelchakán to Kabah
- Hecelchakán to Río Lagartos
- Hecelchakán to El Cuyo
- Hecelchakán to Punta Allen
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Hecelchakán to Akumal?
About 4 h 59 min of driving without stops, over 245 miles.
How far is Akumal from Hecelchakán by car?
About 245 miles (394 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 Hecelchakán to Akumal?
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 Hecelchakán to Akumal?
The U.S. State Department rates Campeche Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions; Yucatán 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 Hecelchakán to Akumal?
In order: MEX-180, MEX-180D, YUC-MEX-180, QR 109 and MEX-307. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Hecelchakán and Akumal?
Closest to the road: Xiol (archaeological site, mile 76, 0.8 mi from the route); Coba (archaeological site, mile 203, 1 mi from the route); Tulum (archaeological site, mile 230, 0.6 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.