Heredia to Parismina Road Trip: Distance, Time & Stops

By admin, 13 October, 2026

By road, Heredia and Parismina are about 82 miles (132 km) apart, or roughly 2 h 30 min of driving.

U.S. State Department travel advisory: Costa Rica — Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution

Full advisory: Costa Rica. Advisory issued: Costa Rica April 02, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.

On the roads, the State Department says:

  • Costa Rica: “Do not drive through water if you can't see its depth.”
Irazú Volcano National ParkBraulio Carrillo National ParkTurrialba Volcano National ParkLas MercedesHerediaParismina
Route from Heredia to Parismina with the 4 stops listed below (blue dots).
Total distance82 mi (132 km)
Time at the wheel, no stops2 h 30 min
Provinces on the routeHeredia, San José, Limón
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 3.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below4

On the road from Heredia to Parismina

It runs through 3 provinces: Heredia, San José, Limón. Of the 4 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.

Which roads connect Heredia and Parismina

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miProvince
local roads0–55Heredia
connecting roads5–72Heredia
local roads7–8275Heredia, San José, Limón
  • Mile 9 of this route: Heredia → San José (province line)
  • Mile 27 of this route: San José → Limón (province line)

Places worth a stop between Heredia and Parismina

  • Right off the route (under 1 mile): Braulio Carrillo National Park (mile 21), Las Mercedes (mile 52)
  • Nature and outdoors: Irazú Volcano National Park (mile 9), Braulio Carrillo National Park (mile 21), Turrialba Volcano National Park (mile 39)
  • Museums and history: Las Mercedes (mile 52)

Irazú Volcano National Park

Mile 9 · National park · 10 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Established in 1955 in Cartago Province, Irazú Volcano National Park (Parque Nacional Volcán Irazú) encompasses Irazú Volcano and the Prusia Forest Reserve.

Braulio Carrillo National Park

Mile 21 · National park · 0.5 mi from the route

Braulio Carrillo National Park spreads across parts of Heredia, Cartago, Limón and San José provinces in central Costa Rica and forms part of the Central Conservation Area.

Turrialba Volcano National Park

Mile 39 · National park · 12 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Turrialba Volcano National Park covers the area around Turrialba Volcano in Cartago Province, within Costa Rica's Central Conservation Area. Major eruptions took place between 1864 and 1868.

Las Mercedes

Mile 52 · Archaeological site · 0.6 mi from the route

On Costa Rica's Caribbean slope, between the foothills of Turrialba Volcano and the alluvial plain, Las Mercedes is an archaeological site with platforms, plazas, terraces, ramps, funerary areas and paved roads.

More drives to Parismina

From Heredia to other places in Costa Rica

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from Heredia to Parismina?

About 2 h 30 min of driving without stops, over 82 miles.

What is the driving distance from Heredia to Parismina?

About 82 miles (132 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.

What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Heredia to Parismina drive?

The U.S. State Department rates Costa Rica Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.

What are good stops between Heredia and Parismina?

Closest to the road: Irazú Volcano National Park (national park, mile 9, 10 mi from the route); Braulio Carrillo National Park (national park, mile 21, 0.5 mi from the route); Las Mercedes (archaeological site, mile 52, 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 October 10, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.

Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.