Plan on about 7 h 4 min of driving for the 386-mile (621 km) trip from Huatulco to Chipilo, before any stops.
| Total distance | 386 mi (621 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 7 h 4 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-200 → MEX-175D → MEX-175 → MEX-190 → MEX-135D → MEX-150D |
| Mexican states on the route | Oaxaca, Puebla |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-175D, MEX-135D, MEX-150D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.4 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 Huatulco–Chipilo drive in a few lines
MEX-135D (152 mi) and MEX-175D (63 mi) carry about 56% of the 386 miles. It runs through 2 states: Oaxaca, Puebla. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-175D, MEX-135D and MEX-150D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Huatulco to Chipilo: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-200 | 3–63 | 60 | Oaxaca |
| connecting roads | 63–64 | 1 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-175D | 64–127 | 63 | Oaxaca |
| connecting roads | 127–131 | 4 | Oaxaca |
| local roads | 131–138 | 7 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-175 | 138–150 | 12 | Oaxaca |
| local roads | 150–160 | 10 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-175 | 160–173 | 13 | Oaxaca |
| connecting roads | 173–176 | 3 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-190 | 176–181 | 5 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-135D | 181–333 | 152 | Oaxaca, Puebla |
| MEX-150D | 333–376 | 43 | Puebla |
| connecting roads | 376–380 | 4 | Puebla |
| local roads | 380–386 | 6 | Puebla |
- Mile 281 of this route: Oaxaca → Puebla (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Huatulco and Chipilo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Estatal de Arte Popular de Oaxaca (mile 167), Planetario Nundehui (mile 175)
- Nature and outdoors: Mermejita (mile 35), Benito Juárez National Park (mile 181), Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve (mile 290), La Malinche National Park (mile 375)
- Museums and history: Zaachila (mile 167), Museo Estatal de Arte Popular de Oaxaca (mile 167), Monte Albán (mile 174), Planetario Nundehui (mile 175), Museo del Valle de Tehuacán (mile 304)
Mermejita
On Oaxaca's central coast just west of Mazunte and San Agustinillo, Mermejita is a small beach village where newcomers have built simple houses from local materials.
Zaachila
Excavated tombs draw visitors to Zaachila, a former Zapotec city. The best known is Tomb 1, where stucco figures depict the people who were buried there.
Museo Estatal de Arte Popular de Oaxaca
In San Bartolo Coyotepec, the town known for its black clay pottery (barro negro), this state-run museum traces the history of that craft and shows works by Oaxaca's folk art masters alongside temporary exhibitions.
Monte Albán
Carved into a mountaintop above the Valley of Oaxaca, Monte Albán was a Zapotec capital for some 1,300 years; visitors walk a 300-meter ceremonial plaza lined with temples, a ball court, tombs and carved reliefs. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Planetario Nundehui
Built through a sister-city agreement between Palo Alto, California, and Oaxaca de Juárez, the Nundehui Planetarium opened in 1976 high on Cerro del Fortín, north of the Guelaguetza Auditorium.
Benito Juárez National Park
Pine and oak forest covers about 2,737 hectares in Benito Juárez National Park, a short way north of Oaxaca City. Among its trails is La Coronilla, a loop of around 5 km at moderate difficulty.
Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve
Cactus diversity reaches one of its peaks in the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley, a dry landscape shared by Puebla and Oaxaca. Ancient canals, wells, terraces and dams show how people managed its scarce water.
Museo del Valle de Tehuacán
The history of corn and how it connects to the valley's early peoples is the focus of the Valley of Tehuacán Museum, which opened in 2002 in a former Carmelite convent.
La Malinche National Park
Tlaxcala's La Malinche National Park surrounds the inactive Matlalcuéyetl volcano, with pine, oak and fir forests on its slopes, hiking trails, birdwatching, and stone cabins and campsites at the Malintzi Vacation Center.
Once you reach Chipilo
Convent Church of Nuestra Señora del Carmen, Puebla
An early 17th-century example of Puebla Baroque, the Church of the Virgin of Carmen has two richly decorated chapels and a neoclassical altarpiece holding an image of the Virgin by sculptor José Antonio Villegas Cora.
Museo Amparo
Opened in 1991 in Puebla's historic center, Museo Amparo was sponsored by the Amparo Foundation, created in 1979 by Manuel Espinosa Yglesias in honor of his wife.
Convent Church of San Francisco, Puebla
The Convent Church of San Francisco is a historic church that you'll find in the city of Puebla, in the Mexican state of Puebla.
More drives to Chipilo
- Apizaco to Chipilo
- Calpulalpan to Chipilo
- Pachuca to Chipilo
- Cuernavaca to Chipilo
- Tepotzotlán to Chipilo
- Actopan to Chipilo
From Huatulco to other places in Mexico
- Huatulco to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Huatulco to San Juan Chamula
- Huatulco to San Miguel, Morelos
- Huatulco to Ocuituco
- Huatulco to Oaxtepec
- Huatulco to Tetela de Ocampo
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Huatulco to Chipilo?
About 7 h 4 min of driving without stops, over 386 miles.
What is the driving distance from Huatulco to Chipilo?
About 386 miles (621 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 Huatulco to Chipilo?
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 Huatulco to Chipilo?
The U.S. State Department rates Oaxaca Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Huatulco to Chipilo?
In order: MEX-200, MEX-175D, MEX-175, MEX-190, MEX-135D and MEX-150D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Huatulco to Chipilo?
Closest to the road: Museo Estatal de Arte Popular de Oaxaca (folk art museum, mile 167, 0.2 mi from the route); Monte Albán (archaeological site, mile 174, 2 mi from the route); Planetario Nundehui (museum, mile 175, 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.