Plan on about 11 h 30 min of driving for the 542-mile (873 km) trip from Ixtepec to Xpujil, before any stops.
| Distance | 542 mi (873 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 11 h 30 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-185D → MEX-185 → MEX-145D → MEX-180D → MEX-180 → MEX-186 |
| Mexican states on the route | Oaxaca, Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas, Campeche |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-185D, MEX-145D, MEX-180D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
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 Ixtepec–Xpujil drive in a few lines
MEX-186 (279 mi) and MEX-185 (97 mi) carry about 69% of the 542 miles. It runs through 5 states: Oaxaca, Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas, Campeche. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-185D, MEX-145D and MEX-180D. Of the 5 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Ixtepec to Xpujil: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-185D | 2–16 | 14 | Oaxaca |
| connecting roads | 16–17 | 1 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-185 | 17–39 | 22 | Oaxaca |
| local roads | 39–44 | 5 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-185 | 44–61 | 17 | Oaxaca |
| local roads | 61–64 | 3 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-185 | 64–122 | 58 | Oaxaca, Veracruz |
| MEX-145D | 122–147 | 25 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 147–167 | 20 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180 | 167–186 | 19 | Veracruz, Tabasco |
| MEX-180D | 186–220 | 34 | Tabasco |
| MEX-180 | 220–259 | 39 | Tabasco |
| local roads | 259–263 | 4 | Tabasco |
| MEX-186 | 263–542 | 279 | Tabasco, Chiapas, Campeche |
- Mile 81 of this route: Oaxaca → Veracruz (state line)
- Mile 185 of this route: Veracruz → Tabasco (state line)
- Mile 309 of this route: Tabasco → Chiapas (state line)
- Mile 352 of this route: Chiapas → Tabasco (state line)
- Mile 360 of this route: Tabasco → Campeche (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Xpujil
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Musevi (mile 261), Casa Museo Cnel. Gregorio Méndez Magaña (mile 262)
- Nature and outdoors: Calakmul Biosphere Reserve (mile 531)
- Museums and history: La Venta (mile 188), Musevi (mile 261), Casa Museo Cnel. Gregorio Méndez Magaña (mile 262)
La Venta
More than 200 artifacts fill the site museum at La Venta, among them massive sandstone sculptures discovered at the base of the main pyramid. The once-important Olmec city lies in Tabasco, near Huimanguillo.
Musevi
Built for Mexico's independence bicentennial, Musevi is a bridge by Las Ilusiones lagoon and Tomás Garrido Park in Villahermosa, with a museum of regional artists and a coffee shop on top.
Casa Museo Cnel. Gregorio Méndez Magaña
Colonel Gregorio Méndez Magaña, a hero of the fight against the French intervention in Tabasco, was born in this house in Jalpa de Méndez in 1836; today it serves as a house museum in his honor.
Balamku
Balamku is a small Maya archaeological site in Campeche, known for elaborate plaster facades from the Early Classic period.
Calakmul Biosphere Reserve
Bordering Guatemala's Petén department, the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve covers 7,231 square kilometers of southern Campeche, more than 14 percent of the state; it was established in 1989.
Arriving in Xpujil
Becan
Becan is a Maya archaeological site near the center of the Yucatán Peninsula in Campeche, about 150 km north of Tikal.
Xpuhil
Near the town of Xpujil in Campeche, Xpuhil is a Maya archaeological site along Federal Highway 186, in an area with other Maya sites such as Becan, Chicanná and Calakmul.
More drives to Xpujil
- Tecax to Xpujil
- Hecelchakán to Xpujil
- Campeche to Xpujil
- Calkiní to Xpujil
- Mérida to Xpujil
- Celestún to Xpujil
From Ixtepec to other places in Mexico
- Ixtepec to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Ixtepec to San Miguel, Morelos
- Ixtepec to Tetela del Volcán
- Ixtepec to Otumba
- Ixtepec to Atlatlahucan
- Ixtepec to Tepoztlán
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Ixtepec to Xpujil?
About 11 h 30 min of driving without stops, over 542 miles.
How far is Xpujil from Ixtepec by car?
About 542 miles (873 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 Ixtepec to Xpujil?
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 Ixtepec to Xpujil?
The U.S. State Department rates Oaxaca Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tabasco Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Chiapas Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Campeche Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Ixtepec to Xpujil?
In order: MEX-185D, MEX-185, MEX-145D, MEX-180D, MEX-180 and MEX-186. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Ixtepec to Xpujil?
Closest to the road: Musevi (museum, mile 261, 0.3 mi from the route); Casa Museo Cnel. Gregorio Méndez Magaña (museum, mile 262, 0.9 mi from the route); Balamku (maya site, mile 505, 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.