By road, Izamal and Akumal are about 147 miles (236 km) apart, or roughly 3 h 3 min of driving.
| Distance | 147 mi (236 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 3 h 3 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-180D → MEX-180 → YUC-MEX-180 → QR 109 → MEX-307 |
| Mexican states on the route | Yucatán, Quintana Roo |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-180D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 5.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
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.
Driving Izamal to Akumal: the shape of the trip
MEX-180D (54 mi) and QR 109 (27 mi) carry about 55% of the 147 miles. It runs through 2 states: Yucatán, Quintana Roo. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-180D. Of the 7 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Izamal to Akumal
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–11 | 11 | Yucatán |
| MEX-180D | 11–65 | 54 | Yucatán |
| connecting roads | 65–66 | 1 | Yucatán |
| local roads | 66–70 | 4 | Yucatán |
| MEX-180 | 70–84 | 14 | Yucatán |
| YUC-MEX-180 | 84–103 | 19 | Yucatán, Quintana Roo |
| QR 109 | 103–130 | 27 | Quintana Roo |
| MEX-307 | 130–146 | 16 | Quintana Roo |
| local roads | 146–147 | 1 | Quintana Roo |
- Mile 96 of this route: Yucatán → Quintana Roo (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Akumal
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Tulum (mile 132), Xelha (mile 140), Xel-Ha Park (mile 140)
- Museums and history: Gran Museo de Chichén Itzá (mile 42), Coba (mile 104), Tulum (mile 132), Xelha (mile 140)
- With kids: Xel-Ha Park (mile 140)
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.
Gran Museo de Chichén Itzá
Opened on February 28, 2024, near Pisté, the Gran Museo de Chichén Itzá holds more than 1,000 pieces, including finds recovered during salvage work for the Maya Train.
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.
Xelha
On the eastern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula in Quintana Roo, Xelha is a Maya archaeological site whose name comes from the Yucatec Maya roots xel and ha'.
Xel-Ha Park
On the Caribbean coast of Quintana Roo in the municipality of Tulum, Xel-Ha Park is a commercial aquatic theme park and ecotourism development run by Grupo Xcaret.
More drives to Akumal
- Valladolid to Akumal
- Río Lagartos to Akumal
- Cuzamá to Akumal
- Motul to Akumal
- Mérida to Akumal
- Tecax to Akumal
From Izamal to other places in Mexico
- Izamal to Sisal
- Izamal to Calkiní
- Izamal to Hopelchén
- Izamal to Palizada
- Izamal to Sueños de Oro
- Izamal to Tapijulapa
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Izamal to Akumal?
About 3 h 3 min of driving without stops, over 147 miles.
How far is Akumal from Izamal by car?
About 147 miles (236 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 Izamal 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 Izamal to Akumal?
The U.S. State Department rates 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.
What roads does the drive from Izamal to Akumal use?
In order: MEX-180D, MEX-180, 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 Izamal and Akumal?
Closest to the road: Tulum (archaeological site, mile 132, 0.5 mi from the route); Xelha (archaeological site, mile 140, 0.2 mi from the route); Xel-Ha Park (amusement park, mile 140, 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.