The Wayro route from Izamal to Hopelchén is 132 miles (212 km), about 3 h 26 min of driving without stops.
| Distance by road | 132 mi (212 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 26 min |
| Main roads, in order | YUC 11 → MEX-180 → MEX-184 → MEX-261 |
| Mexican states on the route | Yucatán, Campeche |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 5.3 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.
Driving Izamal to Hopelchén: the shape of the trip
MEX-261 (46 mi) and MEX-184 (27 mi) carry about 55% of the 132 miles. It runs through 2 states: Yucatán, Campeche. Of the 5 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Izamal to Hopelchén
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Yucatán |
| YUC 11 | 1–14 | 13 | Yucatán |
| MEX-180 | 14–22 | 8 | Yucatán |
| connecting roads | 22–23 | 1 | Yucatán |
| local roads | 23–34 | 11 | Yucatán |
| connecting roads | 34–35 | 1 | Yucatán |
| MEX-184 | 35–62 | 27 | Yucatán |
| local roads | 62–76 | 14 | Yucatán |
| connecting roads | 76–78 | 2 | Yucatán |
| local roads | 78–86 | 8 | Yucatán |
| MEX-261 | 86–132 | 46 | Yucatán, Campeche |
- Mile 106 of this route: Yucatán → Campeche (state line)
Places worth a stop between Izamal and Hopelchén
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Acanceh (mile 34), Mayapan (mile 48), Kabah (mile 91)
- Museums and history: Acanceh (mile 34), Mayapan (mile 48), Kabah (mile 91), Labna (mile 94), Sayil (mile 95)
Acanceh
Inside the modern town of Acanceh, this Maya archaeological site was a major center of northern Yucatán, founded in the Middle Preclassic and at its peak in the Classic period. Its name means "lament of the deer."
Mayapan
About 40 km southeast of Mérida near Telchaquillo, Mayapan is a pre-Columbian Maya site that was the political and cultural capital of the Yucatán Maya from the 1220s to the 1440s.
Kabah
Kabah is a Maya archaeological site in the Puuc region south of Mérida, inscribed in 1996 together with Uxmal, Sayil and Labna as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Labna
Labna is a Maya archaeological site and ceremonial center in the Puuc Hills of the Yucatán Peninsula, south of Uxmal in the southwest of Yucatán state.
Sayil
Sayil is a pre-Columbian city built by the Maya in the Terminal Classic period, located in southwestern Yucatán state, south of Uxmal.
More drives to Hopelchén
- Tecax to Hopelchén
- Mérida to Hopelchén
- Teapa to Hopelchén
- Motul to Hopelchén
- Progreso to Hopelchén
- Tixkokob to Hopelchén
From Izamal to other places in Mexico
- Izamal to Sisal
- Izamal to Calkiní
- Izamal to Palizada
- Izamal to Sueños de Oro
- Izamal to Tapijulapa
- Izamal to San Juan Chamula
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Izamal to Hopelchén?
About 3 h 26 min of driving without stops, over 132 miles.
What is the driving distance from Izamal to Hopelchén?
About 132 miles (212 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 Hopelchén?
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 Hopelchén?
The U.S. State Department rates Yucatán Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions; Campeche Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Izamal to Hopelchén?
In order: YUC 11, MEX-180, MEX-184 and MEX-261. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Izamal to Hopelchén?
Closest to the road: Acanceh (archaeological site, mile 34, 0.1 mi from the route); Mayapan (archaeological site, mile 48, 0.3 mi from the route); Kabah (archaeological site, mile 91, 0.1 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.