Plan on about 7 h 52 min of driving for the 370-mile (595 km) trip from Izamal to Palizada, before any stops.
| Distance by road | 370 mi (595 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 52 min |
| Main roads, in order | YUC 11 → MEX-180 → MEX-202 → MEX-180D → MEX-261 → MEX-186 → MEX-217 |
| Mexican states on the route | Yucatán, Campeche |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-180D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
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 Palizada: the shape of the trip
MEX-180 (132 mi) and MEX-186 (89 mi) carry about 60% of the 370 miles. It runs through 2 states: Yucatán, Campeche. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-180D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Izamal to Palizada
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Yucatán |
| YUC 11 | 1–14 | 13 | Yucatán |
| MEX-180 | 14–40 | 26 | Yucatán |
| local roads | 40–48 | 8 | Yucatán |
| MEX-180 | 48–141 | 93 | Yucatán, Campeche |
| MEX-202 | 141–151 | 10 | Campeche |
| connecting roads | 151–152 | 1 | Campeche |
| MEX-180D | 152–175 | 23 | Campeche |
| MEX-180 | 175–188 | 13 | Campeche |
| connecting roads | 188–190 | 2 | Campeche |
| MEX-261 | 190–239 | 49 | Campeche |
| MEX-186 | 239–328 | 89 | Campeche |
| MEX-217 | 328–369 | 41 | Campeche |
| local roads | 369–370 | 1 | Campeche |
- Mile 89 of this route: Yucatán → Campeche (state line)
Stops between Izamal and Palizada
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Xiol (mile 34), Museo de Arqueología Maya del Camino Real de Hecelchakán (mile 110)
- Museums and history: Cuca (mile 28), Xiol (mile 34), Museo Conmemorativo de la Inmigración Coreana a Yucatán (mile 42), Cathedral of Mérida, Yucatán (mile 42), Uxmal (mile 90), Museo de Arqueología Maya del Camino Real de Hecelchakán (mile 110), Museo de Barcos y Armas Fuerte de San José el Alto (mile 145)
Cuca
Near the town of Tixpéhual in Yucatán, Cuca is a pre-Columbian Maya site of about 10 hectares, where dozens of structures and their remains lie scattered inside a low wall.
Xiol
Xiol is a Maya archaeological site in Kanasín, about 10 kilometers from Mérida, found by accident in 2018 during construction of an industrial complex. Its Maya name means "the spirit of man."
Museo Conmemorativo de la Inmigración Coreana a Yucatán
In Mérida's historic center, this memorial museum tells the story of the first Korean immigrants to Yucatán and their work in the henequen industry, with more than 200 photos, documents, newspapers and pieces of traditional clothing.
Cathedral of Mérida, Yucatán
Uxmal
Founded around A.D. 700, the Maya city of Uxmal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where Puuc-style buildings such as the Pyramid of the Soothsayer, the Governor's Palace and the Nunnery Quadrangle carry carvings of the rain god Chaac.
Museo de Arqueología Maya del Camino Real de Hecelchakán
On Highway 180 about 40 miles north of Campeche city, Hecelchakán's INAH museum displays Maya archaeology from the Camino Real region. It is the only museum of its kind along this historic route toward Calkiní.
Museo de Barcos y Armas Fuerte de San José el Alto
Inside Fuerte de San José el Alto in Campeche city, the museum displays more than 900 objects recovered from underwater archaeological sites in the Gulf of Mexico, the Mexican Caribbean and the cenotes, lakes and rivers of the Yucatán Peninsula.
Historic Fortified Town of Campeche
Founded by the Spanish on the Gulf of Mexico, Campeche's walled center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sections of the hexagonal wall built from 1686 to 1704 against pirate raids survive with bastions and gates, framing a grid of colonial streets.
More drives to Palizada
- Ocosingo to Palizada
- Coatzacoalcos to Palizada
- Tuxtepec to Palizada
- Córdoba, Mexico to Palizada
- Veracruz to Palizada
- Tehuacán to Palizada
From Izamal to other places in Mexico
- Izamal to Sisal
- Izamal to Calkiní
- Izamal to Hopelchén
- Izamal to Sueños de Oro
- Izamal to Tapijulapa
- Izamal to San Juan Chamula
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Izamal to Palizada?
About 7 h 52 min of driving without stops, over 370 miles.
What is the driving distance from Izamal to Palizada?
About 370 miles (595 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 Palizada?
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 Palizada?
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.
What roads does the drive from Izamal to Palizada use?
In order: YUC 11, MEX-180, MEX-202, MEX-180D, MEX-261, MEX-186 and MEX-217. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Izamal to Palizada?
Closest to the road: Cuca (archaeological site, mile 28, 2 mi from the route); Xiol (archaeological site, mile 34, 0.8 mi from the route); Museo de Arqueología Maya del Camino Real de Hecelchakán (museum, mile 110, 0.4 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.