Lima to La Merced is about 186 road miles (299 km): roughly 5 h 55 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
Full advisory: Peru. Advisory issued: Peru September 04, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Peru: “Due to road safety risks, U.S. government employees working in Peru are prohibited from nighttime driving.”
| Distance | 186 mi (299 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 5 h 55 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-22 → LM-618 → PE-3N → JU-645 → PE-22B |
| Regions on the route | Lima Province, Lima, Junín |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
What the drive from Lima to La Merced is like
PE-22 (102 mi) and PE-22B (42 mi) carry about 77% of the 186 miles. It runs through 3 regions: Lima Province, Lima, Junín. Of the 4 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Lima to La Merced
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Lima Province |
| PE-22 | 3–74 | 71 | Lima Province, Lima |
| LM-618 | 74–80 | 6 | Lima, Junín |
| PE-22 | 80–111 | 31 | Junín |
| PE-3N | 111–126 | 15 | Junín |
| JU-645 | 126–137 | 11 | Junín |
| connecting roads | 137–138 | 1 | Junín |
| local roads | 138–144 | 6 | Junín |
| PE-22B | 144–186 | 42 | Junín |
- Mile 25 of this route: Lima Province → Lima (region line)
- Mile 78 of this route: Lima → Junín (region line)
Places worth a stop between Lima and La Merced
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Huaycán de Pariachi (mile 14)
- Museums and history: Puruchuco (mile 7), Huanchihuaylas (mile 10), Huaycán de Pariachi (mile 14), Catedral de Tarma (mile 144)
Puruchuco
Puruchuco, in Lima's Ate District, is an archaeological site that served as an administrative center during the Inca period.
Huanchihuaylas
Huanchihuaylas, also called Huancho Huaylas, is an archaeological site in the Ate district of Lima, Peru's capital.
Huaycán de Pariachi
South of the Rímac River in Huaycán, Ate District, Huaycán de Pariachi is an archaeological site within the Lima area of Peru.
Catedral de Tarma
Tarma's cathedral, also called the Cathedral of Santa Ana, is a neoclassical church built in 1954 in Tarma, Junín region, Peru.
More drives to La Merced
- Jauja to La Merced
- Tocache to La Merced
- Juanjuí to La Merced
- Tarapoto to La Merced
- Huancavelica to La Merced
- Casma to La Merced
From Lima to other places in Peru
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Lima to La Merced?
About 5 h 55 min of driving without stops, over 186 miles.
How far is La Merced from Lima by car?
About 186 miles (299 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.
Is it safe to drive from Lima to La Merced?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Lima to La Merced?
In order: PE-22, LM-618, PE-3N, JU-645 and PE-22B. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Lima to La Merced?
Closest to the road: Puruchuco (archaeological site, mile 7, 2 mi from the route); Huanchihuaylas (archaeological site, mile 10, 1 mi from the route); Huaycán de Pariachi (archaeological site, mile 14, 0.9 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 October 10, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.