Plan on about 5 h 36 min of driving for the 232-mile (373 km) trip from Maxcanú to Punta Allen, before any stops.
| Total distance | 232 mi (373 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 5 h 36 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-180 → MEX-180D → YUC-MEX-180 → QR 109 → QR 15 |
| Mexican states on the route | Yucatán, Quintana Roo |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-180D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.3 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 Maxcanú to Punta Allen: the shape of the trip
MEX-180 (83 mi) and MEX-180D (54 mi) carry about 59% of the 232 miles. It runs through 2 states: Yucatán, Quintana Roo. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-180D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Maxcanú to Punta Allen: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Yucatán |
| MEX-180 | 1–32 | 31 | Yucatán |
| local roads | 32–41 | 9 | Yucatán |
| MEX-180 | 41–80 | 39 | Yucatán |
| MEX-180D | 80–134 | 54 | Yucatán |
| connecting roads | 134–135 | 1 | Yucatán |
| local roads | 135–139 | 4 | Yucatán |
| MEX-180 | 139–152 | 13 | Yucatán |
| YUC-MEX-180 | 152–171 | 19 | Yucatán, Quintana Roo |
| QR 109 | 171–201 | 30 | Quintana Roo |
| QR 15 | 201–232 | 31 | Quintana Roo |
- Mile 165 of this route: Yucatán → Quintana Roo (state line)
Stops between Maxcanú and Punta Allen
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Xiol (mile 46)
- Museums and history: Museo Conmemorativo de la Inmigración Coreana a Yucatán (mile 39), Xiol (mile 46), Cuca (mile 53), Gran Museo de Chichén Itzá (mile 111), Coba (mile 172), Tulum (mile 199)
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.
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."
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.
Sacred Cenote
At the Maya site of Chichen Itza, the Sacred Cenote is a water-filled limestone sinkhole where, by Maya and Spanish accounts, offerings and human sacrifices were made to the rain god Chaac.
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.
More drives to Punta Allen
- Puerto Morelos to Punta Allen
- Valladolid to Punta Allen
- Río Lagartos to Punta Allen
- Izamal to Punta Allen
- Cuzamá to Punta Allen
- Maní to Punta Allen
From Maxcanú to other places in Mexico
- Maxcanú to Tapijulapa
- Maxcanú to Izamal
- Maxcanú to Cuzamá
- Maxcanú to Akumal
- Maxcanú to Puerto Morelos
- Maxcanú to Kohunlich
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Maxcanú to Punta Allen?
About 5 h 36 min of driving without stops, over 232 miles.
What is the driving distance from Maxcanú to Punta Allen?
About 232 miles (373 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 Maxcanú to Punta Allen?
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 Maxcanú to Punta Allen?
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.
Which highways go from Maxcanú to Punta Allen?
In order: MEX-180, MEX-180D, YUC-MEX-180, QR 109 and QR 15. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Maxcanú to Punta Allen?
Closest to the road: Xiol (archaeological site, mile 46, 0.7 mi from the route); Coba (archaeological site, mile 172, 1 mi from the route); Tulum (archaeological site, mile 199, 2 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.