Medellín to Yopal is about 378 road miles (609 km): roughly 9 h 52 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
Read the full advisory before you go: Colombia. Advisory issued: Colombia March 31, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Colombia: “Mountain roads may lack safety features such as crash barriers or guard rails.”
| Distance by road | 378 mi (609 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 52 min |
| Departments on the route | Antioquia, Santander, Boyacá, Casanare |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
What the drive from Medellín to Yopal is like
It runs through 4 departments: Antioquia, Santander, Boyacá, Casanare. Of the 6 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Medellín to Yopal, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–251 | 251 | Antioquia, Santander, Boyacá |
| connecting roads | 251–252 | 1 | Boyacá |
| local roads | 252–289 | 37 | Boyacá |
| connecting roads | 289–291 | 2 | Boyacá |
| local roads | 291–378 | 87 | Boyacá, Casanare |
- Mile 107 of this route: Antioquia → Santander (department line)
- Mile 213 of this route: Santander → Boyacá (department line)
- Mile 344 of this route: Boyacá → Casanare (department line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Medellín and Yopal
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, Girardota (mile 16), Sochagota Lake (mile 270), Archaeology Museum, Sogamoso (mile 288), Salto de Candelas (mile 332)
- Nature and outdoors: Sochagota Lake (mile 270), Salto de Candelas (mile 332)
- Museums and history: Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, Girardota (mile 16), Casa del Fundador Gonzalo Suárez Rendón (mile 216), St. Lawrence Cathedral, Duitama (mile 277), Archaeology Museum, Sogamoso (mile 288)
Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, Girardota
Girardota Cathedral is a Neo-Romanesque church of exposed brick, designed by French architect Charles Émile Carré and built over 32 years.
Casa del Fundador Gonzalo Suárez Rendón
On Tunja's Plaza Bolívar, the Casa del Fundador Gonzalo Suárez Rendón is a museum honoring the founder who established the city for the Spanish Crown in 1539.
Sochagota Lake
Lake Sochagota (Lago Sochagota) is a man-made lake in Paipa's hotel zone, built over a wetland fed by two streams and the thermal waters of the Paipa geothermal system.
St. Lawrence Cathedral, Duitama
St. Lawrence Cathedral, also known as Duitama Cathedral, is a Catholic church in Duitama dedicated to St. Lawrence.
Archaeology Museum, Sogamoso
Officially the Parque Museo Arqueológico Eliecer Silva Celis, the Archaeology Museum in Sogamoso, Boyacá, holds 4,000 pieces from the Muisca and Herrera periods.
Salto de Candelas
In the municipality of Pajarito, Boyacá, Salto de Candelas is a 140-meter waterfall surrounded by dense forest in Colombia's Eastern Andes.
More drives to Yopal
From Medellín to other places in Colombia
- Medellín to Armenia
- Medellín to Ibagué
- Medellín to Girardot City
- Medellín to Tuluá
- Medellín to Cali
- Medellín to Zipaquirá
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Medellín to Yopal?
About 9 h 52 min of driving without stops, over 378 miles.
How far is Yopal from Medellín by car?
About 378 miles (609 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 Medellín to Yopal?
The U.S. State Department rates Colombia Level 3: Reconsider Travel. Read the full advisory before you go.
What are good stops between Medellín and Yopal?
Closest to the road: Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, Girardota (cathedral, mile 16, 0.8 mi from the route); Archaeology Museum, Sogamoso (museum, mile 288, 0.4 mi from the route); Salto de Candelas (waterfall, mile 332, 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 October 10, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.