By road, Mérida and Coatzacoalcos are about 449 miles (723 km) apart, or roughly 8 h 17 min of driving.
| Distance by road | 449 mi (723 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 17 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-180 → MEX-202 → MEX-180D |
| Mexican states on the route | Yucatán, Campeche, Tabasco, Veracruz |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-180D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
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.
What the drive from Mérida to Coatzacoalcos is like
MEX-180 (236 mi) and MEX-180D (189 mi) carry about 95% of the 449 miles. It runs through 4 states: Yucatán, Campeche, Tabasco, Veracruz. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-180D. Of the 6 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Mérida to Coatzacoalcos: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–7 | 7 | Yucatán |
| MEX-180 | 7–100 | 93 | Yucatán, Campeche |
| MEX-202 | 100–110 | 10 | Campeche |
| connecting roads | 110–111 | 1 | Campeche |
| MEX-180D | 111–134 | 23 | Campeche |
| MEX-180 | 134–211 | 77 | Campeche |
| MEX-180D | 211–230 | 19 | Campeche |
| connecting roads | 230–234 | 4 | Campeche |
| MEX-180 | 234–237 | 3 | Campeche |
| MEX-180D | 237–351 | 114 | Campeche, Tabasco |
| MEX-180 | 351–385 | 34 | Tabasco |
| MEX-180D | 385–418 | 33 | Tabasco |
| MEX-180 | 418–447 | 29 | Tabasco, Veracruz |
| local roads | 447–449 | 2 | Veracruz |
- Mile 48 of this route: Yucatán → Campeche (state line)
- Mile 282 of this route: Campeche → Tabasco (state line)
- Mile 421 of this route: Tabasco → Veracruz (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Coatzacoalcos
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo de Arqueología Maya del Camino Real de Hecelchakán (mile 69)
- Museums and history: Oxkintok (mile 40), Uxmal (mile 49), Museo de Arqueología Maya del Camino Real de Hecelchakán (mile 69), Museo de Barcos y Armas Fuerte de San José el Alto (mile 104), La Venta (mile 418)
Oxkintok
Oxkintok is a pre-Columbian Maya archaeological site in the Puuc region of Yucatán state, in southeastern Mexico.
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.
La Venta
Once an important Olmec city, La Venta sits in Tabasco close to Huimanguillo. Monumental sandstone sculptures found at the foot of its main pyramid are among the 200-plus pieces in the site museum.
When you get to Coatzacoalcos
Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Coatzacoalcos
Officially the Cathedral of Saint Joseph (Catedral de San José), this Catholic church in Coatzacoalcos was raised to cathedral rank and serves as the seat of the Diocese of Coatzacoalcos.
More drives to Coatzacoalcos
- Mexico City to Coatzacoalcos
- Cuernavaca to Coatzacoalcos
- Toluca to Coatzacoalcos
- Querétaro to Coatzacoalcos
- Celaya to Coatzacoalcos
- Acapulco to Coatzacoalcos
From Mérida to other places in Mexico
- Mérida to Campeche
- Mérida to Teapa
- Mérida to Tecax
- Mérida to Hopelchén
- Mérida to Espita
- Mérida to Valladolid
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Mérida to Coatzacoalcos?
About 8 h 17 min of driving without stops, over 449 miles.
How far is Coatzacoalcos from Mérida by car?
About 449 miles (723 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 Mérida to Coatzacoalcos?
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 Mérida to Coatzacoalcos?
The U.S. State Department rates Yucatán Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions; Campeche Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions; Tabasco Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Mérida to Coatzacoalcos?
In order: MEX-180, MEX-202 and MEX-180D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Mérida to Coatzacoalcos?
Closest to the road: Oxkintok (archaeological site, mile 40, 2 mi from the route); Museo de Arqueología Maya del Camino Real de Hecelchakán (museum, mile 69, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo de Barcos y Armas Fuerte de San José el Alto (museum, mile 104, 3 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.