Mérida to Tecax is about 74 road miles (119 km): roughly 1 h 48 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Total distance | 74 mi (119 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 1 h 48 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-180 → MEX-184 → YUC 18 |
| Mexican states on the route | Yucatán |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 2.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
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 Tecax is like
MEX-184 (48 mi) and YUC 18 (14 mi) carry about 84% of the 74 miles. Of the 3 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Mérida to Tecax
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Yucatán |
| MEX-180 | 2–9 | 7 | Yucatán |
| MEX-184 | 9–52 | 43 | Yucatán |
| YUC 18 | 52–66 | 14 | Yucatán |
| MEX-184 | 66–71 | 5 | Yucatán |
| local roads | 71–74 | 3 | Yucatán |
Places worth a stop between Mérida and Tecax
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Xiol (mile 10), Mayapan (mile 32)
- Museums and history: Xiol (mile 10), Acanceh (mile 19), Mayapan (mile 32)
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."
Acanceh
Inside the modern town of Acanceh, this Maya archaeological site was a major center of northern Yucatán, founded in the Middle Preclassic and at its peak in the Classic period. Its name means "lament of the deer."
Mayapan
About 40 km southeast of Mérida near Telchaquillo, Mayapan is a pre-Columbian Maya site that was the political and cultural capital of the Yucatán Maya from the 1220s to the 1440s.
Once you reach Tecax
Chacmultun
Dating to the late Preclassic period, Chacmultun is a Maya site in Yucatán whose name means "mounds of red stone," after the red color of its buildings.
More drives to Tecax
From Mérida to other places in Mexico
- Mérida to Campeche
- Mérida to Teapa
- Mérida to Coatzacoalcos
- Mérida to Hopelchén
- Mérida to Espita
- Mérida to Valladolid
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Mérida to Tecax?
About 1 h 48 min of driving without stops, over 74 miles.
How far is Tecax from Mérida by car?
About 74 miles (119 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 Tecax?
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 Tecax?
The U.S. State Department rates Yucatán Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Mérida to Tecax?
In order: MEX-180, MEX-184 and YUC 18. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Mérida to Tecax?
Closest to the road: Xiol (archaeological site, mile 10, 0.1 mi from the route); Acanceh (archaeological site, mile 19, 1 mi from the route); Mayapan (archaeological site, mile 32, 0.3 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.