By road, Motul and Bacalar are about 242 miles (389 km) apart, or roughly 5 h 42 min of driving.
| Distance | 242 mi (389 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 5 h 42 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-180 → MEX-180D → MEX-295 → MEX-307 |
| Mexican states on the route | Yucatán, Quintana Roo |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-180D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.7 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.
Driving Motul to Bacalar: the shape of the trip
MEX-295 (83 mi) and MEX-307 (70 mi) carry about 63% of the 242 miles. It runs through 2 states: Yucatán, Quintana Roo. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-180D. Of the 3 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Motul to Bacalar: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–17 | 17 | Yucatán |
| MEX-180 | 17–30 | 13 | Yucatán |
| MEX-180D | 30–60 | 30 | Yucatán |
| connecting roads | 60–62 | 2 | Yucatán |
| MEX-180 | 62–83 | 21 | Yucatán |
| local roads | 83–88 | 5 | Yucatán |
| MEX-295 | 88–171 | 83 | Yucatán, Quintana Roo |
| MEX-307 | 171–241 | 70 | Quintana Roo |
| local roads | 241–242 | 1 | Quintana Roo |
- Mile 103 of this route: Yucatán → Quintana Roo (state line)
What to see on the way from Motul to Bacalar
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Akab Dzib (mile 65), Ik Kil (mile 66)
- Nature and outdoors: Sian Kaʼan Biosphere Reserve (mile 179)
- Museums and history: Akab Dzib (mile 65)
Akab Dzib
Akab Dzib is a pre-Columbian structure at the Maya site of Chichen Itza, catalogued by archaeologists as Structure 4D1 and also spelled Akab Tzib or Akabdzib.
Ik Kil
Outside Pisté near Chichen Itza, Ik Kil is a cenote within the Ik Kil Archeological Park in Yucatán's Tinúm Municipality.
Sian Kaʼan Biosphere Reserve
Established in 1986 in Tulum Municipality, Quintana Roo, Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
When you get to Bacalar
San Felipe Fortress
San Felipe Fortress (Fuerte de San Felipe de Bacalar) was an 18th-century Spanish colonial garrison in Bacalar, Quintana Roo. Today it houses the Bacalar Piracy Museum.
More drives to Bacalar
- Escárcega to Bacalar
- Tizimín to Bacalar
- Mérida to Bacalar
- Calkiní to Bacalar
- Izamal to Bacalar
- Ocosingo to Bacalar
From Motul to other places in Mexico
- Motul to Maní
- Motul to Calkiní
- Motul to Kabah
- Motul to Hecelchakán
- Motul to Hopelchén
- Motul to Tapijulapa
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Motul to Bacalar?
About 5 h 42 min of driving without stops, over 242 miles.
How far is Bacalar from Motul by car?
About 242 miles (389 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 Motul to Bacalar?
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 Motul to Bacalar?
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.
What roads does the drive from Motul to Bacalar use?
In order: MEX-180, MEX-180D, MEX-295 and MEX-307. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Motul and Bacalar?
Closest to the road: Akab Dzib (ruins, mile 65, 0.4 mi from the route); Ik Kil (cenote, mile 66, 0.3 mi from the route); Sian Kaʼan Biosphere Reserve (biosphere reserve, mile 179, 16 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.