Oaxaca to Cárdenas is about 375 road miles (603 km): roughly 6 h 39 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance | 375 mi (603 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 6 h 39 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-190 → MEX-190D → MEX-185D → MEX-185 → MEX-145D → MEX-180D → MEX-180 |
| Mexican states on the route | Oaxaca, Veracruz, Tabasco |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-190D, MEX-185D, MEX-145D, MEX-180D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
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.
How the Oaxaca to Cárdenas drive plays out
MEX-190D (105 mi) and MEX-185 (98 mi) carry about 54% of the 375 miles. It runs through 3 states: Oaxaca, Veracruz, Tabasco. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-190D, MEX-185D and MEX-145D. Of the 7 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Oaxaca to Cárdenas
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-190 | 4–25 | 21 | Oaxaca |
| connecting roads | 25–28 | 3 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-190D | 28–133 | 105 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-185D | 133–158 | 25 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-185 | 158–181 | 23 | Oaxaca |
| local roads | 181–186 | 5 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-185 | 186–203 | 17 | Oaxaca |
| local roads | 203–206 | 3 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-185 | 206–264 | 58 | Oaxaca, Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 264–265 | 1 | Veracruz |
| MEX-145D | 265–288 | 23 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 288–309 | 21 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180 | 309–329 | 20 | Veracruz, Tabasco |
| MEX-180D | 329–362 | 33 | Tabasco |
| MEX-180 | 362–374 | 12 | Tabasco |
| local roads | 374–375 | 1 | Tabasco |
- Mile 222 of this route: Oaxaca → Veracruz (state line)
- Mile 326 of this route: Veracruz → Tabasco (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Oaxaca and Cárdenas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Dainzú (mile 13), Lambityeco (mile 18), Yagul (mile 21), Mitla (mile 25)
- Nature and outdoors: Hierve el Agua (mile 38)
- Museums and history: Dainzú (mile 13), Lambityeco (mile 18), Yagul (mile 21), Gheo-shih (mile 23), Mitla (mile 25), La Venta (mile 329)
Dainzú
About 20 km southeast of Oaxaca city, Dainzú is a Zapotec archaeological site, an ancient village that developed earlier than nearby Monte Albán and Mitla and was later contemporary with them.
Lambityeco
Lambityeco is a small Zapotec archaeological site just off Highway 190, about 3 km west of Tlacolula de Matamoros and roughly 25 km east of Oaxaca on the way to Mitla.
Yagul
On a rocky hill in Oaxaca's Tlacolula Valley, Yagul is a Zapotec site whose builders linked platforms by paths. Explore the Palace of the Six Patios, a ball court, tombs and a fortress wall with lookouts.
Gheo-shih
In the Oaxaca Valley, Gheo-shih ("River of the Gourd Trees" in Zapotec) is an open-air site with a boulder-lined cleared area thought to have served for rituals, dances or games.
Mitla
Mitla, the key site of Zapotec culture and Oaxaca's second major archaeological site after Monte Albán, lies 44 km from Oaxaca City at the upper end of the Tlacolula Valley.
Hierve el Agua
About 70 km east of Oaxaca City, Hierve el Agua's two cliffs rise 50 to 90 meters above the valley, draped in near-white travertine formations that look like waterfalls.
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.
More drives to Cárdenas
- Orizaba to Cárdenas
- Tehuacán to Cárdenas
- Cholula to Cárdenas
- Papantla to Cárdenas
- Cuautla to Cárdenas
- Mexico City to Cárdenas
From Oaxaca to other places in Mexico
- Oaxaca to Orizaba
- Oaxaca to Córdoba, Mexico
- Oaxaca to Cholula
- Oaxaca to Zacatelco
- Oaxaca to Chiautempan
- Oaxaca to Apizaco
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Oaxaca to Cárdenas?
About 6 h 39 min of driving without stops, over 375 miles.
What is the driving distance from Oaxaca to Cárdenas?
About 375 miles (603 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 Oaxaca to Cárdenas?
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 Oaxaca to Cárdenas?
The U.S. State Department rates Oaxaca Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tabasco Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Oaxaca to Cárdenas use?
In order: MEX-190, MEX-190D, MEX-185D, MEX-185, MEX-145D, MEX-180D and MEX-180. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Oaxaca to Cárdenas?
Closest to the road: Dainzú (archaeological site, mile 13, 0.6 mi from the route); Lambityeco (archaeological site, mile 18, 0.1 mi from the route); Mitla (archaeological site, mile 25, 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.