Oaxaca to Copainalá is about 353 road miles (568 km): roughly 6 h 28 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance | 353 mi (568 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 28 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-190 → MEX-190D → MEX-185D → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | Oaxaca, Chiapas |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-190D, MEX-185D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
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 Copainalá drive plays out
MEX-190D (162 mi) and MEX-190 (107 mi) carry about 76% of the 353 miles. It runs through 2 states: Oaxaca, Chiapas. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-190D and MEX-185D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Oaxaca to Copainalá
| 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 | 133–162 | 29 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-190 | 162–212 | 50 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-200 | 212–244 | 32 | Oaxaca, Chiapas |
| MEX-190D | 244–301 | 57 | Chiapas |
| MEX-190 | 301–337 | 36 | Chiapas |
| local roads | 337–353 | 16 | Chiapas |
- Mile 231 of this route: Oaxaca → Chiapas (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Oaxaca and Copainalá
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Dainzú (mile 13), El Palmillo (mile 20), Yagul (mile 21), Mitla (mile 25)
- Nature and outdoors: Hierve el Agua (mile 38), Sumidero Canyon (mile 330), Sumidero Canyon National Park (mile 330)
- Museums and history: Dainzú (mile 13), El Palmillo (mile 20), Yagul (mile 21), Mitla (mile 25), Museo de la Ciudad (mile 316)
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.
El Palmillo
On a hilltop in the eastern Tlacolula arm of the Valley of Oaxaca, El Palmillo is a Classic Period Zapotec archaeological site just south of Mitla and east of Monte Albán.
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.
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.
Museo de la Ciudad
Tuxtla Gutiérrez's city museum covers the history and growth of the city with three permanent exhibits and a temporary gallery, in a building whose site once briefly served as a bullring.
Sumidero Canyon
Just north of Chiapa de Corzo in Chiapas, Sumidero Canyon is a deep natural canyon cut by a crack in the crust and erosion by the Grijalva River, which still flows through it.
Sumidero Canyon National Park
The Grijalva River runs through Sumidero Canyon, whose walls rise from about 200 to 1,000 meters. Boat trips leave from colonial Chiapa de Corzo, and lookouts line the rim. It became a national park in 1980.
More drives to Copainalá
- Zacatelco to Copainalá
- Tlaxcala to Copainalá
- Huejotzingo to Copainalá
- Calpulalpan to Copainalá
- Zacualpan de Amilpas to Copainalá
- Zacatlán to Copainalá
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 does it take to drive from Oaxaca to Copainalá?
About 6 h 28 min of driving without stops, over 353 miles.
How far is Copainalá from Oaxaca by car?
About 353 miles (568 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 Copainalá?
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 Copainalá?
The U.S. State Department rates Oaxaca Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Chiapas Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Oaxaca to Copainalá use?
In order: MEX-190, MEX-190D, MEX-185D and MEX-200. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Oaxaca and Copainalá?
Closest to the road: Dainzú (archaeological site, mile 13, 0.6 mi from the route); El Palmillo (archaeological site, mile 20, 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.