The Wayro route from Oaxaca to Palizada is 495 miles (797 km), about 9 h 43 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 495 mi (797 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 43 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-190 → MEX-190D → MEX-185D → MEX-185 → MEX-145D → MEX-180D → MEX-180 → MEX-186 → MEX-217 |
| Mexican states on the route | Oaxaca, Veracruz, Tabasco, Campeche |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-190D, MEX-185D, MEX-145D, MEX-180D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.8 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.
What the drive from Oaxaca to Palizada is like
MEX-190D (105 mi) and MEX-185 (98 mi) carry about 41% of the 495 miles. It runs through 4 states: Oaxaca, Veracruz, Tabasco, Campeche. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-190D, MEX-185D and MEX-145D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Oaxaca to Palizada
| 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 | 362–401 | 39 | Tabasco |
| local roads | 401–405 | 4 | Tabasco |
| MEX-186 | 405–424 | 19 | Tabasco |
| local roads | 424–482 | 58 | Tabasco |
| MEX-217 | 482–495 | 13 | Tabasco, Campeche |
- Mile 222 of this route: Oaxaca → Veracruz (state line)
- Mile 327 of this route: Veracruz → Tabasco (state line)
- Mile 484 of this route: Tabasco → Campeche (state line)
Places worth a stop between Oaxaca and Palizada
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Dainzú (mile 13), Lambityeco (mile 18), Yagul (mile 21), Mitla (mile 25), Museo de Historia de Tabasco Casa de los Azulejos (mile 404)
- 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), Museo de Historia de Tabasco Casa de los Azulejos (mile 404)
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
More than 200 artifacts fill the site museum at La Venta, among them massive sandstone sculptures discovered at the base of the main pyramid. The once-important Olmec city lies in Tabasco, near Huimanguillo.
Museo de Historia de Tabasco Casa de los Azulejos
The Museo de Historia de Tabasco, housed in the Casa de los Azulejos, is a history museum in the historic center of Villahermosa, Tabasco.
More drives to Palizada
- Ocosingo to Palizada
- Coatzacoalcos to Palizada
- Tuxtepec to Palizada
- Córdoba, Mexico to Palizada
- Veracruz to Palizada
- Tehuacán to Palizada
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 Palizada?
About 9 h 43 min of driving without stops, over 495 miles.
What is the driving distance from Oaxaca to Palizada?
About 495 miles (797 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 Palizada?
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 Palizada?
The U.S. State Department rates Oaxaca Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tabasco Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Campeche Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Oaxaca to Palizada use?
In order: MEX-190, MEX-190D, MEX-185D, MEX-185, MEX-145D, MEX-180D, MEX-180, MEX-186 and MEX-217. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Oaxaca to Palizada?
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.