Plan on about 3 h 14 min of driving for the 137-mile (220 km) trip from Ocosingo to Copainalá, before any stops.
| Distance | 137 mi (220 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 3 h 14 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-199 → MEX-190 → MEX-190D |
| Mexican states on the route | Chiapas |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-190D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 5.5 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 Ocosingo to Copainalá is like
MEX-199 (51 mi) and MEX-190D (33 mi) carry about 61% of the 137 miles. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-190D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Ocosingo to Copainalá
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Chiapas |
| MEX-199 | 1–52 | 51 | Chiapas |
| MEX-190 | 52–58 | 6 | Chiapas |
| MEX-190D | 58–91 | 33 | Chiapas |
| local roads | 91–99 | 8 | Chiapas |
| MEX-190 | 99–121 | 22 | Chiapas |
| local roads | 121–137 | 16 | Chiapas |
Where to stop on the way to Copainalá
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Botánico de Tuxtla Gutiérrez (mile 95)
- Nature and outdoors: Selva El Ocote (mile 79), Sumidero Canyon National Park (mile 94), Sumidero Canyon (mile 113)
- Museums and history: Casa Na Bolom (mile 58), La Pila fountain (mile 86), Museo de la Laca and the Santo Domingo monastery (mile 86), Museo de Ciencia y Tecnología de Chiapas (mile 91), Museo Botánico de Tuxtla Gutiérrez (mile 95)
Casa Na Bolom
Once the home of archaeologist Frans Blom and photographer Gertrude Duby Blom, Casa Na Bolom in San Cristóbal de las Casas occupies an 1891 building and shows pre-Hispanic, textile, ethnographic and colonial collections.
Selva El Ocote
Selva El Ocote Biosphere Reserve covers about 101,288 hectares of Chiapas, protecting tall evergreen rain forest on karst terrain, a landscape also known for its extensive caverns.
La Pila fountain
Built of brick in a diamond shape in 1562, La Pila fountain in the square of Chiapa de Corzo, Chiapas, is an example of Mudéjar-Renaissance style.
Museo de la Laca and the Santo Domingo monastery
Dominican friars built this convent in Chiapa de Corzo in the second half of the 16th century; today it is a cultural center whose Museo de la Laca is devoted to Chiapas' traditional lacquerwork.
Museo de Ciencia y Tecnología de Chiapas
Opened in 2006 on the site of the former Cerro Hueco prison, the Chiapas Museum of Science and Technology in Tuxtla Gutiérrez aims to spark children's and teens' interest in science and technology.
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.
Museo Botánico de Tuxtla Gutiérrez
Founded in 1951 with the Faustino Miranda Botanical Garden, this Tuxtla Gutiérrez museum, also called the Museo de las Maderas, is devoted to the plant life of Chiapas.
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.
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 Ocosingo to other places in Mexico
- Ocosingo to Ocozocoautla de Espinosa
- Ocosingo to Tlacotalpan
- Ocosingo to Xico
- Ocosingo to Naolinco
- Ocosingo to Ixtenco
- Ocosingo to Chipilo
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Ocosingo to Copainalá?
About 3 h 14 min of driving without stops, over 137 miles.
What is the driving distance from Ocosingo to Copainalá?
About 137 miles (220 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 Ocosingo 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 Ocosingo to Copainalá?
The U.S. State Department rates Chiapas Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Ocosingo to Copainalá?
In order: MEX-199, MEX-190 and MEX-190D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Ocosingo and Copainalá?
Closest to the road: Casa Na Bolom (museum, mile 58, 1 mi from the route); La Pila fountain (monument, mile 86, 2 mi from the route); Museo Botánico de Tuxtla Gutiérrez (museum, mile 95, 0.8 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.