By road, Ocosingo and Espita are about 501 miles (806 km) apart, or roughly 10 h 60 min of driving.
| Distance by road | 501 mi (806 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 60 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-199 → MEX-186 → MEX-261 → MEX-180 → MEX-180D → MEX-202 → YUC 13 |
| Mexican states on the route | Chiapas, Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatán |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-180D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
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.
On the road from Ocosingo to Espita
MEX-180 (142 mi) and MEX-186 (115 mi) carry about 51% of the 501 miles. It runs through 4 states: Chiapas, Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatán. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-180D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Ocosingo to Espita: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Chiapas |
| MEX-199 | 1–89 | 88 | Chiapas |
| MEX-186 | 89–204 | 115 | Chiapas, Tabasco, Campeche |
| MEX-261 | 204–254 | 50 | Campeche |
| connecting roads | 254–256 | 2 | Campeche |
| MEX-180 | 256–268 | 12 | Campeche |
| MEX-180D | 268–293 | 25 | Campeche |
| MEX-202 | 293–303 | 10 | Campeche |
| MEX-180 | 303–395 | 92 | Campeche, Yucatán |
| local roads | 395–404 | 9 | Yucatán |
| MEX-180 | 404–442 | 38 | Yucatán |
| MEX-180D | 442–472 | 30 | Yucatán |
| YUC 13 | 472–499 | 27 | Yucatán |
| local roads | 499–501 | 2 | Yucatán |
- Mile 109 of this route: Chiapas → Tabasco (state line)
- Mile 117 of this route: Tabasco → Campeche (state line)
- Mile 355 of this route: Campeche → Yucatán (state line)
What to see on the way from Ocosingo to Espita
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Misol Há (mile 62)
- Nature and outdoors: Agua Azul (mile 36), Misol Há (mile 62), Palenque National Park (mile 73)
- Museums and history: Uxmal (mile 354), Cuca (mile 416)
Agua Azul
The Agua Azul cascades are a series of waterfalls on the Xanil River in Chiapas, in Tumbalá municipality about 69 km from Palenque, near Federal Highway 199.
Misol Há
About 20 km from Palenque on the road to San Cristóbal de las Casas, Misol-Há is a single 35-meter waterfall dropping into a nearly round pool amid tropical vegetation.
Temple of the Inscriptions
At the Maya site of Palenque, the Temple of the Inscriptions is a stepped pyramid built as the funerary monument of Kʼinich Janaabʼ Pakal, who ruled the city in the 7th century.
Palenque National Park
Palenque National Park protects about 1,772 hectares around the Palenque archaeological zone in Chiapas. It was established by presidential decree in July 1981.
Historic Fortified Town of Campeche
Founded by the Spanish on the Gulf of Mexico, Campeche's walled center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sections of the hexagonal wall built from 1686 to 1704 against pirate raids survive with bastions and gates, framing a grid of colonial streets.
Uxmal
Founded around A.D. 700, the Maya city of Uxmal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where Puuc-style buildings such as the Pyramid of the Soothsayer, the Governor's Palace and the Nunnery Quadrangle carry carvings of the rain god Chaac.
Cuca
Near the town of Tixpéhual in Yucatán, Cuca is a pre-Columbian Maya site of about 10 hectares, where dozens of structures and their remains lie scattered inside a low wall.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988, is a former Maya city between Mérida and Valladolid where you can walk past El Castillo (Temple of Kukulkan), the Temple of the Warriors, the Great Ball Court and the round El Caracol observatory.
Ik Kil
Outside Pisté near Chichen Itza, Ik Kil is a cenote within the Ik Kil Archeological Park in Yucatán's Tinúm Municipality.
More drives to Espita
- Mérida to Espita
- Tecax to Espita
- Calkiní to Espita
- Campeche to Espita
- Champotón to Espita
- Paraiso to Espita
From Ocosingo to other places in Mexico
- Ocosingo to Ocozocoautla de Espinosa
- Ocosingo to Copainalá
- Ocosingo to Tlacotalpan
- Ocosingo to Xico
- Ocosingo to Naolinco
- Ocosingo to Ixtenco
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Ocosingo to Espita?
About 10 h 60 min of driving without stops, over 501 miles.
What is the driving distance from Ocosingo to Espita?
About 501 miles (806 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 Espita?
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 Espita?
The U.S. State Department rates Chiapas Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Tabasco Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Campeche Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions; Yucatán Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Ocosingo to Espita?
In order: MEX-199, MEX-186, MEX-261, MEX-180, MEX-180D, MEX-202 and YUC 13. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Ocosingo and Espita?
Closest to the road: Agua Azul (waterfall, mile 36, 1 mi from the route); Misol Há (waterfall, mile 62, 0.7 mi from the route); Cuca (archaeological site, mile 416, 2 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.