Ocosingo to San José del Pacífico is about 447 road miles (720 km): roughly 9 h 4 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance by road | 447 mi (720 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 4 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-199 → MEX-190 → MEX-190D → MEX-200 → MEX-185D → MEX-175 |
| Mexican states on the route | Chiapas, Oaxaca |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-190D, MEX-185D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.9 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 San José del Pacífico
MEX-200 (120 mi) and MEX-190D (91 mi) carry about 47% of the 447 miles. It runs through 2 states: Chiapas, Oaxaca. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-190D and MEX-185D. None of the 9 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Road-by-road breakdown: Ocosingo to San José del Pacífico
| 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 | 91–101 | 10 | Chiapas |
| MEX-190 | 101–114 | 13 | Chiapas |
| MEX-190D | 114–172 | 58 | Chiapas |
| MEX-200 | 172–204 | 32 | Chiapas, Oaxaca |
| MEX-190 | 204–254 | 50 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-185D | 254–304 | 50 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-200 | 304–392 | 88 | Oaxaca |
| local roads | 392–433 | 41 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-175 | 433–447 | 14 | Oaxaca |
- Mile 186 of this route: Chiapas → Oaxaca (state line)
Places worth a stop between Ocosingo and San José del Pacífico
- Nature and outdoors: Selva El Ocote (mile 79), Sumidero Canyon National Park (mile 94), Huatulco National Park (mile 386)
- Museums and history: Casa Na Bolom (mile 58), Museo de Medicina Maya (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), St. Mark's Cathedral, 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.
Museo de Medicina Maya
Dedicated to the healing practices of the Tzotzil and Tzeltal peoples, the Museo de Medicina Maya is a museum in San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas.
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.
St. Mark's Cathedral, Tuxtla Gutiérrez
Tuxtla Gutiérrez Cathedral, dedicated to St. Mark, is the Catholic church that serves as the seat of the Archdiocese of Tuxtla in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas.
Huatulco National Park
Also called Bahías de Huatulco National Park, this protected area in the Mexican state of Oaxaca was decreed a national park on July 24, 1998.
More drives to San José del Pacífico
- Capulalpam de Méndez to San José del Pacífico
- Tehuacán to San José del Pacífico
- Tuxtepec to San José del Pacífico
- Orizaba to San José del Pacífico
- Córdoba, Mexico to San José del Pacífico
- Tlacotalpan to San José del Pacífico
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 is the drive from Ocosingo to San José del Pacífico?
About 9 h 4 min of driving without stops, over 447 miles.
What is the driving distance from Ocosingo to San José del Pacífico?
About 447 miles (720 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 San José del Pacífico?
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 San José del Pacífico?
The U.S. State Department rates Chiapas Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Oaxaca Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Ocosingo to San José del Pacífico use?
In order: MEX-199, MEX-190, MEX-190D, MEX-200, MEX-185D and MEX-175. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Ocosingo and San José del Pacífico?
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); St. Mark's Cathedral, Tuxtla Gutiérrez (cathedral, mile 95, 1 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.