By road, Ocosingo and Xico are about 502 miles (808 km) apart, or roughly 8 h 50 min of driving.
| Distance by road | 502 mi (808 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 50 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-199 → MEX-190 → MEX-190D → MEX-187D → MEX-180 → MEX-180D → MEX-145D → MEX-150D → MEX-140 → MEX-140D |
| Mexican states on the route | Chiapas, Tabasco, Veracruz |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-190D, MEX-187D, MEX-180D, MEX-145D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.1 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.
Driving Ocosingo to Xico: the shape of the trip
MEX-145D (141 mi) and MEX-187D (123 mi) carry about 53% of the 502 miles. It runs through 3 states: Chiapas, Tabasco, Veracruz. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-190D, MEX-187D and MEX-180D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Ocosingo to Xico: the road sequence
| 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 | 101–109 | 8 | Chiapas |
| MEX-187D | 109–232 | 123 | Chiapas, Tabasco, Veracruz |
| MEX-180 | 232–235 | 3 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 235–257 | 22 | Veracruz |
| MEX-145D | 257–398 | 141 | Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 398–399 | 1 | Veracruz |
| MEX-150D | 399–426 | 27 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180 | 426–439 | 13 | Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 439–440 | 1 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 440–452 | 12 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180 | 452–460 | 8 | Veracruz |
| MEX-140 | 460–469 | 9 | Veracruz |
| MEX-140D | 469–477 | 8 | Veracruz |
| MEX-140 | 477–482 | 5 | Veracruz |
| local roads | 482–502 | 20 | Veracruz |
- Mile 165 of this route: Chiapas → Tabasco (state line)
- Mile 171 of this route: Tabasco → Veracruz (state line)
Places worth a stop between Ocosingo and Xico
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo de Paleontología de Tuxtla (mile 94)
- Nature and outdoors: Selva El Ocote (mile 79)
- Museums and history: Casa Na Bolom (mile 58), San Cristobal Cathedral (mile 58), Chiapa de Corzo (mile 86), Museo de la Laca and the Santo Domingo monastery (mile 86), Museo de Ciencia y Tecnología de Chiapas (mile 91), Museo de Paleontología de Tuxtla (mile 94), St. Mark's Cathedral, Tuxtla Gutiérrez (mile 95), Museo de la Ciudad (mile 98)
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.
San Cristobal Cathedral
Seat of the Diocese of San Cristóbal de Las Casas, the San Cristobal Cathedral (Catedral de San Cristóbal de Las Casas) stands on the north side of the city's central plaza in 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.
Chiapa de Corzo
Near the town of Chiapa de Corzo in Chiapas lies a pre-Columbian archaeological site of the same name that grew into a regional center around 700–500 BCE, during the Middle Formative period.
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.
Museo de Paleontología de Tuxtla
Also known as the Museo Eliseo Palacios Aguilera, this Tuxtla Gutiérrez museum opened in 2002 and displays more than 200 fossils found in Chiapas, ranging from 10,000 to 300 million years old.
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.
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.
When you get to Xico
Cascada de Texolo
Two waterfalls on the Matlacobatl River, Texolo with a 20-meter drop and La Monja with about 8 meters, sit roughly 3 kilometers from Xico amid cloud forest included in a Ramsar wetland site.
More drives to Xico
From Ocosingo to other places in Mexico
- Ocosingo to Ocozocoautla de Espinosa
- Ocosingo to Copainalá
- Ocosingo to Tlacotalpan
- Ocosingo to Naolinco
- Ocosingo to Ixtenco
- Ocosingo to Chipilo
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Ocosingo to Xico?
About 8 h 50 min of driving without stops, over 502 miles.
What is the driving distance from Ocosingo to Xico?
About 502 miles (808 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 Xico?
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 Xico?
The U.S. State Department rates Chiapas Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Tabasco Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Ocosingo to Xico?
In order: MEX-199, MEX-190, MEX-190D, MEX-187D, MEX-180, MEX-180D, MEX-145D, MEX-150D, MEX-140 and MEX-140D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Ocosingo to Xico?
Closest to the road: San Cristobal Cathedral (cathedral, mile 58, 1 mi from the route); Museo de Paleontología de Tuxtla (museum, mile 94, 0.8 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.