Plan on about 10 h 57 min of driving for the 495-mile (797 km) trip from Ocozocoautla de Espinosa to Bacalar, before any stops.
| Distance | 495 mi (797 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 10 h 57 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-187D → MEX-187 → MEX-180 → MEX-186 → MEX-307 |
| Mexican states on the route | Chiapas, Tabasco, Veracruz, Campeche, Quintana Roo |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-187D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
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.
How the Ocozocoautla de Espinosa to Bacalar drive plays out
MEX-186 (342 mi) and MEX-187D (65 mi) carry about 82% of the 495 miles. It runs through 5 states: Chiapas, Tabasco, Veracruz, Campeche, Quintana Roo. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-187D. Of the 7 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Ocozocoautla de Espinosa to Bacalar
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–5 | 5 | Chiapas |
| MEX-187D | 5–70 | 65 | Chiapas, Tabasco, Veracruz |
| local roads | 70–79 | 9 | Veracruz, Tabasco |
| MEX-187 | 79–107 | 28 | Tabasco |
| local roads | 107–116 | 9 | Tabasco |
| MEX-180 | 116–137 | 21 | Tabasco |
| local roads | 137–141 | 4 | Tabasco |
| MEX-186 | 141–483 | 342 | Tabasco, Chiapas, Campeche, Quintana Roo |
| MEX-307 | 483–494 | 11 | Quintana Roo |
| local roads | 494–495 | 1 | Quintana Roo |
- Mile 60 of this route: Chiapas → Tabasco (state line)
- Mile 66 of this route: Tabasco → Veracruz (state line)
- Mile 72 of this route: Veracruz → Tabasco (state line)
- Mile 188 of this route: Tabasco → Chiapas (state line)
- Mile 231 of this route: Chiapas → Tabasco (state line)
- Mile 239 of this route: Tabasco → Campeche (state line)
- Mile 444 of this route: Campeche → Quintana Roo (state line)
Places worth a stop between Ocozocoautla de Espinosa and Bacalar
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Villahermosa Cathedral (mile 140), Museo de Historia de Tabasco Casa de los Azulejos (mile 141), Chicanná (mile 415), Becan (mile 416), Xpuhil (mile 421)
- Nature and outdoors: Calakmul Biosphere Reserve (mile 409)
- Museums and history: Villahermosa Cathedral (mile 140), Museo de Historia de Tabasco Casa de los Azulejos (mile 141), Becan (mile 416), Xpuhil (mile 421)
Villahermosa Cathedral
Rising on Paseo Tabasco in Villahermosa, the Cathedral of the Lord of Tabasco has tall towers above a monumental facade. The current building dates from 1960–1963; an earlier cathedral was destroyed in the anticlerical campaigns of 1928–1934.
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.
Balamku
Balamku is a small Maya archaeological site in Campeche, known for elaborate plaster facades from the Early Classic period.
Calakmul Biosphere Reserve
Bordering Guatemala's Petén department, the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve covers 7,231 square kilometers of southern Campeche, more than 14 percent of the state; it was established in 1989.
Chicanná
Chicanná is a Classic-period Maya city site named after Structure II, whose Maya name means "House of the Serpent Mouth."
Becan
Becan is a Maya archaeological site near the center of the Yucatán Peninsula in Campeche, about 150 km north of Tikal.
Xpuhil
Near the town of Xpujil in Campeche, Xpuhil is a Maya archaeological site along Federal Highway 186, in an area with other Maya sites such as Becan, Chicanná and Calakmul.
When you get to Bacalar
San Felipe Fortress
San Felipe Fortress (Fuerte de San Felipe de Bacalar) was an 18th-century Spanish colonial garrison in Bacalar, Quintana Roo. Today it houses the Bacalar Piracy Museum.
More drives to Bacalar
- Escárcega to Bacalar
- Tizimín to Bacalar
- Mérida to Bacalar
- Calkiní to Bacalar
- Izamal to Bacalar
- Motul to Bacalar
From Ocozocoautla de Espinosa to other places in Mexico
- Ocozocoautla de Espinosa to Copainalá
- Ocozocoautla de Espinosa to Tapijulapa
- Ocozocoautla de Espinosa to Huejotzingo
- Ocozocoautla de Espinosa to Calpulalpan
- Ocozocoautla de Espinosa to Otumba
- Ocozocoautla de Espinosa to Tetela de Ocampo
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Ocozocoautla de Espinosa to Bacalar?
About 10 h 57 min of driving without stops, over 495 miles.
How far is Bacalar from Ocozocoautla de Espinosa by car?
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 Ocozocoautla de Espinosa to Bacalar?
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 Ocozocoautla de Espinosa to Bacalar?
The U.S. State Department rates Chiapas Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Tabasco Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Campeche Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions; Quintana Roo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Ocozocoautla de Espinosa to Bacalar use?
In order: MEX-187D, MEX-187, MEX-180, MEX-186 and MEX-307. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Ocozocoautla de Espinosa and Bacalar?
Closest to the road: Chicanná (maya site, mile 415, 0.5 mi from the route); Becan (archaeological site, mile 416, 0.2 mi from the route); Xpuhil (archaeological site, mile 421, 0.2 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.