Plan on about 10 h 14 min of driving for the 450-mile (725 km) trip from Palizada to Akumal, before any stops.
| Distance by road | 450 mi (725 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 10 h 14 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-217 → MEX-186 → MEX-307 → MEX-307D |
| Mexican states on the route | Campeche, Quintana Roo |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-307D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.0 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.
On the road from Palizada to Akumal
MEX-186 (246 mi) and MEX-307 (153 mi) carry about 89% of the 450 miles. It runs through 2 states: Campeche, Quintana Roo. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-307D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Palizada to Akumal
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Campeche |
| MEX-217 | 1–42 | 41 | Campeche |
| MEX-186 | 42–288 | 246 | Campeche, Quintana Roo |
| MEX-307 | 288–368 | 80 | Quintana Roo |
| MEX-307D | 368–377 | 9 | Quintana Roo |
| MEX-307 | 377–450 | 73 | Quintana Roo |
- Mile 249 of this route: Campeche → Quintana Roo (state line)
What to see on the way from Palizada to Akumal
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Chicanná (mile 219), Becan (mile 220), Xpuhil (mile 224), San Felipe Fortress (mile 300), Xel-Ha Park (mile 444)
- Nature and outdoors: Calakmul Biosphere Reserve (mile 214), Sian Kaʼan Biosphere Reserve (mile 362)
- Museums and history: Becan (mile 220), Xpuhil (mile 224), San Felipe Fortress (mile 300)
- With kids: Xel-Ha Park (mile 444)
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.
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.
Sian Kaʼan Biosphere Reserve
Established in 1986 in Tulum Municipality, Quintana Roo, Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
Xel-Ha Park
On the Caribbean coast of Quintana Roo in the municipality of Tulum, Xel-Ha Park is a commercial aquatic theme park and ecotourism development run by Grupo Xcaret.
More drives to Akumal
- Valladolid to Akumal
- Río Lagartos to Akumal
- Izamal to Akumal
- Cuzamá to Akumal
- Motul to Akumal
- Mérida to Akumal
From Palizada to other places in Mexico
- Palizada to Boca del Cielo
- Palizada to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Palizada to San José del Pacífico
- Palizada to Mazunte
- Palizada to El Castaño
- Palizada to Reforma Agraria
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Palizada to Akumal?
About 10 h 14 min of driving without stops, over 450 miles.
What is the driving distance from Palizada to Akumal?
About 450 miles (725 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 Palizada to Akumal?
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 Palizada to Akumal?
The U.S. State Department rates 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 Palizada to Akumal use?
In order: MEX-217, MEX-186, MEX-307 and MEX-307D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Palizada to Akumal?
Closest to the road: Becan (archaeological site, mile 220, 0.4 mi from the route); Xpuhil (archaeological site, mile 224, 0.1 mi from the route); San Felipe Fortress (museum, mile 300, 0.3 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.