Playa del Carmen to Hopelchén is about 252 road miles (405 km): roughly 5 h 30 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Total distance | 252 mi (405 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 5 h 30 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-305D → MEX-180D → MEX-180 → YUC 18 → MEX-184 → MEX-261 |
| Mexican states on the route | Quintana Roo, Yucatán, Campeche |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-305D, MEX-180D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.1 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 Playa del Carmen to Hopelchén
MEX-180D (106 mi) and MEX-261 (46 mi) carry about 60% of the 252 miles. It runs through 3 states: Quintana Roo, Yucatán, Campeche. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-305D and MEX-180D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Playa del Carmen and Hopelchén
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Quintana Roo |
| MEX-305D | 2–32 | 30 | Quintana Roo |
| connecting roads | 32–33 | 1 | Quintana Roo |
| MEX-180D | 33–139 | 106 | Quintana Roo, Yucatán |
| MEX-180 | 139–147 | 8 | Yucatán |
| connecting roads | 147–149 | 2 | Yucatán |
| local roads | 149–168 | 19 | Yucatán |
| YUC 18 | 168–178 | 10 | Yucatán |
| MEX-184 | 178–183 | 5 | Yucatán |
| local roads | 183–196 | 13 | Yucatán |
| connecting roads | 196–198 | 2 | Yucatán |
| local roads | 198–206 | 8 | Yucatán |
| MEX-261 | 206–252 | 46 | Yucatán, Campeche |
- Mile 42 of this route: Quintana Roo → Yucatán (state line)
- Mile 226 of this route: Yucatán → Campeche (state line)
Places worth a stop between Playa del Carmen and Hopelchén
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ring of cenotes (mile 163), Kabah (mile 211)
- Museums and history: Gran Museo de Chichén Itzá (mile 107), Uxmal (mile 206), Kabah (mile 211), Labna (mile 214), Sayil (mile 215)
Cenote Zací
Cenote Zací sits inside the city of Valladolid, Yucatán. Its name comes from the Maya settlement that once stood on the site.
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.
Gran Museo de Chichén Itzá
Opened on February 28, 2024, near Pisté, the Gran Museo de Chichén Itzá holds more than 1,000 pieces, including finds recovered during salvage work for the Maya Train.
Ring of cenotes
Yucatán's Ring of cenotes (Anillo de cenotes) is a state-protected natural area: a semicircle of cenotes linked to the asteroid impact that formed the Chicxulub crater some 65 to 70 million years ago.
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.
Kabah
Kabah is a Maya archaeological site in the Puuc region south of Mérida, inscribed in 1996 together with Uxmal, Sayil and Labna as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Labna
Labna is a Maya archaeological site and ceremonial center in the Puuc Hills of the Yucatán Peninsula, south of Uxmal in the southwest of Yucatán state.
Sayil
Sayil is a pre-Columbian city built by the Maya in the Terminal Classic period, located in southwestern Yucatán state, south of Uxmal.
More drives to Hopelchén
- Tecax to Hopelchén
- Mérida to Hopelchén
- Teapa to Hopelchén
- Izamal to Hopelchén
- Motul to Hopelchén
- Progreso to Hopelchén
From Playa del Carmen to other places in Mexico
- Playa del Carmen to Progreso
- Playa del Carmen to Kabah
- Playa del Carmen to Sisal
- Playa del Carmen to Calkiní
- Playa del Carmen to Hecelchakán
- Playa del Carmen to Escárcega
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Playa del Carmen to Hopelchén?
About 5 h 30 min of driving without stops, over 252 miles.
How far is Hopelchén from Playa del Carmen by car?
About 252 miles (405 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 Playa del Carmen to Hopelchén?
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 Playa del Carmen to Hopelchén?
The U.S. State Department rates Quintana Roo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Yucatán Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions; Campeche Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Playa del Carmen to Hopelchén use?
In order: MEX-305D, MEX-180D, MEX-180, YUC 18, MEX-184 and MEX-261. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Playa del Carmen to Hopelchén?
Closest to the road: Gran Museo de Chichén Itzá (museum, mile 107, 2 mi from the route); Ring of cenotes (nature area, mile 163, 0.4 mi from the route); Kabah (archaeological site, mile 211, 0.1 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.