Plan on about 4 h 5 min of driving for the 214-mile (345 km) trip from Playa del Carmen to Sisal, before any stops.
| Distance | 214 mi (345 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 4 h 5 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-305D → MEX-180D → MEX-180 → MEX-281 |
| Mexican states on the route | Quintana Roo, Yucatán |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-305D, MEX-180D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.6 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.
What the drive from Playa del Carmen to Sisal is like
MEX-180D (106 mi) and MEX-180 (40 mi) carry about 68% of the 214 miles. It runs through 2 states: Quintana Roo, Yucatán. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-305D and MEX-180D. Of the 7 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Playa del Carmen to Sisal
| 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 | 139–179 | 40 | Yucatán |
| connecting roads | 179–183 | 4 | Yucatán |
| MEX-281 | 183–214 | 31 | Yucatán |
- Mile 42 of this route: Quintana Roo → Yucatán (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Playa del Carmen and Sisal
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Xiol (mile 171), Teatro Peón Contreras (mile 181)
- Museums and history: Gran Museo de Chichén Itzá (mile 107), Cuca (mile 165), Xiol (mile 171), Teatro Peón Contreras (mile 181), Palacio Canton (mile 181)
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.
Cuca
Near the town of Tixpéhual in Yucatán, Cuca is a pre-Columbian Maya site of about 10 hectares, where dozens of structures and their remains lie scattered inside a low wall.
Xiol
Xiol is a Maya archaeological site in Kanasín, about 10 kilometers from Mérida, found by accident in 2018 during construction of an industrial complex. Its Maya name means "the spirit of man."
Teatro Peón Contreras
Designed by European architects and built in Mérida in the early 20th century, Teatro Peón Contreras is an opera house that hosted Yucatán's First Feminist Congress in 1916.
Palacio Canton
Built in the first decade of the 20th century as a residence for the Cantón Rosado family, Palacio Cantón in Mérida, Yucatán, now houses the Regional Museum of Anthropology of Yucatán.
More drives to Sisal
From Playa del Carmen to other places in Mexico
- Playa del Carmen to Progreso
- Playa del Carmen to Kabah
- Playa del Carmen to Calkiní
- Playa del Carmen to Hecelchakán
- Playa del Carmen to Hopelchén
- Playa del Carmen to Escárcega
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Playa del Carmen to Sisal?
About 4 h 5 min of driving without stops, over 214 miles.
How far is Sisal from Playa del Carmen by car?
About 214 miles (345 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 Sisal?
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 Sisal?
The U.S. State Department rates Quintana Roo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Yucatán 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 Sisal use?
In order: MEX-305D, MEX-180D, MEX-180 and MEX-281. 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 Sisal?
Closest to the road: Xiol (archaeological site, mile 171, 0.8 mi from the route); Teatro Peón Contreras (opera house, mile 181, 0.5 mi from the route); Palacio Canton (museum, mile 181, 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.