By road, Progreso and Akumal are about 200 miles (322 km) apart, or roughly 4 h 11 min of driving.
| Total distance | 200 mi (322 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 11 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-261 → MEX-180 → MEX-180D → YUC-MEX-180 → QR 109 → MEX-307 |
| Mexican states on the route | Yucatán, Quintana Roo |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-180D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.0 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.
The Progreso–Akumal drive in a few lines
MEX-180 (54 mi) and MEX-180D (54 mi) carry about 54% of the 200 miles. It runs through 2 states: Yucatán, Quintana Roo. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-180D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Progreso to Akumal: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Yucatán |
| MEX-261 | 1–16 | 15 | Yucatán |
| local roads | 16–25 | 9 | Yucatán |
| MEX-180 | 25–65 | 40 | Yucatán |
| MEX-180D | 65–119 | 54 | Yucatán |
| connecting roads | 119–121 | 2 | Yucatán |
| local roads | 121–124 | 3 | Yucatán |
| MEX-180 | 124–138 | 14 | Yucatán |
| YUC-MEX-180 | 138–157 | 19 | Yucatán, Quintana Roo |
| QR 109 | 157–184 | 27 | Quintana Roo |
| MEX-307 | 184–199 | 15 | Quintana Roo |
| local roads | 199–200 | 1 | Quintana Roo |
- Mile 150 of this route: Yucatán → Quintana Roo (state line)
Places worth a stop between Progreso and Akumal
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Gran Museo del Mundo Maya (mile 17), Tulum (mile 185), Xel-Ha Park (mile 193)
- Museums and history: Dzibilchaltun (mile 14), Gran Museo del Mundo Maya (mile 17), Museo Conmemorativo de la Inmigración Coreana a Yucatán (mile 25), Coba (mile 157), Tulum (mile 185)
- With kids: Xel-Ha Park (mile 193)
Dzibilchaltun
Dzibilchaltún is a Maya archaeological site in Yucatán state, about 10 miles north of Mérida; its original name may have been Ch'iy Chan Ti'Ho.
Gran Museo del Mundo Maya
Opened on December 21, 2012, to mark the end of the Maya Long Count calendar cycle, the Gran Museo del Mundo Maya is a museum in Mérida, Yucatán.
Museo Conmemorativo de la Inmigración Coreana a Yucatán
In Mérida's historic center, this memorial museum tells the story of the first Korean immigrants to Yucatán and their work in the henequen industry, with more than 200 photos, documents, newspapers and pieces of traditional clothing.
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.
Sacred Cenote
At the Maya site of Chichen Itza, the Sacred Cenote is a water-filled limestone sinkhole where, by Maya and Spanish accounts, offerings and human sacrifices were made to the rain god Chaac.
Cenote Zací
Cenote Zací sits inside the city of Valladolid, Yucatán. Its name comes from the Maya settlement that once stood on the site.
Coba
Coba is an ancient Maya city in Quintana Roo at the hub of a network of stone causeways, with engraved and sculpted stelae recording ceremonial life of the Late Classic Period.
Tulum
Tulum is a pre-Columbian Maya walled city that served as a port for Coba. Its ruins sit on 12-meter cliffs above the Caribbean on the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula in Quintana Roo.
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 Progreso to other places in Mexico
- Progreso to Sisal
- Progreso to Cuzamá
- Progreso to Izamal
- Progreso to Calkiní
- Progreso to Kabah
- Progreso to Hecelchakán
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Progreso to Akumal?
About 4 h 11 min of driving without stops, over 200 miles.
What is the driving distance from Progreso to Akumal?
About 200 miles (322 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 Progreso 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 Progreso to Akumal?
The U.S. State Department rates Yucatán Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions; Quintana Roo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Progreso to Akumal?
In order: MEX-261, MEX-180, MEX-180D, YUC-MEX-180, QR 109 and MEX-307. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Progreso and Akumal?
Closest to the road: Gran Museo del Mundo Maya (museum, mile 17, 1 mi from the route); Tulum (archaeological site, mile 185, 0.5 mi from the route); Xel-Ha Park (amusement park, mile 193, 0.6 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.