By road, Puerto Morelos and Izamal are about 158 miles (254 km) apart, or roughly 2 h 55 min of driving.
| Distance | 158 mi (254 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 2 h 55 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-305 → MEX-180D |
| Mexican states on the route | Quintana Roo, Yucatán |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-180D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 6.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
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 Puerto Morelos–Izamal drive in a few lines
MEX-180D (123 mi) and MEX-305 (23 mi) carry about 92% of the 158 miles. It runs through 2 states: Quintana Roo, Yucatán. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-180D. None of the 3 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Road-by-road breakdown: Puerto Morelos to Izamal
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | |
| MEX-305 | 2–25 | 23 | Quintana Roo |
| MEX-180D | 25–148 | 123 | Quintana Roo, Yucatán |
| local roads | 148–158 | 10 | Yucatán |
- Mile 52 of this route: Quintana Roo → Yucatán (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Izamal
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.
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.
Arriving in Izamal
Convento de Izamal
Built between 1549 and 1561, the Convent of San Antonio de Padua in Izamal was the fifth convent erected in what is now the state of Yucatán.
Kinich Kakmó
Kinich Kakmó is an archaeological site in Izamal, Yucatán, about 66.5 km east of Mérida, dedicated to the Maya deity of the same name.
More drives to Izamal
- Maxcanú to Izamal
- Campeche to Izamal
- Champotón to Izamal
- Teapa to Izamal
- Ocosingo to Izamal
- Coatzacoalcos to Izamal
From Puerto Morelos to other places in Mexico
- Puerto Morelos to Kabah
- Puerto Morelos to Celestún
- Puerto Morelos to Hecelchakán
- Puerto Morelos to Hopelchén
- Puerto Morelos to Balancán
- Puerto Morelos to Punta Allen
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Puerto Morelos to Izamal?
About 2 h 55 min of driving without stops, over 158 miles.
What is the driving distance from Puerto Morelos to Izamal?
About 158 miles (254 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 Puerto Morelos to Izamal?
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 Puerto Morelos to Izamal?
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.
Which highways go from Puerto Morelos to Izamal?
In order: MEX-305 and MEX-180D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Puerto Morelos to Izamal?
Closest to the road: Cenote Zací (cenote, mile 93, 3 mi from the route); Sacred Cenote (cenote, mile 117, 3 mi from the route); Chichen Itza (ancient city, mile 117, 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.