Salina Cruz to Ocosingo is about 296 road miles (476 km): roughly 5 h 56 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance | 296 mi (476 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 56 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-185 → MEX-190 → MEX-200 → MEX-190D → MEX-199 |
| Mexican states on the route | Oaxaca, Chiapas |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-190D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.8 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 Salina Cruz to Ocosingo is like
MEX-190D (86 mi) and MEX-190 (80 mi) carry about 56% of the 296 miles. It runs through 2 states: Oaxaca, Chiapas. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-190D. Of the 7 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Salina Cruz to Ocosingo
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-185 | 0–37 | 37 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-190 | 37–91 | 54 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-200 | 91–122 | 31 | Oaxaca, Chiapas |
| connecting roads | 122–123 | 1 | Chiapas |
| MEX-190D | 123–181 | 58 | Chiapas |
| MEX-190 | 181–194 | 13 | Chiapas |
| local roads | 194–203 | 9 | Chiapas |
| MEX-190 | 203–208 | 5 | Chiapas |
| MEX-190D | 208–236 | 28 | Chiapas |
| MEX-190 | 236–244 | 8 | Chiapas |
| MEX-199 | 244–295 | 51 | Chiapas |
| local roads | 295–296 | 1 | Chiapas |
- Mile 109 of this route: Oaxaca → Chiapas (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Ocosingo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Faustino Miranda Botanical Garden (mile 200)
- Nature and outdoors: Faustino Miranda Botanical Garden (mile 200), Selva El Ocote (mile 216)
- Museums and history: St. Mark's Cathedral, Tuxtla Gutiérrez (mile 200), Museo de Ciencia y Tecnología de Chiapas (mile 204), La Pila fountain (mile 209), Chiapa de Corzo (mile 209), Casa Na Bolom (mile 237)
St. Mark's Cathedral, Tuxtla Gutiérrez
Tuxtla Gutiérrez Cathedral, dedicated to St. Mark, is the Catholic church that serves as the seat of the Archdiocese of Tuxtla in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas.
Faustino Miranda Botanical Garden
The Faustino Miranda Botanical Garden sits next to the Sabinal River in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, in the state of Chiapas in southern Mexico.
Museo de Ciencia y Tecnología de Chiapas
Opened in 2006 on the site of the former Cerro Hueco prison, the Chiapas Museum of Science and Technology in Tuxtla Gutiérrez aims to spark children's and teens' interest in science and technology.
La Pila fountain
Built of brick in a diamond shape in 1562, La Pila fountain in the square of Chiapa de Corzo, Chiapas, is an example of Mudéjar-Renaissance style.
Chiapa de Corzo
Near the town of Chiapa de Corzo in Chiapas lies a pre-Columbian archaeological site of the same name that grew into a regional center around 700–500 BCE, during the Middle Formative period.
Selva El Ocote
Selva El Ocote Biosphere Reserve covers about 101,288 hectares of Chiapas, protecting tall evergreen rain forest on karst terrain, a landscape also known for its extensive caverns.
Casa Na Bolom
Once the home of archaeologist Frans Blom and photographer Gertrude Duby Blom, Casa Na Bolom in San Cristóbal de las Casas occupies an 1891 building and shows pre-Hispanic, textile, ethnographic and colonial collections.
More drives to Ocosingo
- Tuxtla to Ocosingo
- San Andrés Tuxtla to Ocosingo
- Tuxtepec to Ocosingo
- Córdoba, Mexico to Ocosingo
- Veracruz to Ocosingo
- Orizaba to Ocosingo
From Salina Cruz to other places in Mexico
- Salina Cruz to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Salina Cruz to San Juan Chamula
- Salina Cruz to Tapijulapa
- Salina Cruz to Huamantla
- Salina Cruz to Ixtenco
- Salina Cruz to Zacatelco
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Salina Cruz to Ocosingo?
About 5 h 56 min of driving without stops, over 296 miles.
How far is Ocosingo from Salina Cruz by car?
About 296 miles (476 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 Salina Cruz to Ocosingo?
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 Salina Cruz to Ocosingo?
The U.S. State Department rates Oaxaca Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Chiapas Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Salina Cruz to Ocosingo?
In order: MEX-185, MEX-190, MEX-200, MEX-190D and MEX-199. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Salina Cruz to Ocosingo?
Closest to the road: Faustino Miranda Botanical Garden (botanical garden, mile 200, 0.9 mi from the route); St. Mark's Cathedral, Tuxtla Gutiérrez (cathedral, mile 200, 1 mi from the route); La Pila fountain (monument, mile 209, 2 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.