Plan on about 11 h 46 min of driving for the 516-mile (830 km) trip from San Andrés Tuxtla to Kohunlich, before any stops.
| Distance | 516 mi (830 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 11 h 46 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-180 → MEX-185 → MEX-180D → MEX-186 |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas, Campeche, Quintana Roo |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-145D, MEX-180D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.6 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.
What the drive from San Andrés Tuxtla to Kohunlich is like
MEX-186 (317 mi) and MEX-180 (87 mi) carry about 78% of the 516 miles. It runs through 5 states: Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas, Campeche, Quintana Roo. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-145D and MEX-180D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
The route from San Andrés Tuxtla to Kohunlich, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–27 | 27 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180 | 27–55 | 28 | Veracruz |
| MEX-185 | 55–76 | 21 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 76–96 | 20 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180 | 96–116 | 20 | Veracruz, Tabasco |
| MEX-180D | 116–149 | 33 | Tabasco |
| MEX-180 | 149–188 | 39 | Tabasco |
| local roads | 188–192 | 4 | Tabasco |
| MEX-186 | 192–509 | 317 | Tabasco, Chiapas, Campeche, Quintana Roo |
| local roads | 509–516 | 7 | Quintana Roo |
- Mile 114 of this route: Veracruz → Tabasco (state line)
- Mile 239 of this route: Tabasco → Chiapas (state line)
- Mile 281 of this route: Chiapas → Tabasco (state line)
- Mile 290 of this route: Tabasco → Campeche (state line)
- Mile 495 of this route: Campeche → Quintana Roo (state line)
Stops between San Andrés Tuxtla and Kohunlich
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Casa Museo Cnel. Gregorio Méndez Magaña (mile 191), Museo de Historia de Tabasco Casa de los Azulejos (mile 191), Chicanná (mile 465), Becan (mile 467), Xpuhil (mile 471)
- Nature and outdoors: Calakmul Biosphere Reserve (mile 460)
- Museums and history: La Venta (mile 116), Casa Museo Cnel. Gregorio Méndez Magaña (mile 191), Museo de Historia de Tabasco Casa de los Azulejos (mile 191), Becan (mile 467), Xpuhil (mile 471)
La Venta
La Venta was an important city of the Olmec civilization, in Tabasco near Huimanguillo. Its site museum displays more than 200 artifacts, including monumental sandstone sculptures found at the foot of the main pyramid.
Casa Museo Cnel. Gregorio Méndez Magaña
Colonel Gregorio Méndez Magaña, a hero of the fight against the French intervention in Tabasco, was born in this house in Jalpa de Méndez in 1836; today it serves as a house museum in his honor.
Museo de Historia de Tabasco Casa de los Azulejos
The Museo de Historia de Tabasco, housed in the Casa de los Azulejos, is a history museum in the historic center of Villahermosa, Tabasco.
Balamku
Balamku is a small Maya archaeological site in Campeche, known for elaborate plaster facades from the Early Classic period.
Calakmul Biosphere Reserve
Bordering Guatemala's Petén department, the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve covers 7,231 square kilometers of southern Campeche, more than 14 percent of the state; it was established in 1989.
Chicanná
Chicanná is a Classic-period Maya city site named after Structure II, whose Maya name means "House of the Serpent Mouth."
Becan
Becan is a Maya archaeological site near the center of the Yucatán Peninsula in Campeche, about 150 km north of Tikal.
Xpuhil
Near the town of Xpujil in Campeche, Xpuhil is a Maya archaeological site along Federal Highway 186, in an area with other Maya sites such as Becan, Chicanná and Calakmul.
Once you reach Kohunlich
Kohunlich
Kohunlich is an archaeological site of the Maya civilization in Quintana Roo, about 65 km west of Chetumal on Highway 186; its original name is unknown.
More drives to Kohunlich
- Akumal to Kohunlich
- Punta Allen to Kohunlich
- Puerto Morelos to Kohunlich
- Espita to Kohunlich
- Calkiní to Kohunlich
- Maxcanú to Kohunlich
From San Andrés Tuxtla to other places in Mexico
- San Andrés Tuxtla to Zacatelco
- San Andrés Tuxtla to Chiautempan
- San Andrés Tuxtla to Huejotzingo
- San Andrés Tuxtla to Tlaxco
- San Andrés Tuxtla to Calpulalpan
- San Andrés Tuxtla to Ocuituco
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from San Andrés Tuxtla to Kohunlich?
About 11 h 46 min of driving without stops, over 516 miles.
What is the driving distance from San Andrés Tuxtla to Kohunlich?
About 516 miles (830 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 San Andrés Tuxtla to Kohunlich?
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 San Andrés Tuxtla to Kohunlich?
The U.S. State Department rates Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tabasco Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Chiapas Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Campeche 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 San Andrés Tuxtla to Kohunlich?
In order: MEX-180, MEX-185, MEX-180D and MEX-186. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from San Andrés Tuxtla to Kohunlich?
Closest to the road: Chicanná (maya site, mile 465, 0.6 mi from the route); Becan (archaeological site, mile 467, 0.4 mi from the route); Xpuhil (archaeological site, mile 471, 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.