San Cristóbal de las Casas to Copainalá is about 80 road miles (128 km): roughly 1 h 48 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance by road | 80 mi (128 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 1 h 48 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-190D → MEX-190 |
| Mexican states on the route | Chiapas |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-190D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 3.2 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.
On the road from San Cristóbal de las Casas to Copainalá
MEX-190D (34 mi) and MEX-190 (22 mi) carry about 70% of the 80 miles. 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: San Cristóbal de las Casas to Copainalá
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Chiapas |
| MEX-190D | 1–35 | 34 | Chiapas |
| local roads | 35–42 | 7 | Chiapas |
| MEX-190 | 42–64 | 22 | Chiapas |
| local roads | 64–80 | 16 | Chiapas |
Stops between San Cristóbal de las Casas and Copainalá
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Planetario Tuxtla - Jaime Sabines Gutiérrez (mile 37)
- Nature and outdoors: Selva El Ocote (mile 22), Sumidero Canyon National Park (mile 38), Sumidero Canyon (mile 57)
- Museums and history: Chiapa de Corzo (mile 29), Museo de la Laca and the Santo Domingo monastery (mile 29), Planetario Tuxtla - Jaime Sabines Gutiérrez (mile 37), Museo de la Ciudad (mile 41)
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.
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.
Museo de la Laca and the Santo Domingo monastery
Dominican friars built this convent in Chiapa de Corzo in the second half of the 16th century; today it is a cultural center whose Museo de la Laca is devoted to Chiapas' traditional lacquerwork.
Planetario Tuxtla - Jaime Sabines Gutiérrez
Planetario Tuxtla - Jaime Sabines Gutiérrez is a planetarium in Tuxtla equipped with 2D and 3D image projection technology.
Sumidero Canyon National Park
The Grijalva River runs through Sumidero Canyon, whose walls rise from about 200 to 1,000 meters. Boat trips leave from colonial Chiapa de Corzo, and lookouts line the rim. It became a national park in 1980.
Museo de la Ciudad
Tuxtla Gutiérrez's city museum covers the history and growth of the city with three permanent exhibits and a temporary gallery, in a building whose site once briefly served as a bullring.
Sumidero Canyon
Just north of Chiapa de Corzo in Chiapas, Sumidero Canyon is a deep natural canyon cut by a crack in the crust and erosion by the Grijalva River, which still flows through it.
More drives to Copainalá
- Zacatelco to Copainalá
- Tlaxcala to Copainalá
- Huejotzingo to Copainalá
- Calpulalpan to Copainalá
- Zacualpan de Amilpas to Copainalá
- Zacatlán to Copainalá
From San Cristóbal de las Casas to other places in Mexico
- San Cristóbal de las Casas to Cárdenas
- San Cristóbal de las Casas to Comalcalco
- San Cristóbal de las Casas to Paraiso
- San Cristóbal de las Casas to Córdoba, Mexico
- San Cristóbal de las Casas to Orizaba
- San Cristóbal de las Casas to Huamantla
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from San Cristóbal de las Casas to Copainalá?
About 1 h 48 min of driving without stops, over 80 miles.
What is the driving distance from San Cristóbal de las Casas to Copainalá?
About 80 miles (128 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 Cristóbal de las Casas to Copainalá?
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 Cristóbal de las Casas to Copainalá?
The U.S. State Department rates Chiapas Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from San Cristóbal de las Casas to Copainalá use?
In order: MEX-190D and MEX-190. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between San Cristóbal de las Casas and Copainalá?
Closest to the road: Museo de la Laca and the Santo Domingo monastery (museum, mile 29, 2 mi from the route); Planetario Tuxtla - Jaime Sabines Gutiérrez (museum, mile 37, 0.6 mi from the route); Museo de la Ciudad (museum, mile 41, 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.