San Juan Chamula to Capulalpam de Méndez is about 423 road miles (680 km): roughly 8 h 14 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance | 423 mi (680 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 14 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-190D → MEX-190 → MEX-187D → MEX-180 → MEX-180D → MEX-145D → MEX-179 → MEX-145 → MEX-175 |
| Mexican states on the route | Chiapas, Tabasco, Veracruz, Oaxaca |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-190D, MEX-187D, MEX-180D, MEX-145D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
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 San Juan Chamula–Capulalpam de Méndez drive in a few lines
MEX-187D (123 mi) and MEX-175 (95 mi) carry about 52% of the 423 miles. It runs through 4 states: Chiapas, Tabasco, Veracruz, Oaxaca. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-190D, MEX-187D and MEX-180D. Of the 5 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from San Juan Chamula to Capulalpam de Méndez
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–7 | 7 | Chiapas |
| MEX-190D | 7–40 | 33 | Chiapas |
| local roads | 40–49 | 9 | Chiapas |
| MEX-190 | 49–57 | 8 | Chiapas |
| MEX-187D | 57–180 | 123 | Chiapas, Tabasco, Veracruz |
| MEX-180 | 180–184 | 4 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 184–204 | 20 | Veracruz |
| MEX-145D | 204–273 | 69 | Veracruz |
| MEX-179 | 273–276 | 3 | Veracruz |
| local roads | 276–281 | 5 | Veracruz |
| MEX-145 | 281–314 | 33 | Veracruz, Oaxaca |
| local roads | 314–321 | 7 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-175 | 321–416 | 95 | Oaxaca |
| local roads | 416–423 | 7 | Oaxaca |
- Mile 113 of this route: Chiapas → Tabasco (state line)
- Mile 119 of this route: Tabasco → Veracruz (state line)
- Mile 298 of this route: Veracruz → Oaxaca (state line)
What to see on the way from San Juan Chamula to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo de Paleontología de Tuxtla (mile 42)
- Nature and outdoors: Selva El Ocote (mile 27)
- Museums and history: Chiapa de Corzo (mile 34), Museo de la Laca and the Santo Domingo monastery (mile 35), Museo de Paleontología de Tuxtla (mile 42), Museo de la Ciudad (mile 46)
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.
Museo de Paleontología de Tuxtla
Also known as the Museo Eliseo Palacios Aguilera, this Tuxtla Gutiérrez museum opened in 2002 and displays more than 200 fossils found in Chiapas, ranging from 10,000 to 300 million years old.
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.
More drives to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Tehuacán to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Orizaba to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Huamantla to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Ixtenco to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Puebla to Capulalpam de Méndez
- Chipilo to Capulalpam de Méndez
From San Juan Chamula to other places in Mexico
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from San Juan Chamula to Capulalpam de Méndez?
About 8 h 14 min of driving without stops, over 423 miles.
What is the driving distance from San Juan Chamula to Capulalpam de Méndez?
About 423 miles (680 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 Juan Chamula to Capulalpam de Méndez?
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 Juan Chamula to Capulalpam de Méndez?
The U.S. State Department rates Chiapas Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Tabasco Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Oaxaca Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from San Juan Chamula to Capulalpam de Méndez?
In order: MEX-190D, MEX-190, MEX-187D, MEX-180, MEX-180D, MEX-145D, MEX-179, MEX-145 and MEX-175. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from San Juan Chamula to Capulalpam de Méndez?
Closest to the road: Museo de la Laca and the Santo Domingo monastery (museum, mile 35, 2 mi from the route); Museo de Paleontología de Tuxtla (museum, mile 42, 0.7 mi from the route); Museo de la Ciudad (museum, mile 46, 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.