Plan on about 5 h 33 min of driving for the 275-mile (442 km) trip from Santa Marta to Montería, before any stops.
Read the full advisory before you go: Colombia. Advisory issued: Colombia March 31, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Colombia: “Highways may not have lights or signs showing destinations.”
| Distance by road | 275 mi (442 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 5 h 33 min |
| Main roads, in order | 25ATA |
| Departments on the route | Magdalena, Atlántico, Bolívar, Sucre, Córdoba |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
The Santa Marta–Montería drive in a few lines
25ATA (6 mi) carries about 2% of the 275 miles. It runs through 5 departments: Magdalena, Atlántico, Bolívar, Sucre, Córdoba. Of the 4 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Santa Marta to Montería
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–63 | 63 | Magdalena, Atlántico |
| connecting roads | 63–64 | 1 | Atlántico |
| local roads | 64–71 | 7 | Atlántico |
| 25ATA | 71–77 | 6 | Atlántico |
| local roads | 77–275 | 198 | Atlántico, Magdalena, Bolívar, Sucre, Córdoba |
- Mile 58 of this route: Magdalena → Atlántico (department line)
- Mile 106 of this route: Atlántico → Magdalena (department line)
- Mile 116 of this route: Magdalena → Bolívar (department line)
- Mile 166 of this route: Bolívar → Sucre (department line)
- Mile 215 of this route: Sucre → Córdoba (department line)
Stops between Santa Marta and Montería
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Salamanca Island Road Park (mile 40), St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral, Sincelejo (mile 201)
- Nature and outdoors: Salamanca Island Road Park (mile 40)
- Museums and history: Queen Mary Cathedral, Barranquilla (mile 59), St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral, Sincelejo (mile 201)
Salamanca Island Road Park
On the western outskirts of Ciénaga in Magdalena, Salamanca Island Road Park is a protected area where fresh water from the Magdalena River meets the salt water of the Caribbean, supporting abundant plants and wildlife.
Queen Mary Cathedral, Barranquilla
Dedicated to the Virgin Mary, the Queen Mary Cathedral (Metropolitan Cathedral of Queen Mary) stands in central Barranquilla on the western side of Plaza de la Paz, the city's zero point.
Los Colorados Fauna and Flora Sanctuary
Managed by Colombia's national parks agency, Los Colorados Fauna and Flora Sanctuary protects one of the last standing native forests of the Montes de María, along with endangered monkeys, especially the red howler.
St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral, Sincelejo
Sincelejo Cathedral, dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi, is a cathedral church of the Catholic Church in Sincelejo, Colombia.
More drives to Montería
From Santa Marta to other places in Colombia
- Santa Marta to Sabanalarga
- Santa Marta to Rincón del Mar
- Santa Marta to Sincelejo
- Santa Marta to Tunja
- Santa Marta to Maicao
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Santa Marta to Montería?
About 5 h 33 min of driving without stops, over 275 miles.
How far is Montería from Santa Marta by car?
About 275 miles (442 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.
Is it safe to drive from Santa Marta to Montería?
The U.S. State Department rates Colombia Level 3: Reconsider Travel. Read the full advisory before you go.
Where can you stop on the way from Santa Marta to Montería?
Closest to the road: Salamanca Island Road Park (park, mile 40, 0.4 mi from the route); Los Colorados Fauna and Flora Sanctuary (wildlife sanctuary, mile 140, 1 mi from the route); St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral, Sincelejo (cathedral, mile 201, 0.9 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 October 10, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.