By road, Santa Marta and Sabanalarga are about 91 miles (147 km) apart, or roughly 1 h 55 min of driving.
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 | 91 mi (147 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 1 h 55 min |
| Departments on the route | Magdalena, Atlántico |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 3.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
What the drive from Santa Marta to Sabanalarga is like
It runs through 2 departments: Magdalena, Atlántico. Of the 3 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Santa Marta to Sabanalarga, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–91 | 91 | Magdalena, Atlántico |
- Mile 58 of this route: Magdalena → Atlántico (department line)
Stops between Santa Marta and Sabanalarga
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Salamanca Island Road Park (mile 40)
- Nature and outdoors: Salamanca Island Road Park (mile 40)
- Museums and history: Museo del Atlántico (mile 59)
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.
Teatro Colón
Barranquilla's Teatro Colón is an Art Deco building that served as a movie theater, designed in 1937 by Cuban architect Manuel Carrerá.
Museo del Atlántico
History and culture of Colombia's Atlántico department are the focus of the Museo del Atlántico in Barranquilla, which officially opened on December 27, 2011.
More drives to Sabanalarga
- Bucaramanga to Sabanalarga
- Cúcuta to Sabanalarga
- Manizales to Sabanalarga
- Quibdó to Sabanalarga
- Riohacha to Sabanalarga
- Maicao to Sabanalarga
From Santa Marta to other places in Colombia
- Santa Marta to Rincón del Mar
- Santa Marta to Sincelejo
- Santa Marta to Montería
- Santa Marta to Tunja
- Santa Marta to Maicao
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Santa Marta to Sabanalarga?
About 1 h 55 min of driving without stops, over 91 miles.
What is the driving distance from Santa Marta to Sabanalarga?
About 91 miles (147 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.
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Santa Marta to Sabanalarga drive?
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 Sabanalarga?
Closest to the road: Salamanca Island Road Park (park, mile 40, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo del Atlántico (museum, mile 59, 2 mi from the route); Teatro Colón (theater, mile 59, 3 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.