Tapachula to Palizada is about 440 road miles (708 km): roughly 9 h 8 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Total distance | 440 mi (708 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 8 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-200 → MEX-190D → MEX-190 → MEX-187D → MEX-187 → MEX-180 → MEX-186 → MEX-217 |
| Mexican states on the route | Chiapas, Tabasco, Veracruz, Campeche |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-190D, MEX-187D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
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 Tapachula to Palizada
MEX-200 (150 mi) and MEX-187D (64 mi) carry about 49% of the 440 miles. It runs through 4 states: Chiapas, Tabasco, Veracruz, Campeche. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-190D and MEX-187D. Of the 3 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Tapachula to Palizada
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Chiapas |
| MEX-200 | 1–151 | 150 | Chiapas |
| MEX-190D | 151–209 | 58 | Chiapas |
| MEX-190 | 209–213 | 4 | Chiapas |
| connecting roads | 213–214 | 1 | Chiapas |
| MEX-187D | 214–278 | 64 | Chiapas, Tabasco, Veracruz |
| local roads | 278–288 | 10 | Veracruz, Tabasco |
| MEX-187 | 288–316 | 28 | Tabasco |
| local roads | 316–324 | 8 | Tabasco |
| MEX-180 | 324–346 | 22 | Tabasco |
| local roads | 346–350 | 4 | Tabasco |
| MEX-186 | 350–369 | 19 | Tabasco |
| local roads | 369–427 | 58 | Tabasco |
| MEX-217 | 427–440 | 13 | Tabasco, Campeche |
- Mile 268 of this route: Chiapas → Tabasco (state line)
- Mile 274 of this route: Tabasco → Veracruz (state line)
- Mile 280 of this route: Veracruz → Tabasco (state line)
- Mile 429 of this route: Tabasco → Campeche (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Palizada
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Villahermosa Cathedral (mile 349), Museo de Historia Natural José Narciso Rovirosa (mile 349)
- Nature and outdoors: Museo de Historia Natural José Narciso Rovirosa (mile 349)
- Museums and history: Los Horcones (mile 139), Villahermosa Cathedral (mile 349), Museo de Historia Natural José Narciso Rovirosa (mile 349)
Los Horcones
On the north side of Cerro de Bernal, atop a small ridge on the south side of a coastal plain, Los Horcones is an archaeological zone in the municipality of Tonalá, Chiapas.
Villahermosa Cathedral
Rising on Paseo Tabasco in Villahermosa, the Cathedral of the Lord of Tabasco has tall towers above a monumental facade. The current building dates from 1960–1963; an earlier cathedral was destroyed in the anticlerical campaigns of 1928–1934.
Museo de Historia Natural José Narciso Rovirosa
Opened in Villahermosa in 1988, this natural history museum honors José Narciso Rovirosa, the Tabasco naturalist, botanist and mapmaker who explored Tabasco and Chiapas documenting plants, climate and wildlife.
More drives to Palizada
- Ocosingo to Palizada
- Coatzacoalcos to Palizada
- Tuxtepec to Palizada
- Córdoba, Mexico to Palizada
- Veracruz to Palizada
- Tehuacán to Palizada
From Tapachula to other places in Mexico
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tapachula to Palizada?
About 9 h 8 min of driving without stops, over 440 miles.
What is the driving distance from Tapachula to Palizada?
About 440 miles (708 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 Tapachula to Palizada?
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 Tapachula to Palizada?
The U.S. State Department rates Chiapas Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Tabasco Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Campeche Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Tapachula to Palizada use?
In order: MEX-200, MEX-190D, MEX-190, MEX-187D, MEX-187, MEX-180, MEX-186 and MEX-217. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Tapachula to Palizada?
Closest to the road: Los Horcones (archaeological site, mile 139, 3 mi from the route); Villahermosa Cathedral (cathedral, mile 349, 0.8 mi from the route); Museo de Historia Natural José Narciso Rovirosa (museum, mile 349, 0.8 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.