Plan on about 2 h 0 min of driving for the 73-mile (118 km) trip from Tecax to Hopelchén, before any stops.
| Distance by road | 73 mi (118 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 2 h 0 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-184 → YUC 31 → MEX-261 |
| Mexican states on the route | Yucatán, Campeche |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 2.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
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.
What the drive from Tecax to Hopelchén is like
MEX-261 (37 mi) and YUC 31 (5 mi) carry about 58% of the 73 miles. It runs through 2 states: Yucatán, Campeche. Of the 4 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Tecax to Hopelchén: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Yucatán |
| MEX-184 | 2–6 | 4 | Yucatán |
| connecting roads | 6–7 | 1 | Yucatán |
| local roads | 7–12 | 5 | Yucatán |
| YUC 31 | 12–17 | 5 | Yucatán |
| local roads | 17–36 | 19 | Yucatán |
| MEX-261 | 36–73 | 37 | Yucatán, Campeche |
- Mile 47 of this route: Yucatán → Campeche (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Tecax and Hopelchén
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Labna (mile 28), Xlapak (mile 30), Sayil (mile 33)
- Museums and history: Labna (mile 28), Xlapak (mile 30), Sayil (mile 33), Uxmal (mile 37)
Labna
Labna is a Maya archaeological site and ceremonial center in the Puuc Hills of the Yucatán Peninsula, south of Uxmal in the southwest of Yucatán state.
Xlapak
Xlapak is a small Maya archaeological site in the Puuc region of the Yucatán Peninsula, sitting between Labná and Sayil, about 4 kilometers from each.
Sayil
Sayil is a pre-Columbian city built by the Maya in the Terminal Classic period, located in southwestern Yucatán state, south of Uxmal.
Uxmal
Founded around A.D. 700, the Maya city of Uxmal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where Puuc-style buildings such as the Pyramid of the Soothsayer, the Governor's Palace and the Nunnery Quadrangle carry carvings of the rain god Chaac.
More drives to Hopelchén
- Mérida to Hopelchén
- Teapa to Hopelchén
- Izamal to Hopelchén
- Motul to Hopelchén
- Progreso to Hopelchén
- Tixkokob to Hopelchén
From Tecax to other places in Mexico
- Tecax to Hecelchakán
- Tecax to Teapa
- Tecax to Tapijulapa
- Tecax to Ocosingo
- Tecax to Espita
- Tecax to Akumal
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Tecax to Hopelchén?
About 2 h 0 min of driving without stops, over 73 miles.
How far is Hopelchén from Tecax by car?
About 73 miles (118 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 Tecax to Hopelchén?
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 Tecax to Hopelchén?
The U.S. State Department rates Yucatán Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions; Campeche Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Tecax to Hopelchén use?
In order: MEX-184, YUC 31 and MEX-261. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Tecax to Hopelchén?
Closest to the road: Labna (archaeological site, mile 28, 0.2 mi from the route); Xlapak (archaeological site, mile 30, 0.4 mi from the route); Sayil (archaeological site, mile 33, 0.2 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.