Plan on about 9 h 18 min of driving for the 411-mile (661 km) trip from Tecax to Ocosingo, before any stops.
| Distance | 411 mi (661 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 9 h 18 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-184 → MEX-261 → MEX-180 → MEX-202 → MEX-180D → MEX-186 → MEX-199 |
| Mexican states on the route | Yucatán, Campeche, Tabasco, Chiapas |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-180D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
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 Tecax–Ocosingo drive in a few lines
MEX-186 (116 mi) and MEX-199 (89 mi) carry about 50% of the 411 miles. It runs through 4 states: Yucatán, Campeche, Tabasco, Chiapas. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-180D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Tecax and Ocosingo
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Yucatán |
| MEX-184 | 2–21 | 19 | Yucatán |
| local roads | 21–30 | 9 | Yucatán |
| MEX-261 | 30–40 | 10 | Yucatán |
| local roads | 40–61 | 21 | Yucatán, Campeche |
| connecting roads | 61–62 | 1 | Campeche |
| MEX-180 | 62–107 | 45 | Campeche |
| MEX-202 | 107–117 | 10 | Campeche |
| MEX-180D | 117–141 | 24 | Campeche |
| MEX-180 | 141–154 | 13 | Campeche |
| connecting roads | 154–156 | 2 | Campeche |
| MEX-261 | 156–205 | 49 | Campeche |
| MEX-186 | 205–321 | 116 | Campeche, Tabasco, Chiapas |
| MEX-199 | 321–410 | 89 | Chiapas |
| local roads | 410–411 | 1 | Chiapas |
- Mile 55 of this route: Yucatán → Campeche (state line)
- Mile 293 of this route: Campeche → Tabasco (state line)
- Mile 301 of this route: Tabasco → Chiapas (state line)
Places worth a stop between Tecax and Ocosingo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Pyramid of the Magician (mile 39), Misol Há (mile 349)
- Nature and outdoors: Palenque National Park (mile 338), Misol Há (mile 349), Agua Azul (mile 375)
- Museums and history: Kabah (mile 30), Museo de Barcos y Armas Fuerte de San José el Alto (mile 111)
Kabah
Kabah is a Maya archaeological site in the Puuc region south of Mérida, inscribed in 1996 together with Uxmal, Sayil and Labna as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Pyramid of the Magician
Rising above the ancient Maya city of Uxmal, the Pyramid of the Magician is a step pyramid and the tallest structure on the site.
Xkipche
In the Puuc region of Yucatán, Xkipche is a Maya archaeological site with many Puuc-style buildings from the Classic period; its main structure is a two-story palace with several rooms.
Museo de Barcos y Armas Fuerte de San José el Alto
Inside Fuerte de San José el Alto in Campeche city, the museum displays more than 900 objects recovered from underwater archaeological sites in the Gulf of Mexico, the Mexican Caribbean and the cenotes, lakes and rivers of the Yucatán Peninsula.
Historic Fortified Town of Campeche
Founded by the Spanish on the Gulf of Mexico, Campeche's walled center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sections of the hexagonal wall built from 1686 to 1704 against pirate raids survive with bastions and gates, framing a grid of colonial streets.
Temple of the Inscriptions
At the Maya site of Palenque, the Temple of the Inscriptions is a stepped pyramid built as the funerary monument of Kʼinich Janaabʼ Pakal, who ruled the city in the 7th century.
Palenque National Park
Palenque National Park protects about 1,772 hectares around the Palenque archaeological zone in Chiapas. It was established by presidential decree in July 1981.
Misol Há
About 20 km from Palenque on the road to San Cristóbal de las Casas, Misol-Há is a single 35-meter waterfall dropping into a nearly round pool amid tropical vegetation.
Agua Azul
The Agua Azul cascades are a series of waterfalls on the Xanil River in Chiapas, in Tumbalá municipality about 69 km from Palenque, near Federal Highway 199.
More drives to Ocosingo
- Tuxtla to Ocosingo
- San Andrés Tuxtla to Ocosingo
- Tuxtepec to Ocosingo
- Córdoba, Mexico to Ocosingo
- Veracruz to Ocosingo
- Orizaba to Ocosingo
From Tecax to other places in Mexico
- Tecax to Hecelchakán
- Tecax to Teapa
- Tecax to Tapijulapa
- Tecax to Hopelchén
- Tecax to Espita
- Tecax to Akumal
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tecax to Ocosingo?
About 9 h 18 min of driving without stops, over 411 miles.
What is the driving distance from Tecax to Ocosingo?
About 411 miles (661 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 Ocosingo?
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 Ocosingo?
The U.S. State Department rates Yucatán Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions; Campeche Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions; Tabasco Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Chiapas Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Tecax to Ocosingo?
In order: MEX-184, MEX-261, MEX-180, MEX-202, MEX-180D, MEX-186 and MEX-199. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Tecax to Ocosingo?
Closest to the road: Pyramid of the Magician (pyramid, mile 39, 0.2 mi from the route); Misol Há (waterfall, mile 349, 0.7 mi from the route); Agua Azul (waterfall, mile 375, 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.