Plan on about 8 h 19 min of driving for the 495-mile (797 km) trip from Teziutlán to San Juan Chamula, before any stops.
| Distance | 495 mi (797 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 19 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-131 → MEX-140D → MEX-140 → MEX-180 → MEX-150D → MEX-145D → MEX-180D → MEX-187D → MEX-190 → MEX-190D |
| Mexican states on the route | Puebla, Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-140D, MEX-150D, MEX-145D, MEX-180D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
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 Teziutlán–San Juan Chamula drive in a few lines
MEX-145D (141 mi) and MEX-187D (122 mi) carry about 53% of the 495 miles. It runs through 4 states: Puebla, Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-140D, MEX-150D and MEX-145D. None of the 8 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Which roads connect Teziutlán and San Juan Chamula
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Puebla |
| MEX-131 | 1–23 | 22 | Puebla, Veracruz |
| local roads | 23–29 | 6 | Veracruz |
| MEX-140D | 29–66 | 37 | Veracruz |
| MEX-140 | 66–70 | 4 | Veracruz |
| MEX-140D | 70–78 | 8 | Veracruz |
| MEX-140 | 78–86 | 8 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180 | 86–120 | 34 | Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 120–121 | 1 | Veracruz |
| MEX-150D | 121–147 | 26 | Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 147–149 | 2 | Veracruz |
| MEX-145D | 149–290 | 141 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 290–310 | 20 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180 | 310–315 | 5 | Veracruz |
| MEX-187D | 315–437 | 122 | Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas |
| MEX-190 | 437–446 | 9 | Chiapas |
| local roads | 446–455 | 9 | Chiapas |
| MEX-190 | 455–459 | 4 | Chiapas |
| MEX-190D | 459–488 | 29 | Chiapas |
| local roads | 488–495 | 7 | Chiapas |
- Mile 8 of this route: Puebla → Veracruz (state line)
- Mile 376 of this route: Veracruz → Tabasco (state line)
- Mile 383 of this route: Tabasco → Chiapas (state line)
Places worth a stop between Teziutlán and San Juan Chamula
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Nacional Cofre de Perote (mile 29), Sumidero Canyon National Park (mile 452), Selva El Ocote (mile 467)
- Museums and history: Museo de la Ciudad (mile 448), St. Mark's Cathedral, Tuxtla Gutiérrez (mile 451), Museo de la Laca and the Santo Domingo monastery (mile 460), Chiapa de Corzo (mile 460)
- With kids: Zoológico Miguél Álvarez del Toro (mile 455)
Parque Nacional Cofre de Perote
Cofre de Perote National Park protects the forested slopes of the mountain, and its role is practical as well as scenic: a little over 40 percent of the water used in Xalapa comes from here.
Museo de la Ciudad
Tuxtla Gutiérrez's city museum covers the history and growth of the city with three permanent exhibits and a temporary gallery, in a building whose site once briefly served as a bullring.
St. Mark's Cathedral, Tuxtla Gutiérrez
Tuxtla Gutiérrez Cathedral, dedicated to St. Mark, is the Catholic church that serves as the seat of the Archdiocese of Tuxtla in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas.
Sumidero Canyon National Park
The Grijalva River runs through Sumidero Canyon, whose walls rise from about 200 to 1,000 meters. Boat trips leave from colonial Chiapa de Corzo, and lookouts line the rim. It became a national park in 1980.
Zoológico Miguél Álvarez del Toro
Tuxtla Gutiérrez's zoo, named for Miguel Álvarez del Toro, dates back to 1942, when it opened as the Zoológico de Tuxtla Gutiérrez.
Museo de la Laca and the Santo Domingo monastery
Dominican friars built this convent in Chiapa de Corzo in the second half of the 16th century; today it is a cultural center whose Museo de la Laca is devoted to Chiapas' traditional lacquerwork.
Chiapa de Corzo
Near the town of Chiapa de Corzo in Chiapas lies a pre-Columbian archaeological site of the same name that grew into a regional center around 700–500 BCE, during the Middle Formative period.
Selva El Ocote
Selva El Ocote Biosphere Reserve covers about 101,288 hectares of Chiapas, protecting tall evergreen rain forest on karst terrain, a landscape also known for its extensive caverns.
In San Juan Chamula itself
Museo Mesoamericano del Jade
The Museo Mesoamericano del Jade in San Cristóbal de Las Casas is housed in the Casa del Jade, a cultural center and company specializing in jade, with its own workshops.
Museo de Medicina Maya
Dedicated to the healing practices of the Tzotzil and Tzeltal peoples, the Museo de Medicina Maya is a museum in San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas.
Museo de los Altos de Chiapas Ex Convento Santo Domingo de Guzmán
Attached to the baroque church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán in San Cristóbal de Las Casas, this museum occupies the former convent and is one of the city's most traditional landmarks.
More drives to San Juan Chamula
- Copainalá to San Juan Chamula
- Cárdenas to San Juan Chamula
- Comalcalco to San Juan Chamula
- Coatzacoalcos to San Juan Chamula
- Paraiso to San Juan Chamula
- San Andrés Tuxtla to San Juan Chamula
From Teziutlán to other places in Mexico
- Teziutlán to Huejotzingo
- Teziutlán to Omitlán
- Teziutlán to Tepotzotlán
- Teziutlán to Huasca de Ocampo
- Teziutlán to Actopan
- Teziutlán to Metepec
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Teziutlán to San Juan Chamula?
About 8 h 19 min of driving without stops, over 495 miles.
How far is San Juan Chamula from Teziutlán by car?
About 495 miles (797 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 Teziutlán to San Juan Chamula?
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 Teziutlán to San Juan Chamula?
The U.S. State Department rates Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tabasco Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Chiapas Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Teziutlán to San Juan Chamula use?
In order: MEX-131, MEX-140D, MEX-140, MEX-180, MEX-150D, MEX-145D, MEX-180D, MEX-187D, MEX-190 and MEX-190D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Teziutlán and San Juan Chamula?
Closest to the road: Museo de la Ciudad (museum, mile 448, 1 mi from the route); St. Mark's Cathedral, Tuxtla Gutiérrez (cathedral, mile 451, 1 mi from the route); Museo de la Laca and the Santo Domingo monastery (museum, mile 460, 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.