By road, Tlacotalpan and San Juan Chamula are about 326 miles (525 km) apart, or roughly 5 h 35 min of driving.
| Total distance | 326 mi (525 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 5 h 35 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-175 → MEX-145D → MEX-180D → MEX-180 → MEX-187D → MEX-190 → MEX-190D |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-145D, MEX-180D, MEX-187D, MEX-190D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
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 Tlacotalpan to San Juan Chamula is like
MEX-187D (122 mi) and MEX-145D (90 mi) carry about 65% of the 326 miles. It runs through 3 states: Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-145D, MEX-180D and MEX-187D. Of the 7 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Tlacotalpan to San Juan Chamula
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-175 | 0–30 | 30 | Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 30–31 | 1 | Veracruz |
| MEX-145D | 31–121 | 90 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 121–142 | 21 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180 | 142–146 | 4 | Veracruz |
| MEX-187D | 146–268 | 122 | Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas |
| MEX-190 | 268–277 | 9 | Chiapas |
| local roads | 277–286 | 9 | Chiapas |
| MEX-190 | 286–290 | 4 | Chiapas |
| MEX-190D | 290–319 | 29 | Chiapas |
| local roads | 319–326 | 7 | Chiapas |
- Mile 208 of this route: Veracruz → Tabasco (state line)
- Mile 214 of this route: Tabasco → Chiapas (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Tlacotalpan and San Juan Chamula
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Botánico de Tuxtla Gutiérrez (mile 283)
- Nature and outdoors: Selva El Ocote (mile 299)
- Museums and history: St. Mark's Cathedral, Tuxtla Gutiérrez (mile 283), Museo Botánico de Tuxtla Gutiérrez (mile 283), Museo de Ciencia y Tecnología de Chiapas (mile 286), Museo de la Laca and the Santo Domingo monastery (mile 291), Chiapa de Corzo (mile 292)
- With kids: Zoológico Miguél Álvarez del Toro (mile 286)
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.
Museo Botánico de Tuxtla Gutiérrez
Founded in 1951 with the Faustino Miranda Botanical Garden, this Tuxtla Gutiérrez museum, also called the Museo de las Maderas, is devoted to the plant life of Chiapas.
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 Ciencia y Tecnología de Chiapas
Opened in 2006 on the site of the former Cerro Hueco prison, the Chiapas Museum of Science and Technology in Tuxtla Gutiérrez aims to spark children's and teens' interest in science and technology.
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.
Arriving in San Juan Chamula
San Cristobal Cathedral
Seat of the Diocese of San Cristóbal de Las Casas, the San Cristobal Cathedral (Catedral de San Cristóbal de Las Casas) stands on the north side of the city's central plaza in 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.
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.
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 Tlacotalpan to other places in Mexico
- Tlacotalpan to Chipilo
- Tlacotalpan to Oaxtepec
- Tlacotalpan to Huasca de Ocampo
- Tlacotalpan to Metztitlán
- Tlacotalpan to Tonatico
- Tlacotalpan to Ixcateopan
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Tlacotalpan to San Juan Chamula?
About 5 h 35 min of driving without stops, over 326 miles.
What is the driving distance from Tlacotalpan to San Juan Chamula?
About 326 miles (525 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 Tlacotalpan 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 Tlacotalpan to San Juan Chamula?
The U.S. State Department rates 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.
Which highways go from Tlacotalpan to San Juan Chamula?
In order: MEX-175, MEX-145D, MEX-180D, MEX-180, 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 Tlacotalpan and San Juan Chamula?
Closest to the road: Museo Botánico de Tuxtla Gutiérrez (museum, mile 283, 0.7 mi from the route); St. Mark's Cathedral, Tuxtla Gutiérrez (cathedral, mile 283, 1 mi from the route); Museo de la Laca and the Santo Domingo monastery (museum, mile 291, 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.