Plan on about 10 h 45 min of driving for the 516-mile (831 km) trip from Tlacotalpan to Xpujil, before any stops.
| Distance | 516 mi (831 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 10 h 45 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-175 → MEX-145D → MEX-180D → MEX-180 → MEX-186 |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas, Campeche |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-145D, MEX-180D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
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.
How the Tlacotalpan to Xpujil drive plays out
MEX-186 (279 mi) and MEX-145D (90 mi) carry about 72% of the 516 miles. It runs through 4 states: Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas, Campeche. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-145D and MEX-180D. Of the 5 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Tlacotalpan to Xpujil, road by road
| 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 | 142–160 | 18 | Veracruz, Tabasco |
| MEX-180D | 160–194 | 34 | Tabasco |
| MEX-180 | 194–233 | 39 | Tabasco |
| local roads | 233–237 | 4 | Tabasco |
| MEX-186 | 237–516 | 279 | Tabasco, Chiapas, Campeche |
- Mile 159 of this route: Veracruz → Tabasco (state line)
- Mile 283 of this route: Tabasco → Chiapas (state line)
- Mile 326 of this route: Chiapas → Tabasco (state line)
- Mile 334 of this route: Tabasco → Campeche (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Tlacotalpan and Xpujil
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Villahermosa Cathedral (mile 235), Museo de Historia Natural José Narciso Rovirosa (mile 235)
- Nature and outdoors: Museo de Historia Natural José Narciso Rovirosa (mile 235), Calakmul Biosphere Reserve (mile 505)
- Museums and history: La Venta (mile 161), Villahermosa Cathedral (mile 235), Museo de Historia Natural José Narciso Rovirosa (mile 235)
La Venta
La Venta was an important city of the Olmec civilization, in Tabasco near Huimanguillo. Its site museum displays more than 200 artifacts, including monumental sandstone sculptures found at the foot of the main pyramid.
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.
Balamku
Balamku is a small Maya archaeological site in Campeche, known for elaborate plaster facades from the Early Classic period.
Calakmul Biosphere Reserve
Bordering Guatemala's Petén department, the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve covers 7,231 square kilometers of southern Campeche, more than 14 percent of the state; it was established in 1989.
Once you reach Xpujil
Becan
Becan is a Maya archaeological site near the center of the Yucatán Peninsula in Campeche, about 150 km north of Tikal.
Xpuhil
Near the town of Xpujil in Campeche, Xpuhil is a Maya archaeological site along Federal Highway 186, in an area with other Maya sites such as Becan, Chicanná and Calakmul.
More drives to Xpujil
- Tecax to Xpujil
- Hecelchakán to Xpujil
- Campeche to Xpujil
- Calkiní to Xpujil
- Mérida to Xpujil
- Celestún to Xpujil
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 is the drive from Tlacotalpan to Xpujil?
About 10 h 45 min of driving without stops, over 516 miles.
How far is Xpujil from Tlacotalpan by car?
About 516 miles (831 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 Xpujil?
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 Xpujil?
The U.S. State Department rates Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tabasco Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Chiapas Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Campeche Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Tlacotalpan to Xpujil use?
In order: MEX-175, MEX-145D, MEX-180D, MEX-180 and MEX-186. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Tlacotalpan to Xpujil?
Closest to the road: Villahermosa Cathedral (cathedral, mile 235, 0.8 mi from the route); Museo de Historia Natural José Narciso Rovirosa (museum, mile 235, 0.8 mi from the route); Balamku (maya site, mile 479, 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.