By road, Tuxtepec and Cuajinicuilapa are about 373 miles (600 km) apart, or roughly 8 h 22 min of driving.
| Distance by road | 373 mi (600 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 22 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-175 → MEX-175D → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | Oaxaca, Guerrero |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-175D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.9 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.
On the road from Tuxtepec to Cuajinicuilapa
MEX-175 (160 mi) and MEX-200 (126 mi) carry about 77% of the 373 miles. It runs through 2 states: Oaxaca, Guerrero. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-175D. Of the 7 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Tuxtepec and Cuajinicuilapa
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-175 | 1–150 | 149 | Oaxaca |
| local roads | 150–160 | 10 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-175 | 160–171 | 11 | Oaxaca |
| local roads | 171–178 | 7 | Oaxaca |
| connecting roads | 178–182 | 4 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-175D | 182–246 | 64 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-200 | 246–372 | 126 | Oaxaca, Guerrero |
| local roads | 372–373 | 1 | Guerrero |
- Mile 366 of this route: Oaxaca → Guerrero (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Tuxtepec and Cuajinicuilapa
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Historic centre of Oaxaca (mile 135), Museo de los Pintores Oaxaqueños (mile 135), Museo Estatal de Arte Popular de Oaxaca (mile 143), Laguna de Manialtepec (mile 265)
- Nature and outdoors: Benito Juárez National Park (mile 130), Laguna de Manialtepec (mile 265), Lagunas de Chacahua National Park (mile 301)
- Museums and history: Historic centre of Oaxaca (mile 135), Museo de los Pintores Oaxaqueños (mile 135), Museo Estatal de Arte Popular de Oaxaca (mile 143), Zaachila (mile 144)
Benito Juárez National Park
Hikers heading just north of Oaxaca City reach Benito Juárez National Park, where trails cross roughly 2,737 hectares of pine and oak. La Coronilla, a moderate loop, runs about 5 km.
Historic centre of Oaxaca
The historic center of Oaxaca de Juárez has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987, listed together with the archaeological site of Monte Albán as an example of Spanish colonial town planning.
Museo de los Pintores Oaxaqueños
Created in 2004 to showcase Oaxacan artists, this museum occupies a 17th-century colonial building at Independencia and García Vigil in the historic center of Oaxaca de Juárez.
Museo Estatal de Arte Popular de Oaxaca
In San Bartolo Coyotepec, the town known for its black clay pottery (barro negro), this state-run museum traces the history of that craft and shows works by Oaxaca's folk art masters alongside temporary exhibitions.
Zaachila
Zaachila was a Zapotec city, later shared with Mixtecs, that was still inhabited when the Spanish arrived; its occupation reaches back to about 1500 BC. Visitors come for its excavated tombs, including Tomb 1 with stucco figures of those buried there.
Laguna de Manialtepec
About 18 km west of Puerto Escondido in Oaxaca, Laguna de Manialtepec is a coastal lagoon whose Nahuatl name means 'hill where water is born'.
Lagunas de Chacahua National Park
Created in 1937, Lagunas de Chacahua National Park lies in the Oaxaca municipality of Villa de Tututepec de Melchor Ocampo, about 54 km west of Puerto Escondido near the village of Zapotalito.
More drives to Cuajinicuilapa
- Orizaba to Cuajinicuilapa
- Tepoztlán to Cuajinicuilapa
- Tetela del Volcán to Cuajinicuilapa
- Córdoba, Mexico to Cuajinicuilapa
- Atlixco to Cuajinicuilapa
- Huejotzingo to Cuajinicuilapa
From Tuxtepec to other places in Mexico
- Tuxtepec to Zacatelco
- Tuxtepec to Huejotzingo
- Tuxtepec to Calpulalpan
- Tuxtepec to Otumba
- Tuxtepec to Tlaltizapán
- Tuxtepec to Tepoztlán
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Tuxtepec to Cuajinicuilapa?
About 8 h 22 min of driving without stops, over 373 miles.
How far is Cuajinicuilapa from Tuxtepec by car?
About 373 miles (600 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 Tuxtepec to Cuajinicuilapa?
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 Tuxtepec to Cuajinicuilapa?
The U.S. State Department rates Oaxaca Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Guerrero Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Tuxtepec to Cuajinicuilapa use?
In order: MEX-175, MEX-175D and MEX-200. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Tuxtepec to Cuajinicuilapa?
Closest to the road: Historic centre of Oaxaca (historic center, mile 135, 0.6 mi from the route); Museo Estatal de Arte Popular de Oaxaca (folk art museum, mile 143, 0.2 mi from the route); Laguna de Manialtepec (lagoon, mile 265, 0.4 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.