Tuxtepec to Kohunlich is about 554 road miles (892 km): roughly 12 h 5 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Total distance | 554 mi (892 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 12 h 5 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-145 → MEX-145D → MEX-180D → MEX-180 → MEX-186 |
| Mexican states on the route | Oaxaca, Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas, Campeche, Quintana Roo |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-145D, MEX-180D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 22.2 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.
How the Tuxtepec to Kohunlich drive plays out
MEX-186 (317 mi) and MEX-145D (68 mi) carry about 69% of the 554 miles. It runs through 6 states: Oaxaca, Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas, Campeche, Quintana Roo. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-145D and MEX-180D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Tuxtepec to Kohunlich
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–6 | 6 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-145 | 6–39 | 33 | Oaxaca, Veracruz |
| local roads | 39–44 | 5 | Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 44–47 | 3 | Veracruz |
| MEX-145D | 47–115 | 68 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 115–135 | 20 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180 | 135–155 | 20 | Veracruz, Tabasco |
| MEX-180D | 155–188 | 33 | Tabasco |
| MEX-180 | 188–227 | 39 | Tabasco |
| local roads | 227–231 | 4 | Tabasco |
| MEX-186 | 231–548 | 317 | Tabasco, Chiapas, Campeche, Quintana Roo |
| local roads | 548–554 | 6 | Quintana Roo |
- Mile 24 of this route: Oaxaca → Veracruz (state line)
- Mile 153 of this route: Veracruz → Tabasco (state line)
- Mile 277 of this route: Tabasco → Chiapas (state line)
- Mile 320 of this route: Chiapas → Tabasco (state line)
- Mile 328 of this route: Tabasco → Campeche (state line)
- Mile 534 of this route: Campeche → Quintana Roo (state line)
Places worth a stop between Tuxtepec and Kohunlich
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Casa Museo Carlos Pellicer Cámara (mile 230), Chicanná (mile 505), Becan (mile 506), Xpuhil (mile 510)
- Nature and outdoors: Calakmul Biosphere Reserve (mile 499)
- Museums and history: La Venta (mile 155), Museo de Antropología Carlos Pellicer (mile 230), Casa Museo Carlos Pellicer Cámara (mile 230), Becan (mile 506), Xpuhil (mile 510)
La Venta
Once an important Olmec city, La Venta sits in Tabasco close to Huimanguillo. Monumental sandstone sculptures found at the foot of its main pyramid are among the 200-plus pieces in the site museum.
Museo de Antropología Carlos Pellicer
Villahermosa's regional anthropology museum, named for poet Carlos Pellicer Cámara, displays Olmec and Maya pieces found across Tabasco, along with loans from other parts of Mexico such as Teotihuacan. It opened in 1980.
Casa Museo Carlos Pellicer Cámara
Poet Carlos Pellicer Cámara, a major voice of 20th-century Mexican poetry, was born in this house in Villahermosa's historic center, now a museum since 1985.
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.
Chicanná
Chicanná is a Classic-period Maya city site named after Structure II, whose Maya name means "House of the Serpent Mouth."
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.
In Kohunlich itself
Kohunlich
Kohunlich is an archaeological site of the Maya civilization in Quintana Roo, about 65 km west of Chetumal on Highway 186; its original name is unknown.
More drives to Kohunlich
- Akumal to Kohunlich
- Punta Allen to Kohunlich
- Puerto Morelos to Kohunlich
- Espita to Kohunlich
- Calkiní to Kohunlich
- Maxcanú to Kohunlich
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 Kohunlich?
About 12 h 5 min of driving without stops, over 554 miles.
How far is Kohunlich from Tuxtepec by car?
About 554 miles (892 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 Kohunlich?
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 Kohunlich?
The U.S. State Department rates Oaxaca Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tabasco Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Chiapas Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Campeche Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions; Quintana Roo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Tuxtepec to Kohunlich?
In order: MEX-145, 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 Tuxtepec to Kohunlich?
Closest to the road: Chicanná (maya site, mile 505, 0.5 mi from the route); Becan (archaeological site, mile 506, 0.2 mi from the route); Xpuhil (archaeological site, mile 510, 0.3 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.