The Wayro route from Tuxtepec to Mazunte is 280 miles (450 km), about 6 h 26 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 280 mi (450 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 26 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-175 → MEX-175D → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | Oaxaca |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-175D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.2 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.
The Tuxtepec–Mazunte drive in a few lines
MEX-175 (160 mi) and MEX-175D (65 mi) carry about 80% of the 280 miles. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-175D. Of the 5 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Tuxtepec to Mazunte: the road sequence
| 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 | 182–247 | 65 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-200 | 247–275 | 28 | Oaxaca |
| local roads | 275–280 | 5 | Oaxaca |
What to see on the way from Tuxtepec to Mazunte
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Oaxaca Ethnobotanical Garden (mile 135), Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Oaxaca (mile 135), Museo Estatal de Arte Popular de Oaxaca (mile 143)
- Nature and outdoors: Benito Juárez National Park (mile 130), Oaxaca Ethnobotanical Garden (mile 135)
- Museums and history: Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Oaxaca (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.
Oaxaca Ethnobotanical Garden
Next to the Church of Santo Domingo in Oaxaca City, the Oaxaca Ethnobotanical Garden (Jardín Etnobotánico de Oaxaca) is a botanical garden covering about 2.3 acres.
Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Oaxaca
Founded on February 28, 1992, by a civic association with state government backing and support from the National Institute of Fine Arts, this museum grew from an initiative by artists including Francisco Toledo and Rodolfo Morales.
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.
In Mazunte itself
Mermejita
On Oaxaca's central coast just west of Mazunte and San Agustinillo, Mermejita is a small beach village where newcomers have built simple houses from local materials.
More drives to Mazunte
- Capulalpam de Méndez to Mazunte
- Tehuacán to Mazunte
- Córdoba, Mexico to Mazunte
- Huamantla to Mazunte
- Ixtenco to Mazunte
- Puebla to Mazunte
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 is the drive from Tuxtepec to Mazunte?
About 6 h 26 min of driving without stops, over 280 miles.
How far is Mazunte from Tuxtepec by car?
About 280 miles (450 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 Mazunte?
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 Mazunte?
The U.S. State Department rates Oaxaca Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Tuxtepec to Mazunte 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 Mazunte?
Closest to the road: Oaxaca Ethnobotanical Garden (botanical garden, mile 135, 0.7 mi from the route); Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Oaxaca (contemporary art museum, mile 135, 0.8 mi from the route); Museo Estatal de Arte Popular de Oaxaca (folk art museum, mile 143, 0.2 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.