Plan on about 12 h 24 min of driving for the 539-mile (868 km) trip from Tuxtla to Felipe Carrillo Puerto, before any stops.
| Total distance | 539 mi (868 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 12 h 24 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-190 → MEX-190D → MEX-199 → MEX-186 → MEX-307 |
| Mexican states on the route | Chiapas, Tabasco, Campeche, Quintana Roo |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-190D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
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 Tuxtla to Felipe Carrillo Puerto
MEX-186 (273 mi) and MEX-199 (141 mi) carry about 77% of the 539 miles. It runs through 4 states: Chiapas, Tabasco, Campeche, Quintana Roo. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-190D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Tuxtla to Felipe Carrillo Puerto
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Chiapas |
| MEX-190 | 1–7 | 6 | Chiapas |
| MEX-190D | 7–36 | 29 | Chiapas |
| MEX-190 | 36–43 | 7 | Chiapas |
| MEX-199 | 43–184 | 141 | Chiapas |
| MEX-186 | 184–457 | 273 | Chiapas, Tabasco, Campeche, Quintana Roo |
| MEX-307 | 457–539 | 82 | Quintana Roo |
- Mile 204 of this route: Chiapas → Tabasco (state line)
- Mile 212 of this route: Tabasco → Campeche (state line)
- Mile 417 of this route: Campeche → Quintana Roo (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Tuxtla and Felipe Carrillo Puerto
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Chicanná (mile 388), Becan (mile 389), Xpuhil (mile 393), San Felipe Fortress (mile 468)
- Nature and outdoors: Palenque National Park (mile 167), Calakmul Biosphere Reserve (mile 382), Sian Kaʼan Biosphere Reserve (mile 531)
- Museums and history: La Pila fountain (mile 8), Becan (mile 389), Xpuhil (mile 393), San Felipe Fortress (mile 468)
La Pila fountain
Built of brick in a diamond shape in 1562, La Pila fountain in the square of Chiapa de Corzo, Chiapas, is an example of Mudéjar-Renaissance style.
Palenque National Park
Palenque National Park protects about 1,772 hectares around the Palenque archaeological zone in Chiapas. It was established by presidential decree in July 1981.
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.
San Felipe Fortress
San Felipe Fortress (Fuerte de San Felipe de Bacalar) was an 18th-century Spanish colonial garrison in Bacalar, Quintana Roo. Today it houses the Bacalar Piracy Museum.
Sian Kaʼan Biosphere Reserve
Established in 1986 in Tulum Municipality, Quintana Roo, Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
More drives to Felipe Carrillo Puerto
From Tuxtla to other places in Mexico
- Tuxtla to Tapijulapa
- Tuxtla to Teapa
- Tuxtla to Cholula
- Tuxtla to Chiautempan
- Tuxtla to Huejotzingo
- Tuxtla to Tlaxcala
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Tuxtla to Felipe Carrillo Puerto?
About 12 h 24 min of driving without stops, over 539 miles.
What is the driving distance from Tuxtla to Felipe Carrillo Puerto?
About 539 miles (868 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 Tuxtla to Felipe Carrillo Puerto?
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 Tuxtla to Felipe Carrillo Puerto?
The U.S. State Department rates Chiapas Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Tabasco Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; 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 Tuxtla to Felipe Carrillo Puerto?
In order: MEX-190, MEX-190D, MEX-199, MEX-186 and MEX-307. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Tuxtla and Felipe Carrillo Puerto?
Closest to the road: Becan (archaeological site, mile 389, 0.4 mi from the route); Xpuhil (archaeological site, mile 393, 0.1 mi from the route); San Felipe Fortress (museum, mile 468, 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.