Tuxtla to Mahahual is about 532 road miles (856 km): roughly 12 h 36 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance by road | 532 mi (856 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 12 h 36 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-190 → MEX-190D → MEX-199 → MEX-186 → MEX-307 → QR |
| 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 21.3 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 Mahahual
MEX-186 (273 mi) and MEX-199 (141 mi) carry about 78% of the 532 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.
The route from Tuxtla to Mahahual, road by road
| 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 | 457–497 | 40 | Quintana Roo |
| QR | 497–532 | 35 | Quintana Roo |
- Mile 204 of this route: Chiapas → Tabasco (state line)
- Mile 212 of this route: Tabasco → Campeche (state line)
- Mile 418 of this route: Campeche → Quintana Roo (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Mahahual
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Misol Há (mile 155), Chicanná (mile 388), Becan (mile 390), San Felipe Fortress (mile 468)
- Nature and outdoors: Agua Azul (mile 130), Misol Há (mile 155), Palenque National Park (mile 167), Calakmul Biosphere Reserve (mile 383)
- Museums and history: Museo de la Laca and the Santo Domingo monastery (mile 8), Becan (mile 390), San Felipe Fortress (mile 468)
Museo de la Laca and the Santo Domingo monastery
Dominican friars built this convent in Chiapa de Corzo in the second half of the 16th century; today it is a cultural center whose Museo de la Laca is devoted to Chiapas' traditional lacquerwork.
Agua Azul
The Agua Azul cascades are a series of waterfalls on the Xanil River in Chiapas, in Tumbalá municipality about 69 km from Palenque, near Federal Highway 199.
Misol Há
About 20 km from Palenque on the road to San Cristóbal de las Casas, Misol-Há is a single 35-meter waterfall dropping into a nearly round pool amid tropical vegetation.
Temple of the Inscriptions
At the Maya site of Palenque, the Temple of the Inscriptions is a stepped pyramid built as the funerary monument of Kʼinich Janaabʼ Pakal, who ruled the city in the 7th century.
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.
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.
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.
More drives to Mahahual
- Mérida to Mahahual
- Calkiní to Mahahual
- Hopelchén to Mahahual
- Celestún to Mahahual
- Campeche to Mahahual
- Cárdenas to Mahahual
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 is the drive from Tuxtla to Mahahual?
About 12 h 36 min of driving without stops, over 532 miles.
How far is Mahahual from Tuxtla by car?
About 532 miles (856 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 Mahahual?
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 Mahahual?
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 Mahahual?
In order: MEX-190, MEX-190D, MEX-199, MEX-186, MEX-307 and QR. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Tuxtla to Mahahual?
Closest to the road: Chicanná (maya site, mile 388, 0.6 mi from the route); Becan (archaeological site, mile 390, 0.4 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.