By road, Tuxtla and Oaxaca are about 347 miles (559 km) apart, or roughly 7 h 7 min of driving.
| Total distance | 347 mi (559 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 7 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-190 → MEX-190D → MEX-200 → MEX-185D |
| Mexican states on the route | Chiapas, Oaxaca |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-190D, MEX-185D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
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 Tuxtla to Oaxaca drive plays out
MEX-190 (213 mi) and MEX-190D (57 mi) carry about 78% of the 347 miles. It runs through 2 states: Chiapas, Oaxaca. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-190D and MEX-185D. Of the 6 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Tuxtla to Oaxaca, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–7 | 7 | Chiapas |
| MEX-190 | 7–21 | 14 | Chiapas |
| MEX-190D | 21–78 | 57 | Chiapas |
| MEX-200 | 78–109 | 31 | Chiapas, Oaxaca |
| MEX-190 | 109–160 | 51 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-185D | 160–196 | 36 | Oaxaca |
| MEX-190 | 196–344 | 148 | Oaxaca |
| local roads | 344–347 | 3 | Oaxaca |
- Mile 91 of this route: Chiapas → Oaxaca (state line)
Stops between Tuxtla and Oaxaca
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Mitla (mile 322), Yagul (mile 327), Lambityeco (mile 330), Dainzú (mile 335)
- Museums and history: Guiengola (mile 200), Mitla (mile 322), Gheo-shih (mile 326), Yagul (mile 327), Lambityeco (mile 330), Dainzú (mile 335)
Guiengola
Guiengola is a Late Postclassic Zapotec archaeological site near Santo Domingo Tehuantepec, on high ground above the Tehuantepec River and known as a fortified settlement.
Mitla
Mitla, the key site of Zapotec culture and Oaxaca's second major archaeological site after Monte Albán, lies 44 km from Oaxaca City at the upper end of the Tlacolula Valley.
Gheo-shih
In the Oaxaca Valley, Gheo-shih ("River of the Gourd Trees" in Zapotec) is an open-air site with a boulder-lined cleared area thought to have served for rituals, dances or games.
Yagul
On a rocky hill in Oaxaca's Tlacolula Valley, Yagul is a Zapotec site whose builders linked platforms by paths. Explore the Palace of the Six Patios, a ball court, tombs and a fortress wall with lookouts.
Lambityeco
Lambityeco is a small Zapotec archaeological site just off Highway 190, about 3 km west of Tlacolula de Matamoros and roughly 25 km east of Oaxaca on the way to Mitla.
Dainzú
About 20 km southeast of Oaxaca city, Dainzú is a Zapotec archaeological site, an ancient village that developed earlier than nearby Monte Albán and Mitla and was later contemporary with them.
Once you reach Oaxaca
Monte Albán
Carved into a mountaintop above the Valley of Oaxaca, Monte Albán was a Zapotec capital for some 1,300 years; visitors walk a 300-meter ceremonial plaza lined with temples, a ball court, tombs and carved reliefs. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Oaxaca Cathedral
Oaxaca Cathedral, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, is the seat of the Catholic Archdiocese of Antequera, Oaxaca. Construction began around 1535, and the church was consecrated on July 12, 1733.
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.
More drives to Oaxaca
- Tehuacán to Oaxaca
- Puebla to Oaxaca
- Veracruz to Oaxaca
- Mexico City to Oaxaca
- Cuernavaca to Oaxaca
- Toluca to Oaxaca
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 Oaxaca?
About 7 h 7 min of driving without stops, over 347 miles.
What is the driving distance from Tuxtla to Oaxaca?
About 347 miles (559 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 Oaxaca?
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 Oaxaca?
The U.S. State Department rates Chiapas Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Oaxaca Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Tuxtla to Oaxaca?
In order: MEX-190, MEX-190D, MEX-200 and MEX-185D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Tuxtla and Oaxaca?
Closest to the road: Mitla (archaeological site, mile 322, 0.2 mi from the route); Lambityeco (archaeological site, mile 330, 0.2 mi from the route); Dainzú (archaeological site, mile 335, 0.6 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.