By road, Tuxtla and San Cristóbal de las Casas are about 37 miles (60 km) apart, or roughly 42 min of driving.
| Distance by road | 37 mi (60 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 42 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-190 → MEX-190D |
| Mexican states on the route | Chiapas |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-190D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 1.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
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 Tuxtla–San Cristóbal de las Casas drive in a few lines
MEX-190D (29 mi) and MEX-190 (6 mi) carry about 95% of the 37 miles. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-190D. None of the 3 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Tuxtla to San Cristóbal de las Casas: the road sequence
| 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 |
| local roads | 36–37 | 1 | Chiapas |
Stops between Tuxtla and San Cristóbal de las Casas
- Nature and outdoors: Selva El Ocote (mile 16)
- Museums and history: Museo de la Laca and the Santo Domingo monastery (mile 8), La Pila fountain (mile 8)
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.
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.
Selva El Ocote
Selva El Ocote Biosphere Reserve covers about 101,288 hectares of Chiapas, protecting tall evergreen rain forest on karst terrain, a landscape also known for its extensive caverns.
Arriving in San Cristóbal de las Casas
Casa Na Bolom
Once the home of archaeologist Frans Blom and photographer Gertrude Duby Blom, Casa Na Bolom in San Cristóbal de las Casas occupies an 1891 building and shows pre-Hispanic, textile, ethnographic and colonial collections.
Museo de Medicina Maya
Dedicated to the healing practices of the Tzotzil and Tzeltal peoples, the Museo de Medicina Maya is a museum in San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas.
San Cristobal Cathedral
Seat of the Diocese of San Cristóbal de Las Casas, the San Cristobal Cathedral (Catedral de San Cristóbal de Las Casas) stands on the north side of the city's central plaza in Chiapas.
More drives to San Cristóbal de las Casas
- Villahermosa to San Cristóbal de las Casas
- Coatzacoalcos to San Cristóbal de las Casas
- Tehuacán to San Cristóbal de las Casas
- Puebla to San Cristóbal de las Casas
- Cholula to San Cristóbal de las Casas
- Mexico City to San Cristóbal de las Casas
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 San Cristóbal de las Casas?
About 42 min of driving without stops, over 37 miles.
What is the driving distance from Tuxtla to San Cristóbal de las Casas?
About 37 miles (60 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 San Cristóbal de las Casas?
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 San Cristóbal de las Casas?
The U.S. State Department rates Chiapas Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Tuxtla to San Cristóbal de las Casas use?
In order: MEX-190 and MEX-190D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Tuxtla and San Cristóbal de las Casas?
Closest to the road: La Pila fountain (monument, mile 8, 2 mi from the route); Museo de la Laca and the Santo Domingo monastery (museum, mile 8, 2 mi from the route); Selva El Ocote (biosphere reserve, mile 16, 4 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.