Top five road trips through Mexico

Taking road trips through Mexico will give you the opportunity to explore and find the most amazing beaches, towns, natural sights, and food!

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Driving Through Mexico: A Great Way to Explore!

Exploring Mexico is a life-changing experience. Many people end up deciding to move there after truly experiencing its places, food, and the kindness of its people. The best way to get to know this amazing country is by exploring it through its roads. Nothing beats seeing a local vendor selling pineapple juice, or hand-made pecan ice-cream and simply stopping and trying it. In this article I’ll give you my ranking of top Mexico road trips, detailed itineraries including trip lengths plus recommendations, and pictures of each trip.

The freedom you experience on these road trips is difficult to match. It’s just you, your car, and the road ahead of you. But what are the best places to take road trips in Mexico? Where can you experience a sample of what Mexico has to offer, and walk away wanting more? Take a look at my ranked list to get started!

Do you need to know Spanish to go on a road trip in Mexico? It helps, but it is not absolutely necessary! Check out our travel tips page for some additional insight.

Road Trip Ranking Method

Each and every state in Mexico has something unique to offer: deep history, archaeological zones, beautiful beaches, delicious foods, natural wonders, and great people. It’s not easy to pick the best 5 road trips in Mexico, but somebody had to do it. 😉

Here’s a quick summary guide that includes detailed itinerary trips along with helpful information regarding major airports around the world with direct flights into these locations. The rating scale is the following:

• 😊😊😊 – Some of the best in Mexico; rich in that category; highly recommended
• 😊😊 – Recommended; good experience
• 😊 – Somewhat limited; not as good as other places in Mexico
• 😞 – Doesn’t offer a given sight or experience

#	Road Trip Photo Summaries	Culture- Rich/ Pueblos Mágicos	Archaeological Sites	Food	Beaches	Start	Full Itinerary
1	Yucatán Peninsula	😊😊😊	😊😊😊	😊	😊😊😊	CUN	Details
2	Michoacán State	😊😊😊	😊	😊😊😊	😊	GDL	Details
3	Chiapas State	😊😊😊	😊😊😊	😊😊	😊	MEX	Details
4	Guanajuato State	😊😊😊	😞	😊	😞	GDL	Details
5	Oaxaca State	😊😊😊	😊😊	😊😊😊	😊	MEX	Details

Tips on How To Plan Your Trip

My style to driving in Mexico is easy: fly into a large international hub (low-cost, direct flights!), then rent a car and drive away! Check out our Mexican Travel Tips page for a few pointers on rentals and things to watch out for. The table above shows you starting points in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Cancun.

One question you may be asking: is it safe to drive in Mexico? That’s the $1M ($21.6M pesos) question. Much like driving in any different country, or even different state, you need to exercise common sense. You won’t find trouble if you don’t seek trouble.

I recommend you stick to the toll roads which generally are in excellent driving condition and that you drive during the daytime. If you stick to toll roads you’ll also have plenty of gas stations and places to get snacks along the way.

Another tip I can give you is to remain as inconspicuous as possible. Try not draw attention to yourself with expensive electronics and other gear.

We’ve been driving the roads of Mexico for a few years now with our daughter since she was 1 year old. Watch the potholes in the smaller, toll-free roads, though! 😃

To help you plan your trip, each section features a link to a detailed itinerary, which will have the route, trip duration, and recommendations. There’s also a photoblog link, which offers more images from that particular road trip.

Without further ado, these are the top 5 road trips in all of Mexico!

(Road Trip 1) Yucatán Peninsula: My Favorite of all Mexico Road Trips

Detailed Itinerary | Photoblog of Yucatan | Bonus Road Trip

My favorite. Probably the most popular tourist destination in Mexico, but also one with many roads less traveled. People dash to the beautiful beaches and all-inclusive resorts of Cancún and the Riviera Maya. However, there is so much more to see and do in the Yucatán peninsula! Think pueblos mágicos, large & less explored archaeological zones such as Uxmal, swimming or diving cenotes, and great towns with less tourists. It’s this amazing diversity that makes this place special.

Swimming in Cenotes & Beautiful Beaches

Swimming the cenotes is an experience only a few experience. There’s over 6,000 cenotes in the peninsula. If you don’t have your scuba certification, you can still swim or snorkel them. Each one is quite different. You can devote an entire trip to exploring them!

The beaches in the peninsula are some of the best world wide. The crystal clear waters make for an amazing blend of blue and turquoise that most can’t help but saturate their Instagram accounts with pictures of them 🙂. Playa del Carmen, Cancun, Tulum, and Cozumel are excellent choices that are very accessible.

The Best Archaeological Sites in the Country

In this road trip, you can of course cross-off Chichen-Itza & Tulum from your archaeological site bucket list, but don’t let your trip stop there! You must visit Uxmal, Coba, and Ek’ Balam. The peninsula is archeological zone heaven. There’s many other, smaller sites that you can just pull-over in your car and check out. The toll-road has many signs on the road highlighting them.

Check out my top archaeological sites in Mexico. Many are reached with the road trips on this article.

Amazing Scuba Diving and Snorkeling

This region is known for one of the best places in the world for whale sharks. You’re not allowed to scuba dive, but you can snorkel and literally be within an arm’s reach of these amazing creatures.

Magical Towns You’ll Fall in Love With

You’ll get your fair share of small magical towns, such as Valladolid, Tizimin, Bacalar and Izamal. Add to this the fact that you’ll get to visit the city of Merida, which with its charming city center and calm streets, make for an excellent home base to visit Uxmal and Izamal given its proximity.

Tip: Check out my bonus road trip to visit the road less traveled in Yucatan!

Iván

(Road Trip 2) Michoacán State: Pueblos Mágicos, Food, and More!

Detailed Itinerary | Photoblog of Michoacán

Michoacán state will offer you outstanding pueblos mágicos (including my favorite one in all of Mexico!). It is a bit light on archaeological sites and beaches, but trust me…its magical towns will make you forget about them during your road trip. There’s a town simply devoted to crafting guitars, and another town where you will get to shop in Catrina heaven. Morelia will take you back to the time of the colony. Oh, and do you want to taste the best carnitas tacos in all of Mexico? Michoacán is the road trip for you!

This route will take you through some of the important sites of the Mexican Independence, an island on a lake, and a church that was devoured by the lava of a nearby volcano among others!

You’ll start your trip in Guadalajara airport and drive to Cuitzeo. Its lake is an amazing sight. Make sure to visit the former Santa María Magdalena monastery complex.

Morelia is rich with history and colonial architecture. It is a larger city, so you’ll hit some traffic in the downtown area. You can enjoy the aqueduct, the market and amazing streets.

Capula is a tiny town very close to Morelia known for its crafts, specifically the art of La Catrina. As you leave Capula, you have to stop in Quiroga for the best carnitas in Mexico! After lunch, you can visit Tzintzuntzan. This is a pueblo mágico in which you can visit the Convento de Santa Ana, its mercado, the archeological zone (fairly deteriorated, but good to check off the bucket list), and its old cemetery.

Pátzcuaro: My Top Pueblo Mágico

If you aren’t impressed yet, now you will get to see Pátzcuaro (my favorite pueblo mágico in all of Mexico!) and the island of Janitzio. Patzcuaro is a charming, cobble-stoned, postcard town close to Lake Patzcuaro.  The island of Janitzio, located in Lake Patzcuaro is a must visit. You rent a boat to get to the island. At the island, you will taste the best ever pescado blanco (white fish).

Patzcuaro is my top pueblo magico in Mexico. Many others on my top 10 list are mentioned in this article!

The Church Encased in Lava!

As you drive to Uruapan, make a quick stop in Santa Clara del Cobre and admire the copper, hand-made crafts. Close to Uruapan, you can visit San Juan Paranguaricutiro, where you will find the site of a church that half-ways survived the eruption of nearby Paricutin volcano in 1943.

Charming Towns

The last stops include Paracho, which is known for its guitars. There are a few notable Mexican musicians who have gotten their guitars here. Jiquilpan is another pueblo magico with a lively square, and a library that hosted murals by famous Mexican muralist Jose Clemente Orozco.

(Road Trip 3) Chiapas State: Full of Natural Wonders

Detailed Itinerary | Photoblog of Chiapas

Our road trip through Chiapas is one of those trips that made us fall in love with driving around Mexico and exploring all its corners. The archaeological sites, food, and emblematic colonial cities made this a trip of a lifetime. San Cristobal de las Casa, El Cañón del Sumidero, and the archaeological site of Palenque were some of the places that drew us there initially. However, when we drove through the state, we quickly found out there was so much more to see!

San Cristobal is a Beautiful Town

Cited as one of the top pueblos mágicos in Mexico, San Cristobal had been on my bucket list for a very long time. I can say that San Cristobal did not disappoint. It’s streets, colorful churches, and delicious tascalate (chocolate drink made from, believe it or not, roasted corn and chocolate) make this a stop for every bucket list.

Experience Mayan Culture

Chamula and the nearby Mayan burial grounds at the Romerillo will give your trip a touch of the Mayan culture. You will get a glimpse into their religion, and see the ways they honor and celebrate the dead.

Natural and Man-Made Wonders

Chiapas hosts one of the most impressive archaeological sites in Mexico: Palenque. In addition, you get to make a stop at Tonina, which is another must-see site, with very few visitors.

The state of Chiapas is also know for its natural beauty. There are a few waterfalls, including the Cascadas de Agua Azul. In addition to this, you can find the Cañón del Sumidero, which is one of the natural beauty-landmarks in all of Mexico. Rent a boat, and pierce through this canyon.

Near el Cañón del Sumidero, you will find the town of Chiapa de Corzo. This magical town is an excellent stopping point to visit the canyon, and also relax in its main square.

(Road Trip 4) Guanajuato State: Rich in History

Detailed Itinerary | Photoblog of Guanajuato

The state of Guanajuato has a lot of culture, mining ghost towns, colonial history, sanctuaries, cobble stone towns, and beautiful sights. It is a jewel you will want to keep going back to. And you’ll want to stay.

Explore the Region’s Mining Past

Mineral de Pozos is a very small town with a peaceful main square surrounded by a few local restaurants. What attracted us most to this stop was the ruins of its historic mining center. You can enjoy them by bike, horse, or guided tours. You can go into an old mine, and explore as well.

Lose Yourself in Guanajuato

Guanajuato city, considered a UNESCO World Heritage city, can have an entire trip devoted to it. Walking through its callejones (alleys), and its colonial historic city center, you will be fall in love with this emblematic Mexican city. Make sure to visit the mummy museum. You can’t miss it if you visit Guanajuato!

San Miguel de Allende Lives Up To Its Reputation!

After spending some time in Guanajuato city, it’s time to visit San Miguel de Allende, which hardly needs any introduction. It is a beautiful colonial architecture to admire and plenty of cobble-stone streets to enjoy. It has attracted a large number of Americans to the region, but from a Mexican national’s perspective, the city still carries a lot of its Mexican charm. 

If you visit San Miguel de Allende, you have to stop and visit Atotonilco. Its sanctuary is considered a UNESCO World Heritage site, showcasing baroque murals that are dubbed as the Sistine Chapel of Mexico.

Learn About Mexico’s Independence

Visiting the town of Dolores, you will find the place where the battle of independence officially started on the early morning of September 16th in 1810. Specifically, Miguel Hidalgo called the town into arms at its main church. You can also enjoy an ice-cream in one of its many exotic flavors at the main square.

El Cerro del Cubilete is an emblematic, religious shrine at the top of a hill, which also hosts a Cristo Rey. The last stop, Yuriria, is a town with few visitors. The town hosts an ex-convent built in the 1500’s. It showcases the architecture of the time.  Yuriria also has a laguna, which is a nice site at sundown.

(Road Trip 5) Oaxaca State: A Road Trip to Remember!

Detailed Itinerary | Photoblog of Oaxaca

Oaxaca was a place that my friends from central Mexico often talked about as a place everyone just had to visit. They talked about Oaxaca’s history, rich culture, amazing archaeological sites, and fantastic food (have you watched the Street Food: Latin America Netflix series in which they feature Oaxaca?).

Top Notch Archaeological Sites

Monte Alban and Mitla are two, important archaeological sites in Mexico that every Mexico traveler needs to make sure they visit. They are less crowded places, that really let you learn and soak in the local history.

Unforgettable Stops

This road trip really marked the beginning of many other trips to the central Mexico area. A natural infinity pool at Hierve el Agua and a giant tree at Tule are some stops that you can make with your car while exploring this amazing state. After you admire this giant tree, you can cross the street to the local market and eat some tlayudas (popular street food in Oaxaca).

Delicious Food

Food in Mexico is good. Oaxaca is one of those places in Mexico in which you have to specifically highlight it, though. Make sure to eat at the mercados to truly enjoy food the way locals enjoy it.

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What do you think about my list of best Mexico road trips? Have you traveled the country? What are your memorable trips? Let me know in the comments below!

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