Can you Drive to Honduras?

You can drive to Honduras from any of the 3 countries with which it shares a land border. Multiple crossing points exist between Honduras and neighboring Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. These border crossings are open to local and international travelers, both with and without vehicles. It’s also possible to drive to Honduras as part of an overland pan-American trip or as a standalone road trip from the U.S.  

Where is Honduras?

Honduras is located in the middle of Central America. It shares land borders with Guatemala to the west, El Salvador to the southwest, and Nicaragua to the south. It also shares a maritime border with Belize to the north. The country has a long northern and eastern coastline along the Caribbean Sea. 

How to get to Honduras

There are a number of different ways to travel to Honduras depending on your direction of travel and you’re originating country. 

Road – There are many land border crossings between Honduras and the 3 neighboring countries. El Salvador to the south shares the smallest border and has 2 major crossings, El Poy in the north and El Amatillo in the east.

Honduras’ second longest border is with Guatemala to the west, and there are 3 major border crossings here. The most popular of these for visitors is at Caserio El Florido, which is very close to the spectacular Mayan ruins of Copán.

Honduras’ most significant border by a considerable margin is with Nicaragua, although much of it is covered in impenetrable jungle. Therefore, all 4 major crossings between the 2 countries are situated on the west side of the country. The most popular is at Las Manos, located on the Pan-American Highway.

Boat – The only way to travel to Honduras by boat is to or from Belize. Although the countries do not share a land border, they share a maritime one. The ferry sails between Placencia in Belize and Puerto Cortes in Honduras. It departs Belize once weekly on a Friday, returning the following Monday. The journey takes around 4 hours, including several stops on the Belize side of the border.  

Air – Honduras has 4 international airports at Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, Roatán, and La Ceiba. The largest and best connected of these is in the capital, Tegucigalpa. As well as offering domestic flights, the airport also offers international flights to other Central American destinations and direct flights to North and South America. 

Road through mountains in Honduras
You'll encounter a wide range of roads in Honduras' with many being of excellent quality.

Can you Drive in Honduras?

Driving in Honduras isn’t too dissimilar to other Central American countries. The key rules are that vehicles drive on the right, seatbelts must be worn at all times, and you shouldn’t consume alcohol and drive. Beyond these basic rules, there’s some other criteria that apply to anyone driving in Honduras:

  • You must be over 18 years old
  • You must have a valid driving license from your home country
  • You must have a valid international driving license (IDP) unless you are a resident or citizen of Honduras
  • You must have valid insurance and carry a certificate of insurance

 

If you’re planning to drive into the country with your vehicle, in addition to the above, you’ll also need to bring your vehicle registration document or proof of title/ownership. With all these documents, you can enter the country and drive throughout the country with no restrictions.

Copan Mayan ruins in Honduras
The ancient ruins at Copán are one of the most important Mayan archaeological sights.

Driving to Honduras from the U.S.

It’s perfectly possible to drive to Honduras from the U.S. You’ll need a decent vehicle, the correct paperwork, and a reasonable amount of stamina to make the journey. Honduras’ capital city of Tegucigalpa is over 3000 miles and 60 hours of solid driving away from San Diego. Even the closest U.S. city of San Antonio is still almost 1800 miles away and 40 hours of driving.

If you plan to drive, you’ll need to allow for at least 7 days but ideally 14 days or more to make the most of the many sights along the way. The most direct route crosses the U.S. / Mexico border at Hidalgo and then heads due south along Mexico’s eastern coast. It follows the coast to the east before you head into Guatemala via the Mexican state of Tabasco. Once in Guatemala, you’ll continue southeast, crossing the Guatemala and Honduras border close to Corinto. From here, it’s another 230 miles onto Tegucigalpa via San Pedro Sula. 

Aerial view of a white sand beach in Roatan in the Bay Islands
Honduras' beautiful Bay Islands are one of the countries top attractions.

Best Time to Visit Honduras

Honduras is a tropical country that enjoys a warm year-round climate with plenty of sunshine. The year is broadly split into a wet and a dry season. The wet season runs from May through November, while the dry season runs from December through April. The dry season is the best time to visit, with temperatures typically varying between a low of 78°F and a high of 90°F. Days are warm and largely dry, making it a great time to explore the jungle or relax on the beach. Inevitably, this period is peak season, so expect prices to be higher and less accommodation available. If you visit in the wet season, you’ll find significantly fewer crowds, better prices, and availability. While rainfall is close to a daily occurrence, showers tend to be short and heavy, meaning there’s still plenty of time to get out and about. 

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