It’s possible to drive to El Salvador from the U.S. as well as the neighboring countries of Guatemala and Honduras. El Salvador’s location to the south of Guatemala means it’s a considerable distance from the U.S. border. However, with some ambition, good planning, and a well-maintained vehicle, it’s certainly possible to drive to El Salvador.
El Salvador can be reached by road using the Pan-American Highway, a vast network of roads running the length of North and South America. The highway passes through Mexico and Guatemala before reaching El Salvador. This makes the country relatively accessible and easy to reach, although you’ll need to cover many miles to get there.
El Salvador is a small country in Central America that borders Guatemala and Honduras. It has a long coastline along the Pacific Ocean and shares a maritime border with Nicaragua to the southeast. El Salvador covers an area of just 21,041 square kilometers, making it the smallest country in Central America.
The quickest and best way to get to El Salvador from the U.S. is by crossing the border into Mexico at Reynosa. Once in Mexico, you proceed on a constant southbound route following the curve of the eastern coast along the Gulf of Mexico. Once you reach the city of Coatzacoalcos, you turn inland and travel through the state of Chapas and towards the border with Guatemala.
You cross into Guatemala using the border crossing between Ciudad Hidalgo in Mexico and Ciudad Tecun Uman in Guatemala. From here, you then continue along Guatemala Highway CA2, which runs from the border with Mexico to the border with El Salvador. Cross into El Salvador at this point via the Hachadura Border Crossing. It’s a further 75 miles from the border onto San Salvador, a journey that should take around 2 hours.
It’s a considerable drive to any of the countries of Central America, and El Salvador is no different. If you’re traveling from San Antonio in the far south of the U.S., it’s a considerable 1644 miles to San Salvador in El Salvador. However, if you’re traveling from either the west or east coast, the length of the journey increases dramatically, and you’ll need to drive well more than 2500 miles to get there.
Starting Destination | Distance to San Salvador, El Salvador | Driving Time |
San Antonio | 1644 miles | 35 hours |
Tucson | 2516 miles | 46 hours |
San Diego | 2919 miles | 52 hours |
Los Angeles | 2997 miles | 53 hours |
Chicago | 2823 miles | 52 hours |
New York | 3367 miles | 59 hours |
The journey from the U.S. to El Salvador is one that features some spectacular scenery and excellent places to stop along the way. The following are some of the very best things to see and places to stop on the journey south:
Quiahuiztlan, Mexico – This fine archaeological site is situated in a spectacular location overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. The site features a Totonac town with two pyramids and many tombs. Its location away from major tourist centers means it’s rarely visited so you can enjoy the site without any crowds.
Heroica Veracruz, Mexico – This vibrant colonial port city is renowned for both its historic buildings and its vibrant nightlife. It’s a great place to stay overnight and let off some steam after a long day on the road.
Volcán San Pedro, Guatemala – Located on the shores of Lago de Atitlán in southern Guatemala, this is a spectacular volcano to visit. It’s possible to hike to the volcano’s summit, although it’s a pretty strenuous climb. However, the views from the top are sensational. A more sedate way of seeing the volcano and the surrounding areas is a sightseeing cruise around Lake Atitlán.
Santa Ana Volcano, El Salvador – This is another spectacular volcano that you can hike and features a beautiful, brightly colored volcanic crater lake. Taking around 4 hours in total to climb, it’s well worth the effort. It’s also the highest peak in El Salvador and one of the country’s top attractions.
Lake Coatepeque, El Salvador – This stunning lake is just a short distance outside San Salvador, and it’s a great place to unwind at the end of your road trip. The lake’s turquoise waters are perfect for swimming, and there are plenty of rustic, charming places to stay.
Like the other nations of Central America, El Salvador enjoys a tropical climate. This means its year is split between dry and wet seasons. The wet season runs from May through November, while the dry season runs from December through April. It’s during the dry season that El Salvador is best visited. Days are typically warm, dry, and clear, perfect for hiking in the cooler mountains or relaxing on the beach.
The dry season is also the peak season for tourism in El Salvador. This can mean that flights and accommodation are more expensive with less availability. However, as El Salvador is somewhat off the beaten track, it never gets too busy. If you book accommodation well in advance, you shouldn’t have too many problems.
If your visit to El Salvador is part of a longer overland trip to other parts of Central America or South America, we have other guides that can help. You can check out our guides for Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. We also have a guide on driving to South America and crossing the notorious Darién Gap.
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