Car hire and driving in San Salvador
Driving distances to the cities around, the rules that change at the border, and where to compare rental prices.
In El Salvador traffic drives on the right. Picking up at SAL means 31 km (19 mi) into the centre before the trip starts. The emergency number is http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q25648879 / http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q533806.
Drives from San Salvador
| Route | Country | Distance | Estimated time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Salvador to Santa Ana | El Salvador | 52 km (32 mi) | about 48 min |
| San Salvador to Jutiapa | Guatemala | 101 km (62 mi) | about 1 h 32 min |
| San Salvador to San Miguel | El Salvador | 111 km (69 mi) | about 1 h 42 min |
| San Salvador to Chiquimula | Guatemala | 130 km (80 mi) | about 1 h 59 min |
| San Salvador to Jalapa | Guatemala | 136 km (85 mi) | about 2 h 5 min |
| San Salvador to Villa Canales | Guatemala | 170 km (106 mi) | about 2 h 36 min |
| San Salvador to Petapa | Guatemala | 174 km (108 mi) | about 2 h 39 min |
| San Salvador to Villa Nueva | Guatemala | 177 km (110 mi) | about 2 h 42 min |
| San Salvador to Siguatepeque | Honduras | 178 km (110 mi) | about 2 h 43 min |
| San Salvador to Guatemala City | Guatemala | 178 km (111 mi) | about 2 h 43 min |
| San Salvador to Chinautla | Guatemala | 181 km (112 mi) | about 2 h 46 min |
| San Salvador to Mixco | Guatemala | 185 km (115 mi) | about 2 h 50 min |
| San Salvador to Mexico City | Mexico | 1,236 km (768 mi) | about 18 h 51 min |
| San Salvador to Iztapalapa | Mexico | 1,226 km (762 mi) | about 18 h 42 min |
| San Salvador to Puebla | Mexico | 1,131 km (703 mi) | about 17 h 15 min |
| San Salvador to Ecatepec de Morelos | Mexico | 1,240 km (771 mi) | about 18 h 55 min |
| San Salvador to Santiago de Querétaro | Mexico | 1,415 km (879 mi) | about 21 h 35 min |
| San Salvador to León de los Aldama | Mexico | 1,561 km (970 mi) | about 23 h 48 min |
| San Salvador to Zapopan | Mexico | 1,698 km (1,055 mi) | about 25 h 53 min |
| San Salvador to Guadalajara | Mexico | 1,692 km (1,051 mi) | about 25 h 48 min |
Distances are straight-line; road and rail routes run about 15–25% longer. Times are estimates from distance and typical speeds, not timetables.
Where to compare car hire
We take no bookings for these providers and hold no reservation with them. The provider you choose handles payment, confirmation, changes and refunds. How that works.
Common questions
Which side of the road do they drive on in San Salvador?
The right, as everywhere in El Salvador.
How are the journey times on this page worked out?
From straight-line distance and typical speeds for each mode, so they are estimates for planning, not timetables. Road and rail routes run 15–25% longer than the straight line.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.