Apatzingán to Amatitán Road Trip: Distance, Time & Stops

By admin, 3 October, 2026

The Wayro route from Apatzingán to Amatitán is 226 miles (363 km), about 4 h 46 min of driving without stops.

U.S. State Department travel advisory: Michoacán — Level 4, Do Not Travel; Jalisco — Level 3, Reconsider TravelAdvisory issued May 29, 2026; checked September 29, 2026. Jalisco is the Mexican state that contains Amatitán. This route passes through a state at the advisory's highest level. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive.
Lago de Camécuaro National ParkZamora de Hidalgo CathedralParque Walt DisneyAgua AzulStatue of Minerva, GuadalajaraParque Metropolitano de GuadalajaraApatzingánAmatitán
Route from Apatzingán to Amatitán with the 6 stops listed below (blue dots).
Distance226 mi (363 km)
Driving time, no stops4 h 46 min
Main roads, in orderMEX-120 → MICH 16 → MEX-15D → MEX-15
Mexican states on the routeMichoacán (Level 4), Jalisco (Level 3)
Toll roadsMEX-15D
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 9.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below6

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 insuranceRequired 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.

What the drive from Apatzingán to Amatitán is like

MEX-15D (91 mi) and MICH 16 (74 mi) carry about 73% of the 226 miles. MEX-15D is a toll highway (cuota); MEX-120, MEX-15 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 2 states: Michoacán, Jalisco. Of the 6 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.

The route from Apatzingán to Amatitán, road by road

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miState
local roads0–11Michoacán
MEX-1201–2120Michoacán
MICH 1621–9574Michoacán
connecting roads95–983Michoacán
local roads98–11214Michoacán
MEX-15D112–20391Michoacán, Jalisco
MEX-15203–22623Jalisco
  • Mile 132 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)

Stops between Apatzingán and Amatitán

  • Right off the route (under 1 mile): Zamora de Hidalgo Cathedral (mile 98), Statue of Minerva, Guadalajara (mile 198), Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 201)
  • Nature and outdoors: Lago de Camécuaro National Park (mile 94), Parque Walt Disney (mile 194), Agua Azul (mile 195), Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 201)
  • Museums and history: Zamora de Hidalgo Cathedral (mile 98)

Lago de Camécuaro National Park

Mile 94 · National Park of Mexico · 7 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Fed by countless springs, clear Lake Camécuaro near Tangancícuaro, about 13 km from Zamora, is ringed by old ahuehuete (sabino) trees. The national park is a popular spot for swimming, rowboats and picnics in their shade.

Zamora de Hidalgo Cathedral

Mile 98 · Catholic cathedral · 0.2 mi from the route

Zamora's Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is a 19th-century Catholic church in the Michoacán city of Zamora de Hidalgo, attributed to the Celaya architect Eduardo Tresguerras.

Parque Walt Disney

Mile 194 · Park · 1 mi from the route

Despite sharing a name with Walt Disney, this recreational space in Guadalajara's Colonia Olímpica has no direct theme tied to Disney's amusement parks.

Agua Azul

Mile 195 · Park · 1 mi from the route

Parque Agua Azul is an urban park on Calzada Independencia in Guadalajara's historic center, a green stop close to downtown.

Statue of Minerva, Guadalajara

Mile 198 · Statue · 0.8 mi from the route

At a roundabout fountain in Guadalajara, a bronze statue of Minerva, Roman goddess of wisdom, stands on a large pedestal inscribed with the names of 18 notable citizens.

Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara

Mile 201 · Park · 0.9 mi from the route

Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara is a public park in Zapopan, Jalisco, that hosts many events, including concerts, outdoor movie screenings and food festivals.

More drives to Amatitán

From Apatzingán to other places in Mexico

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from Apatzingán to Amatitán?

About 4 h 46 min of driving without stops, over 226 miles.

How far is Amatitán from Apatzingán by car?

About 226 miles (363 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 Apatzingán to Amatitán?

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 Apatzingán to Amatitán?

The U.S. State Department rates Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.

What roads does the drive from Apatzingán to Amatitán use?

In order: MEX-120, MICH 16, MEX-15D and MEX-15. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.

What are good stops between Apatzingán and Amatitán?

Closest to the road: Zamora de Hidalgo Cathedral (catholic cathedral, mile 98, 0.2 mi from the route); Statue of Minerva, Guadalajara (statue, mile 198, 0.8 mi from the route); Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (park, mile 201, 0.9 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 mile 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 (roughly 2 to 7 miles depending on the type, farther for World Heritage sites): at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, with no more than five of one type, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place and city 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.