The Wayro route from Apatzingán to Tequisquiapan is 268 miles (431 km), about 4 h 41 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 268 mi (431 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 41 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-120 → MEX-37D → MEX-14D → MEX-15D → MEX-43D → MEX-45D → MEX-57D → QRO 4 → QRO 200 |
| Mexican states on the route | Michoacán (Level 4), Guanajuato (Level 3), Querétaro (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-37D, MEX-14D, MEX-15D, MEX-43D, MEX-45D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
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 insurance | Required 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 Tequisquiapan is like
MEX-37D (74 mi) and MEX-43D (51 mi) carry about 47% of the 268 miles. MEX-37D, MEX-14D, MEX-15D, MEX-43D, MEX-45D, MEX-57D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-120 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 3 states: Michoacán, Guanajuato, Querétaro. None of the 9 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Apatzingán to Tequisquiapan, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-120 | 1–21 | 20 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 21–57 | 36 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 57–58 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-14D | 58–86 | 28 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 86–124 | 38 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 124–128 | 4 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 128–129 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-43D | 129–180 | 51 | Michoacán, Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 180–181 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 181–231 | 50 | Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 231–242 | 11 | Querétaro |
| QRO 4 | 242–247 | 5 | Querétaro |
| QRO 200 | 247–267 | 20 | Querétaro |
| local roads | 267–268 | 1 | Querétaro |
- Mile 144 of this route: Michoacán → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 223 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
Stops between Apatzingán and Tequisquiapan
- Nature and outdoors: Barranca del Cupatitzio National Park (mile 57), El Cimatario National Park (mile 234)
- Museums and history: Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro (mile 82), Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares (mile 82), Celaya Cathedral (mile 202), El Cerrito (mile 226), Teatro de la República (mile 230), Queretaro Art Museum (mile 230)
Barranca del Cupatitzio National Park
In Michoacán, Barranca del Cupatitzio National Park follows the headwaters of the Cupatitzio River, which bubbles up from an underground spring and carves a small ravine as it starts to flow.
Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro
Pátzcuaro's basilica (Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Salud) rises on pre-Hispanic platforms beside its own plaza. Bishop Vasco de Quiroga planned it as a five-nave cathedral, only one nave was finished, and his remains rest inside.
Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares
Housed in an 18th-century building adapted from the Colegio de San Nicolás, which Vasco de Quiroga founded in the 16th century, this INAH museum in Pátzcuaro shows Purépecha pottery, textiles, woodwork and lacquerware.
Historic Centre of Morelia
Morelia's old core, founded in the 16th century as Valladolid, keeps more than 200 historic buildings in the region's pink stone around its cathedral and checkerboard streets. UNESCO added it to the World Heritage List in 1991.
Celaya Cathedral
Celaya's main Catholic church, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, occupies the space of a former chapel that was annexed to the neighboring Temple of St. Francis.
El Cerrito
Just outside Querétaro city in Corregidora, El Cerrito is an INAH archaeological zone centered on a pyramid close to 100 feet high, later topped by a 19th-century fort, with a small site museum on the grounds.
Teatro de la República
Originally named Teatro Iturbide, the Teatro de la República stands in Querétaro's historic center. The neoclassical building has a three-level hall with about 500 seats.
Queretaro Art Museum
Set in the cloister of the former San Agustín convent, the Museo de Arte de Querétaro opened in 1988 and shows paintings and sculpture across fifteen galleries.
El Cimatario National Park
El Cimatario National Park protects about 24 square kilometers of land just south of the city of Santiago de Querétaro.
When you get to Tequisquiapan
Galería Libertad
Run by Querétaro's state culture department, Galería Libertad is a public gallery in the historic center of Santiago de Querétaro devoted to exhibiting, promoting and teaching the visual arts.
More drives to Tequisquiapan
- Salvatierra to Tequisquiapan
- Salamanca to Tequisquiapan
- Irapuato to Tequisquiapan
- Moroleón to Tequisquiapan
- Guanajuato to Tequisquiapan
- Pénjamo to Tequisquiapan
From Apatzingán to other places in Mexico
- Apatzingán to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Apatzingán to Cuitzeo
- Apatzingán to Amatitán
- Apatzingán to Tequila
- Apatzingán to Cadereyta
- Apatzingán to Mineral de Pozos
Continue Your Adventure
- Tequisquiapan to Huasca de Ocampo Road Trip: Route & Stops
- Tequisquiapan to Cuanajo Road Trip: Where to Stop on the Way
- Tequisquiapan to Metztitlán Road Trip: Route, Stops & Safety
- Tequisquiapan to Malinalco Road Trip: Route, Tolls & Stops
- Tequisquiapan to Tlaltizapán Road Trip: Distance, Time & Stops
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Apatzingán to Tequisquiapan?
About 4 h 41 min of driving without stops, over 268 miles.
How far is Tequisquiapan from Apatzingán by car?
About 268 miles (431 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 Tequisquiapan?
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 Tequisquiapan?
The U.S. State Department rates Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Apatzingán to Tequisquiapan use?
In order: MEX-120, MEX-37D, MEX-14D, MEX-15D, MEX-43D, MEX-45D, MEX-57D, QRO 4 and QRO 200. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Apatzingán and Tequisquiapan?
Closest to the road: Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares (museum, mile 82, 1 mi from the route); Queretaro Art Museum (art museum, mile 230, 1 mi from the route); Teatro de la República (opera house, mile 230, 1 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.