The Wayro route from Atlatlahucan to Ihuatzio is 281 miles (452 km), about 4 h 59 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 281 mi (452 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 59 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-115 → MEX-115D → MEX-57D → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → MEX-37D |
| Mexican states on the route | Morelos (Level 3), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), Michoacán (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-115D, MEX-57D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.2 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 Atlatlahucan to Ihuatzio is like
MEX-15D (90 mi) and MEX-37D (38 mi) carry about 46% of the 281 miles. MEX-115D, MEX-57D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-115 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 4 states: Morelos, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Michoacán. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Atlatlahucan to Ihuatzio, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Morelos |
| MEX-115 | 1–4 | 3 | Morelos |
| MEX-115D | 4–19 | 15 | Morelos, State of Mexico |
| MEX-115 | 19–34 | 15 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 34–35 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 35–89 | 54 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-57D | 89–111 | 22 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| MEX-M40D | 111–144 | 33 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 144–145 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 145–235 | 90 | State of Mexico, Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 235–273 | 38 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 273–277 | 4 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 277–281 | 4 | Michoacán |
- Mile 12 of this route: Morelos → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 93 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 114 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 163 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
Stops between Atlatlahucan and Ihuatzio
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Sacromonte National Park (mile 20), Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral, Ecatepec (mile 68)
- Nature and outdoors: Sacromonte National Park (mile 20), Cerro de la Estrella National Park (mile 55), Tula National Park (mile 107), Rayón National Park (mile 166)
- Museums and history: Luis Barragán House and Studio (mile 58), Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral, Ecatepec (mile 68), Teotihuacan (mile 68)
Sacromonte National Park
Sacromonte National Park is a national park and protected area in the State of Mexico, established in 1952 and covering roughly 0.44 square kilometers.
Cerro de la Estrella National Park
Rising in eastern Mexico City's Iztapalapa borough, Cerro de la Estrella is where the Mexica lit the New Fire every 52 years; trails lead up to a pyramid-shaped site museum near the summit and to caves with traces of pre-Hispanic use.
Historic center of Mexico City
Built by the Spanish in the 16th century on the ruins of Tenochtitlan, Mexico City's Centro Histórico holds the Metropolitan Cathedral, the excavated Aztec Templo Mayor and the Palacio de Bellas Artes. UNESCO added it to the World Heritage List in 1987.
Luis Barragán House and Studio
Luis Barragán built his own house and studio in Mexico City in 1948, blending modern design with Mexican vernacular touches. The concrete house and its private garden joined UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2004.
Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral, Ecatepec
The Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral, also called Ecatepec Cathedral, is the main Catholic church and seat of the Diocese of Ecatepec in Mexico, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Teotihuacan
Built between the 1st and 7th centuries AD, this UNESCO-listed ancient city lines the Avenue of the Dead, where you can walk between the Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon and the Temple of the Feathered Serpent.
Tula National Park
This park protects the ruins of Tula, ancient capital of the Toltecs. Walk up to the main pyramid to stand beside the Atlantes, basalt warrior figures more than four meters tall, and look for the Coatepantli wall's reliefs of snakes devouring skeletons.
Rayón National Park
Just outside Tlalpujahua, Rayón National Park (Parque Nacional Rayón) marks the start of the area's famous butterfly reserve country, which stretches south and west from here.
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.
When you get to Ihuatzio
Lake Pátzcuaro
Boats leave the shore of Lake Pátzcuaro for its islands, including Janitzio, topped by a statue of José María Morelos. Purépecha fishers here are known for butterfly-shaped nets, and whitefish is the local specialty.
Tzintzuntzan
Once the political and economic capital of the Purépecha empire, governed by a hereditary line of uacúsecha, or 'eagle lords,' Tzintzuntzan preserves its yácatas, temple bases that combine rectangular and semicircular platforms around ritual plazas.
Ihuatzio
On the shore of Lake Pátzcuaro, Ihuatzio was one of three main Purépecha power centers. Visitors can see raised walkways and two semicircular pyramids called yácatas; excavations here also turned up Chac Mool and coyote sculptures carved from volcanic rock.
More drives to Ihuatzio
- Amatitán to Ihuatzio
- Tequila to Ihuatzio
- Pabellón de Hidalgo to Ihuatzio
- Calvillo to Ihuatzio
- Real de Asientos to Ihuatzio
- Zacatecas to Ihuatzio
From Atlatlahucan to other places in Mexico
- Atlatlahucan to Malinalco
- Atlatlahucan to Tonatico
- Atlatlahucan to El Oro
- Atlatlahucan to Amealco
- Atlatlahucan to Bernal
- Atlatlahucan to Mineral de Pozos
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Atlatlahucan to Ihuatzio?
About 4 h 59 min of driving without stops, over 281 miles.
How far is Ihuatzio from Atlatlahucan by car?
About 281 miles (452 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 Atlatlahucan to Ihuatzio?
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 Atlatlahucan to Ihuatzio?
The U.S. State Department rates Morelos Level 3: Reconsider Travel; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Atlatlahucan to Ihuatzio use?
In order: MEX-115, MEX-115D, MEX-57D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D and MEX-37D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Atlatlahucan and Ihuatzio?
Closest to the road: Sacromonte National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 20, 0.3 mi from the route); Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral, Ecatepec (cathedral, mile 68, 0.7 mi from the route); Rayón National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 166, 5 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.