Plan on about 5 h 54 min of driving for the 352-mile (566 km) trip from Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas to Cadereyta, before any stops.
| Distance | 352 mi (566 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 54 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-37D → MEX-14D → MEX-15D → MEX-43D → MEX-45D → MEX-57D → QRO 4 → QRO 5 |
| Mexican states on the route | Michoacán, Guerrero, Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-37D, MEX-14D, MEX-15D, MEX-43D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
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.
How the Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas to Cadereyta drive plays out
MEX-37D (171 mi) and MEX-43D (51 mi) carry about 63% of the 352 miles. It runs through 4 states: Michoacán, Guerrero, Guanajuato, Querétaro. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-37D, MEX-14D and MEX-15D. None of the 8 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas to Cadereyta: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 2–135 | 133 | Michoacán, Guerrero |
| MEX-14D | 135–163 | 28 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 163–201 | 38 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 201–202 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 202–206 | 4 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 206–207 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-43D | 207–258 | 51 | Michoacán, Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 258–309 | 51 | Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 309–319 | 10 | Querétaro |
| QRO 4 | 319–339 | 20 | Querétaro |
| QRO 5 | 339–343 | 4 | Querétaro |
| local roads | 343–352 | 9 | Querétaro |
- Mile 4 of this route: Michoacán → Guerrero (state line)
- Mile 38 of this route: Guerrero → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 221 of this route: Michoacán → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 300 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas and Cadereyta
- Nature and outdoors: Barranca del Cupatitzio National Park (mile 134), El Cimatario National Park (mile 311)
- Museums and history: Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro (mile 160), Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares (mile 160), Historic Centre of Morelia (mile 190), El Cerrito (mile 304)
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.
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.
Templo de Santa Clara de Asís
Founded in the 17th century, the church and convent of Santa Clara de Asís stands in Querétaro's historic center and was a major convent for women in New Spain.
Aqueduct of Querétaro
Finished in 1738, Querétaro's aqueduct carries 74 stone arches up to 23 meters high across a valley for about 1,280 meters. It once brought spring water to the city by gravity and still stands as a symbol of colonial Mexico.
El Cimatario National Park
El Cimatario National Park protects about 24 square kilometers of land just south of the city of Santiago de Querétaro.
More drives to Cadereyta
- Celaya to Cadereyta
- Guanajuato to Cadereyta
- Pénjamo to Cadereyta
- San Juan de los Lagos to Cadereyta
- Santa Clara del Cobre to Cadereyta
- Uruapan to Cadereyta
From Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas to other places in Mexico
- Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas to Pénjamo
- Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas to Tepatitlán
- Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas to Tapalpa
- Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas to Amatitán
- Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas to Mineral de Pozos
- Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas to Malinalco
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas to Cadereyta?
About 5 h 54 min of driving without stops, over 352 miles.
How far is Cadereyta from Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas by car?
About 352 miles (566 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 Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas to Cadereyta?
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 Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas to Cadereyta?
The U.S. State Department rates Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; Guerrero 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 Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas to Cadereyta use?
In order: MEX-37D, MEX-14D, MEX-15D, MEX-43D, MEX-45D, MEX-57D, QRO 4 and QRO 5. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas and Cadereyta?
Closest to the road: Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares (museum, mile 160, 1 mi from the route); Templo de Santa Clara de Asís (convent, mile 308, 1 mi from the route); Aqueduct of Querétaro (aqueduct, mile 309, 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 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: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place 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.