Ciudad Valles to Zitácuaro is about 352 road miles (567 km): roughly 7 h 55 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance | 352 mi (567 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 55 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-85 → MEX-45 → MEX-M40D → MEX-55D → MEX-A7D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 |
| Mexican states on the route | San Luis Potosí, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-M40D, MEX-55D, MEX-A7D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
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 Ciudad Valles to Zitácuaro is like
MEX-85 (185 mi) and MEX-M40D (44 mi) carry about 65% of the 352 miles. It runs through 4 states: San Luis Potosí, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-M40D, MEX-55D and MEX-A7D. Of the 6 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Ciudad Valles to Zitácuaro, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-85 | 2–187 | 185 | San Luis Potosí, Hidalgo |
| MEX-45 | 187–192 | 5 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 192–228 | 36 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-M40D | 228–272 | 44 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 272–275 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 275–305 | 30 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 305–306 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-A7D | 306–340 | 34 | State of Mexico, Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 340–347 | 7 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 347–350 | 3 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 350–352 | 2 | Michoacán |
- Mile 81 of this route: San Luis Potosí → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 240 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 337 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
Stops between Ciudad Valles and Zitácuaro
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Tula (mile 226), Jorge R. Acosta Museum (mile 226), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 273), Bosencheve National Park (mile 334)
- Nature and outdoors: Los Mármoles National Park (mile 132), Bosencheve National Park (mile 334), Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (mile 345)
- Museums and history: Tula (mile 226), Jorge R. Acosta Museum (mile 226), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 273)
Los Mármoles National Park
Los Mármoles National Park protects a natural area of the western Sierra Madre Oriental in northern Hidalgo, in northeastern Mexico.
Tula
Once the Toltec capital, the Tula archaeological zone is best known for its Atlantes, basalt warrior figures over four meters (13 feet) tall crowning the main pyramid. Visitors also see a ball court, the Burnt Palace and the Coatepantli wall, carved with snakes devouring skeletons.
Jorge R. Acosta Museum
Next to the Tula ruins, the Museo de Sitio Jorge R. Acosta traces the rise and decline of the Toltecs and their city, Tollan Xicocotitlan. It moved into new facilities in 1982 and covers nearly 20 years of digs led by archaeologist Jorge R. Acosta.
Cathedral of Atlacomulco
Atlacomulco's cathedral, the Catedral de la Divina Providencia, is the seat of the Diocese of Atlacomulco and is dedicated to Divine Providence, making it the town's principal Catholic church.
Bosencheve National Park
Straddling Michoacán and the State of Mexico, Bosencheve National Park was established in 1940 and protects roughly 146 square kilometers of land.
Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve
Every fall, millions of monarch butterflies from across North America return to the oyamel fir forests about 100 km northwest of Mexico City, clustering so densely they bend branches. The reserve became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008.
More drives to Zitácuaro
- San Juan del Río to Zitácuaro
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Zitácuaro
- Zacatecas to Zitácuaro
- Fresnillo to Zitácuaro
- Durango to Zitácuaro
- Mazatlán to Zitácuaro
From Ciudad Valles to other places in Mexico
- Ciudad Valles to Tecolutla
- Ciudad Valles to Pedro Escobedo
- Ciudad Valles to Otumba
- Ciudad Valles to Cuetzalan
- Ciudad Valles to Tlaxcala
- Ciudad Valles to Chiautempan
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Ciudad Valles to Zitácuaro?
About 7 h 55 min of driving without stops, over 352 miles.
How far is Zitácuaro from Ciudad Valles by car?
About 352 miles (567 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 Valles to Zitácuaro?
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 Valles to Zitácuaro?
The U.S. State Department rates San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico 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 Ciudad Valles to Zitácuaro use?
In order: MEX-85, MEX-45, MEX-M40D, MEX-55D, MEX-A7D, MEX-15D and MEX-15. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Ciudad Valles and Zitácuaro?
Closest to the road: Tula (archaeological site, mile 226, 0.2 mi from the route); Jorge R. Acosta Museum (museum, mile 226, 0.3 mi from the route); Cathedral of Atlacomulco (cathedral, mile 273, 0.4 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.