The Wayro route from El Rosario, Sinaloa to Zirahuén is 418 miles (672 km), about 7 h 23 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 418 mi (672 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 23 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-37 |
| Mexican states on the route | Sinaloa (Level 4), Nayarit (Level 2), Jalisco (Level 3), Michoacán (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.7 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.
What the drive from El Rosario, Sinaloa to Zirahuén is like
MEX-15D (337 mi) and MEX-37 (42 mi) carry about 91% of the 418 miles. MEX-15D is a toll highway (cuota); MEX-15, MEX-37 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: Sinaloa, Nayarit, Jalisco, Michoacán. Of the 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from El Rosario, Sinaloa to Zirahuén, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Sinaloa |
| MEX-15D | 2–239 | 237 | Sinaloa, Nayarit, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 239–250 | 11 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 250–350 | 100 | Jalisco, Michoacán |
| MEX-37 | 350–392 | 42 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 392–418 | 26 | Michoacán |
- Mile 47 of this route: Sinaloa → Nayarit (state line)
- Mile 191 of this route: Nayarit → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 318 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
Stops between El Rosario, Sinaloa and Zirahuén
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ixtlán del Rio (mile 180)
- Nature and outdoors: Agua Grande Lagoon (mile 22), Lago de Camécuaro National Park (mile 361)
- Museums and history: Casa Museo Juan Escutia (mile 128), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 180), Guachimontones (mile 225), Museo de las Artes Populares de Jalisco (mile 254), Guadalajara Cathedral (mile 255), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 258)
Agua Grande Lagoon
Agua Grande is a large coastal lagoon in the Mexican state of Sinaloa that drains into the Pacific Ocean through the Teacapán Estuary.
Casa Museo Juan Escutia
In central Tepic, Casa Museo Juan Escutia honors Juan Escutia, one of the fighters who died defending Chapultepec Castle during the U.S. invasion of Mexico.
Ixtlán del Rio
Known locally as Los Toriles, the Ixtlán del Río site is famous for a temple with a fully circular floor plan, rare in Mesoamerica. People lived here from about 300 BC to AD 600, and an introductory gallery explains the finds.
Guachimontones
Near the town of Teuchitlán, Guachimontones is known for its circular structures. INAH describes it as the first large population center in western Mexico, emerging around 1000 BC, with two ball courts and about 40 circular buildings across 20 hectares.
Museo de las Artes Populares de Jalisco
Opened on May 31, 2000, in Guadalajara's historic center, this museum researches, safeguards and promotes the crafts and folk art of Jalisco.
Guadalajara Cathedral
In the Centro of Guadalajara, the Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady is the seat of the Archdiocese of Guadalajara and a minor basilica.
Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque
On Independencia Street in central Tlaquepaque, Jalisco, the Museo Regional de la Cerámica is one of the city's two main ceramics museums, alongside the Pantaleón Panduro Museum.
Lago de Camécuaro National Park
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.
When you get to Zirahuén
Lake Zirahuén
Small and deep, Lake Zirahuén is a mountain lake in the Santa Clara del Cobre municipality of Michoacán, with a sandy bottom partly covered in mud and no outlet to the sea.
More drives to Zirahuén
- Amatitán to Zirahuén
- Tequila to Zirahuén
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Zirahuén
- Pabellón de Hidalgo to Zirahuén
- San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes to Zirahuén
- Calvillo to Zirahuén
From El Rosario, Sinaloa to other places in Mexico
- El Rosario, Sinaloa to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- El Rosario, Sinaloa to Real de Asientos
- El Rosario, Sinaloa to Pinos
- El Rosario, Sinaloa to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- El Rosario, Sinaloa to Temacapulín
- El Rosario, Sinaloa to Amatitán
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from El Rosario, Sinaloa to Zirahuén?
About 7 h 23 min of driving without stops, over 418 miles.
How far is Zirahuén from El Rosario, Sinaloa by car?
About 418 miles (672 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 El Rosario, Sinaloa to Zirahuén?
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 El Rosario, Sinaloa to Zirahuén?
The U.S. State Department rates Sinaloa Level 4: Do Not Travel; Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from El Rosario, Sinaloa to Zirahuén use?
In order: MEX-15D, MEX-15 and MEX-37. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between El Rosario, Sinaloa and Zirahuén?
Closest to the road: Casa Museo Juan Escutia (museum, mile 128, 1 mi from the route); Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 180, 0.5 mi from the route); Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (museum, mile 258, 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.