The Wayro route from El Salto, Durango to Zirahuén is 523 miles (841 km), about 9 h 4 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 523 mi (841 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 4 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-40 → MEX-40D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-37 |
| Mexican states on the route | Durango (Level 3), Sinaloa (Level 4), Nayarit (Level 2), Jalisco (Level 3), Michoacán (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-40D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.9 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 Salto, Durango to Zirahuén is like
MEX-15D (359 mi) and MEX-40D (77 mi) carry about 83% of the 523 miles. MEX-40D, MEX-15D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-40, MEX-15, MEX-37 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 5 states: Durango, Sinaloa, Nayarit, Jalisco, Michoacán. None of the 8 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from El Salto, Durango to Zirahuén, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Durango |
| MEX-40 | 1–6 | 5 | Durango |
| MEX-40D | 6–83 | 77 | Durango, Sinaloa |
| MEX-15D | 83–343 | 260 | Sinaloa, Nayarit, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 343–355 | 12 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 355–454 | 99 | Jalisco, Michoacán |
| MEX-37 | 454–496 | 42 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 496–523 | 27 | Michoacán |
- Mile 40 of this route: Durango → Sinaloa (state line)
- Mile 152 of this route: Sinaloa → Nayarit (state line)
- Mile 295 of this route: Nayarit → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 423 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
Stops between El Salto, Durango and Zirahuén
- Nature and outdoors: Agua Grande Lagoon (mile 126), Lago de Camécuaro National Park (mile 466)
- Museums and history: Tepic Cathedral (mile 233), Museo Amado Nervo (mile 233), Guachimontones (mile 329), Teatro Degollado (mile 359), Panteón de Belén (mile 359), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 362)
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.
Tepic Cathedral
The Immaculate Conception Cathedral, also known as Tepic Cathedral, stands on the main square in the center of Tepic and is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tepic.
Museo Amado Nervo
Poet Amado Nervo was born on August 27, 1870, in this mid-19th-century house in downtown Tepic, which opened as a museum dedicated to him on April 27, 1970.
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.
Teatro Degollado
On Guadalajara's central plaza, along Belén Street between Hidalgo and Morelos avenues, the neoclassical Teatro Degollado is known for its varied performances and artistic design.
Panteón de Belén
A historic cemetery in Guadalajara, Panteón de Belén is known for its legends and offers night tours.
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 Salto, Durango to other places in Mexico
- El Salto, Durango to Sombrerete
- El Salto, Durango to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- El Salto, Durango to Calvillo
- El Salto, Durango to Temacapulín
- El Salto, Durango to Mazamitla
- El Salto, Durango to Tócuaro
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from El Salto, Durango to Zirahuén?
About 9 h 4 min of driving without stops, over 523 miles.
How far is Zirahuén from El Salto, Durango by car?
About 523 miles (841 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 Salto, Durango 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 Salto, Durango to Zirahuén?
The U.S. State Department rates Durango Level 3: Reconsider Travel; 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 Salto, Durango to Zirahuén use?
In order: MEX-40, MEX-40D, 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 Salto, Durango and Zirahuén?
Closest to the road: Tepic Cathedral (cathedral, mile 233, 1 mi from the route); Museo Amado Nervo (biographical museum, mile 233, 2 mi from the route); Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (museum, mile 362, 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.