The Wayro route from Ihuatzio to Ixcateopan is 278 miles (447 km), about 5 h 18 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 278 mi (447 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 18 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-37D → MEX-15D → MEX-55D → MEX-55 → MEX-95 → MEX-92D |
| Mexican states on the route | Michoacán (Level 4), State of Mexico (Level 2), Guerrero (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-55D, MEX-92D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
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 Ihuatzio to Ixcateopan is like
MEX-15D (90 mi) and MEX-55D (57 mi) carry about 53% of the 278 miles. MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-55D, MEX-92D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-55, MEX-95 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Michoacán, State of Mexico, Guerrero. Of the 7 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Ihuatzio to Ixcateopan, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 3–8 | 5 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 8–45 | 37 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 45–46 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 46–136 | 90 | Michoacán, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 136–139 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 139–173 | 34 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 173–178 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 178–191 | 13 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 191–193 | 2 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 193–216 | 23 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 216–221 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 221–228 | 7 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 228–245 | 17 | State of Mexico, Guerrero |
| MEX-95 | 245–248 | 3 | Guerrero |
| connecting roads | 248–250 | 2 | Guerrero |
| MEX-92D | 250–255 | 5 | Guerrero |
| connecting roads | 255–256 | 1 | Guerrero |
| local roads | 256–278 | 22 | Guerrero |
- Mile 119 of this route: Michoacán → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 229 of this route: State of Mexico → Guerrero (state line)
- Mile 233 of this route: Guerrero → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 242 of this route: State of Mexico → Guerrero (state line)
Stops between Ihuatzio and Ixcateopan
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cosmovitral (mile 178), Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park (mile 240), William Spratling Museum (mile 257)
- Nature and outdoors: Rayón National Park (mile 115), Nevado de Toluca National Park (mile 196), Desierto del Carmen National Park (mile 213), Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park (mile 240)
- Museums and history: Cosmovitral (mile 178), William Spratling Museum (mile 257)
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.
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.
Cosmovitral
Toluca's Cosmovitral wraps a botanical garden of more than 500 plant species in a huge stained-glass work designed by artist Leopoldo Flores. Light filtering through the colored glass sets the mood as you walk the garden paths.
Nevado de Toluca National Park
The Nevado de Toluca volcano was declared a flora and fauna protection area in 2013, a protected zone spanning ten municipalities of the State of Mexico, including Toluca, Zinacantepec and Temascaltepec.
Desierto del Carmen National Park
Declared a national park on October 10, 1942, Desierto del Carmen is a protected area in the municipality of Tenancingo, in the State of Mexico.
Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park
Protected as a national park since 1936, this area near Taxco centers on the Cacahuamilpa caverns, where a guided route of about 4 km passes chambers up to 80 meters high, decorated with flowstone and floor-to-ceiling columns.
William Spratling Museum
Taxco's archaeological museum grew from the collection of William Spratling, the American who revived the town's silver craft in the 1930s. It shows pre-Hispanic pieces, including Olmec and Mezcala-style works, plus a gallery on silversmithing.
When you get to Ixcateopan
Ixcateopan
Some 36 kilometers from Taxco in the rugged mountains of northern Guerrero, the ruins at Ixcateopan de Cuauhtémoc belong to a city that served as an important regional ceremonial center.
More drives to Ixcateopan
- Tlaltizapán to Ixcateopan
- Tepoztlán to Ixcateopan
- Metepec to Ixcateopan
- Oaxtepec to Ixcateopan
- Tlayacapan to Ixcateopan
- Zacualpan de Amilpas to Ixcateopan
From Ihuatzio to other places in Mexico
- Ihuatzio to Mineral de Pozos
- Ihuatzio to Omitlán
- Ihuatzio to Huasca de Ocampo
- Ihuatzio to Metztitlán
- Ihuatzio to Pinal de Amoles
- Ihuatzio to Boca de Pascuales
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Ihuatzio to Ixcateopan?
About 5 h 18 min of driving without stops, over 278 miles.
How far is Ixcateopan from Ihuatzio by car?
About 278 miles (447 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 Ihuatzio to Ixcateopan?
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 Ihuatzio to Ixcateopan?
The U.S. State Department rates Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Guerrero Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Ihuatzio to Ixcateopan use?
In order: MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-55D, MEX-55, MEX-95 and MEX-92D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Ihuatzio and Ixcateopan?
Closest to the road: Cosmovitral (museum, mile 178, 0.8 mi from the route); Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 240, 0.2 mi from the route); William Spratling Museum (museum, mile 257, 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 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.