The Wayro route from Ixcateopan to Tócuaro is 280 miles (451 km), about 5 h 22 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 280 mi (451 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 22 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-92D → MEX-95 → MEX-55 → MEX-55D → MEX-15D → MEX-37D → MEX-14 → MICH 19 |
| Mexican states on the route | Guerrero (Level 4), State of Mexico (Level 2), Michoacán (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-92D, MEX-55D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.2 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 Ixcateopan to Tócuaro is like
MEX-15D (90 mi) and MEX-55D (53 mi) carry about 51% of the 280 miles. MEX-92D, MEX-55D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-95, MEX-55, MEX-14 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Guerrero, State of Mexico, Michoacán. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Ixcateopan to Tócuaro, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–22 | 22 | Guerrero |
| MEX-92D | 22–27 | 5 | Guerrero |
| MEX-95 | 27–34 | 7 | Guerrero |
| MEX-55 | 34–57 | 23 | Guerrero, State of Mexico |
| local roads | 57–62 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 62–86 | 24 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 86–88 | 2 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 88–98 | 10 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 98–109 | 11 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 109–138 | 29 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 138–142 | 4 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 142–232 | 90 | State of Mexico, Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 232–270 | 38 | Michoacán |
| MEX-14 | 270–274 | 4 | Michoacán |
| MICH 19 | 274–280 | 6 | Michoacán |
- Mile 39 of this route: Guerrero → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 160 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
Stops between Ixcateopan and Tócuaro
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Church of Santa Prisca de Taxco (mile 21), William Spratling Museum (mile 21), Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park (mile 39)
- Nature and outdoors: Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park (mile 39), Desierto del Carmen National Park (mile 66), Nevado de Toluca National Park (mile 81), Rayón National Park (mile 163)
- Museums and history: Church of Santa Prisca de Taxco (mile 21), William Spratling Museum (mile 21), Toluca Cathedral (mile 100), Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro (mile 274)
Church of Santa Prisca de Taxco
Silver baron José de la Borda paid for Santa Prisca with the bonanza from his San Ignacio mine in Taxco, and the church was dedicated in 1759, the same year his nearby house on the plaza was finished.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Toluca Cathedral
Begun in 1867 and finished only in 1978, Toluca's Cathedral of Saint Joseph has a neoclassical facade and a bronze statue of the saint on its dome. It also preserves the 18th-century baroque front of the former San Elzeario church.
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.
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.
More drives to Tócuaro
- Amatitán to Tócuaro
- Tequila to Tócuaro
- San Juan de los Lagos to Tócuaro
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Tócuaro
- Pinos to Tócuaro
- Pabellón de Hidalgo to Tócuaro
From Ixcateopan to other places in Mexico
- Ixcateopan to Omitlán
- Ixcateopan to Huasca de Ocampo
- Ixcateopan to Jalpa de Cánovas
- Ixcateopan to Aquismón
- Ixcateopan to Chacala
- Ixcateopan to San Francisco
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Ixcateopan to Tócuaro?
About 5 h 22 min of driving without stops, over 280 miles.
How far is Tócuaro from Ixcateopan by car?
About 280 miles (451 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 Ixcateopan to Tócuaro?
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 Ixcateopan to Tócuaro?
The U.S. State Department rates Guerrero Level 4: Do Not Travel; 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 Ixcateopan to Tócuaro use?
In order: MEX-92D, MEX-95, MEX-55, MEX-55D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D, MEX-14 and MICH 19. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Ixcateopan and Tócuaro?
Closest to the road: Church of Santa Prisca de Taxco (church building, mile 21, 0.3 mi from the route); William Spratling Museum (museum, mile 21, 0.3 mi from the route); Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 39, 0.1 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.