The Wayro route from Jalpa to Tzintzuntzan is 278 miles (447 km), about 5 h 6 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 278 mi (447 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 6 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-70 → MEX-71 → MEX-45 → MEX-45D → MEX-43D → MEX-15D → MEX-37D → MEX-15 → MEX-120 |
| Mexican states on the route | Zacatecas (Level 4), Aguascalientes (Level 2), Jalisco (Level 3), Guanajuato (Level 3), Michoacán (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-45D, MEX-43D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
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 Jalpa to Tzintzuntzan is like
MEX-45D (108 mi) and MEX-70 (51 mi) carry about 57% of the 278 miles. MEX-45D, MEX-43D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-70, MEX-71, MEX-45, MEX-15, MEX-120 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 5 states: Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Guanajuato, Michoacán. Of the 4 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Jalpa to Tzintzuntzan, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-70 | 1–52 | 51 | Zacatecas, Aguascalientes |
| MEX-71 | 52–58 | 6 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 58–75 | 17 | Aguascalientes, Jalisco |
| MEX-45D | 75–183 | 108 | Jalisco, Guanajuato |
| MEX-43D | 183–234 | 51 | Guanajuato, Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 234–238 | 4 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 238–259 | 21 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 259–273 | 14 | Michoacán |
| MEX-120 | 273–277 | 4 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 277–278 | 1 | Michoacán |
- Mile 17 of this route: Zacatecas → Aguascalientes (state line)
- Mile 71 of this route: Aguascalientes → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 120 of this route: Jalisco → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 219 of this route: Guanajuato → Michoacán (state line)
Stops between Jalpa and Tzintzuntzan
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): La Santa Cruz (mile 24)
- Museums and history: La Santa Cruz (mile 24), Aguascalientes Cathedral (mile 58), Museum of Contemporary Art (mile 58)
La Santa Cruz
In Calvillo's town center, La Santa Cruz is a cultural and monumental complex with Catholic and historical themes devoted to Calvillo's role in the Cristero War of 1926; it opened in 2021.
Aguascalientes Cathedral
The cathedral of Aguascalientes stands on the Plaza de la Patria in the city's historic center.
Museum of Contemporary Art
Aguascalientes' Museum of Contemporary Art shows works by contemporary Mexican artists in its Jesús F. Contreras gallery.
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.
When you get to Tzintzuntzan
Lake Pátzcuaro
Boats leave the shore of Lake Pátzcuaro for its islands, including Janitzio, topped by a statue of José María Morelos. Purépecha fishers here are known for butterfly-shaped nets, and whitefish is the local specialty.
Tzintzuntzan
Once the political and economic capital of the Purépecha empire, governed by a hereditary line of uacúsecha, or 'eagle lords,' Tzintzuntzan preserves its yácatas, temple bases that combine rectangular and semicircular platforms around ritual plazas.
Ihuatzio
On the shore of Lake Pátzcuaro, Ihuatzio was one of three main Purépecha power centers. Visitors can see raised walkways and two semicircular pyramids called yácatas; excavations here also turned up Chac Mool and coyote sculptures carved from volcanic rock.
More drives to Tzintzuntzan
- Tequila to Tzintzuntzan
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Tzintzuntzan
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Tzintzuntzan
- Zacatecas to Tzintzuntzan
- Jerez, Zacatecas to Tzintzuntzan
- Sombrerete to Tzintzuntzan
From Jalpa to other places in Mexico
- Jalpa to Real de Asientos
- Jalpa to Ajijic
- Jalpa to Pinos
- Jalpa to Mazamitla
- Jalpa to Mineral de Pozos
- Jalpa to Nombre de Dios
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Jalpa to Tzintzuntzan?
About 5 h 6 min of driving without stops, over 278 miles.
How far is Tzintzuntzan from Jalpa 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 Jalpa to Tzintzuntzan?
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 Jalpa to Tzintzuntzan?
The U.S. State Department rates Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel; Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Guanajuato 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 Jalpa to Tzintzuntzan use?
In order: MEX-70, MEX-71, MEX-45, MEX-45D, MEX-43D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D, MEX-15 and MEX-120. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Jalpa and Tzintzuntzan?
Closest to the road: La Santa Cruz (museum, mile 24, 0.1 mi from the route); Aguascalientes Cathedral (church building, mile 58, 2 mi from the route); Museum of Contemporary Art (art museum, mile 58, 3 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.