The Wayro route from Jerez, Zacatecas to Tzintzuntzan is 327 miles (527 km), about 5 h 60 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 327 mi (527 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 60 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-23 → MEX-54 → 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 13.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
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 Jerez, Zacatecas to Tzintzuntzan is like
MEX-45D (128 mi) and MEX-45 (70 mi) carry about 61% of the 327 miles. MEX-45D, MEX-43D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-23, MEX-54, MEX-45, MEX-15, MEX-120 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 5 states: Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Guanajuato, Michoacán. Of the 5 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Jerez, Zacatecas to Tzintzuntzan, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-23 | 0–16 | 16 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-54 | 16–30 | 14 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 30–42 | 12 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 42–63 | 21 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 63–91 | 28 | Zacatecas, Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 91–95 | 4 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 95–125 | 30 | Aguascalientes, Jalisco |
| MEX-45D | 125–232 | 107 | Jalisco, Guanajuato |
| MEX-43D | 232–283 | 51 | Guanajuato, Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 283–285 | 2 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 285–288 | 3 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 288–309 | 21 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 309–322 | 13 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 322–323 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-120 | 323–327 | 4 | Michoacán |
- Mile 68 of this route: Zacatecas → Aguascalientes (state line)
- Mile 121 of this route: Aguascalientes → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 169 of this route: Jalisco → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 270 of this route: Guanajuato → Michoacán (state line)
Stops between Jerez, Zacatecas and Tzintzuntzan
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral Basilica of Zacatecas (mile 34), Guadalupe regional museum (mile 38), Museum of Contemporary Art (mile 106)
- Museums and history: Cathedral Basilica of Zacatecas (mile 34), Guadalupe regional museum (mile 38), Museo de la Insurgencia (mile 86), Museum of Contemporary Art (mile 106)
Cathedral Basilica of Zacatecas
Dedicated to the Virgin of the Assumption, the Cathedral of Zacatecas is the main church of the Diocese of Zacatecas.
Guadalupe regional museum
In Guadalupe, Zacatecas, the Museo de Guadalupe fills a former college that sent missionaries to the north and holds an important collection of 17th- to 19th-century painting, including works by Cristóbal de Villalpando, Miguel Cabrera and Juan Correa.
Museo de la Insurgencia
Set in a 17th-century estate, the Museo de la Insurgencia opened in 1964 to tell the story of Mexico's independence movement. One hall shows farm, mining and textile tools from hacienda work; another displays everyday objects from past eras.
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
- Sombrerete to Tzintzuntzan
- Mazatlán to Tzintzuntzan
From Jerez, Zacatecas to other places in Mexico
- Jerez, Zacatecas to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Jerez, Zacatecas to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Jerez, Zacatecas to Temacapulín
- Jerez, Zacatecas to Ajijic
- Jerez, Zacatecas to San Luis Soyatlán
- Jerez, Zacatecas to Cotija
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Jerez, Zacatecas to Tzintzuntzan?
About 5 h 60 min of driving without stops, over 327 miles.
How far is Tzintzuntzan from Jerez, Zacatecas by car?
About 327 miles (527 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 Jerez, Zacatecas 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 Jerez, Zacatecas 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 Jerez, Zacatecas to Tzintzuntzan use?
In order: MEX-23, MEX-54, 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 Jerez, Zacatecas and Tzintzuntzan?
Closest to the road: Cathedral Basilica of Zacatecas (minor basilica, mile 34, 0.6 mi from the route); Guadalupe regional museum (museum, mile 38, 0.7 mi from the route); Museum of Contemporary Art (art museum, mile 106, 0.2 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.