By road, Mascota and Tonatico are about 459 miles (738 km) apart, or roughly 8 h 37 min of driving.
| Distance by road | 459 mi (738 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 37 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-70 → MEX-15 → MEX-15D → MEX-55D → MEX-55 |
| Mexican states on the route | Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-55D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.3 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.
On the road from Mascota to Tonatico
MEX-15D (253 mi) and MEX-70 (107 mi) carry about 78% of the 459 miles. It runs through 3 states: Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-15D, MEX-M40D and MEX-55D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Mascota to Tonatico
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-70 | 0–107 | 107 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 107–121 | 14 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 121–374 | 253 | Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 374–377 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 377–411 | 34 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 411–416 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 416–429 | 13 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 429–430 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 430–454 | 24 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 454–459 | 5 | State of Mexico |
- Mile 188 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 356 of this route: Michoacán → State of Mexico (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Mascota and Tonatico
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila (mile 93), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 376), José María Morelos y Pavón University History Museum (mile 416)
- Nature and outdoors: Rayón National Park (mile 353), Parque Estatal Sierra Morelos (mile 412), Nevado de Toluca National Park (mile 434)
- Museums and history: Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila (mile 93), Museo de Cera (mile 124), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 376), Calixtlahuaca (mile 411), José María Morelos y Pavón University History Museum (mile 416)
Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila
Around the town of Tequila, the Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of blue agave fields shaped by the plant's use for tequila since the 16th century.
Museo de Cera
On the Plaza de la Liberación in downtown Guadalajara, the Museo de Cera has 12 rooms with more than 130 wax figures of athletes, singers, actors, politicians and religious figures. It opened in 1994.
Rayón National Park
Butterfly reserve country begins at Rayón National Park, on the edge of Tlalpujahua, and extends south and west from there across the region.
Cathedral of Atlacomulco
Atlacomulco's cathedral, the Catedral de la Divina Providencia, is the seat of the Diocese of Atlacomulco and is dedicated to Divine Providence, making it the town's principal Catholic church.
Calixtlahuaca
Spread over the slopes of Cerro Tenismó near Toluca, this site's standout is the round Temple of Ehécatl-Quetzalcóatl, rebuilt in four phases. Nearby, a Mexica-era skull rack displays stone skulls set into cross-shaped walls.
Parque Estatal Sierra Morelos
This Toluca park, one of the State of Mexico's protected natural areas, is home to more than 500 species of plants and animals. Families come for the axolotl center, bat house, small farm and jogging track.
José María Morelos y Pavón University History Museum
The Museo de Historia Universitaria José María Morelos y Pavón is a history museum located in the city of Toluca de Lerdo.
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.
More drives to Tonatico
- Valle de Bravo to Tonatico
- Zitácuaro to Tonatico
- Tlalpujahua to Tonatico
- Amealco to Tonatico
- San Juan del Río to Tonatico
- Tequisquiapan to Tonatico
From Mascota to other places in Mexico
- Mascota to Temacapulín
- Mascota to Jalpa de Cánovas
- Mascota to Boca de Pascuales
- Mascota to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Mascota to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Mascota to Tócuaro
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Mascota to Tonatico?
About 8 h 37 min of driving without stops, over 459 miles.
How far is Tonatico from Mascota by car?
About 459 miles (738 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 Mascota to Tonatico?
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 Mascota to Tonatico?
The U.S. State Department rates Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Mascota to Tonatico use?
In order: MEX-70, MEX-15, MEX-15D, MEX-55D and MEX-55. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Mascota and Tonatico?
Closest to the road: Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila (historic site, mile 93, 0.4 mi from the route); Cathedral of Atlacomulco (cathedral, mile 376, 0.4 mi from the route); José María Morelos y Pavón University History Museum (history museum, mile 416, 0.8 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 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: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place 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.