The Wayro route from Mazatlán to Uruapan is 455 miles (732 km), about 8 h 3 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 455 mi (732 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 3 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15 → MEX-15D → MEX-37 |
| Mexican states on the route | Sinaloa (Level 4), Nayarit (Level 2), Jalisco (Level 3), Michoacán (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.2 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 Mazatlán to Uruapan is like
MEX-15D (365 mi) and MEX-15 (26 mi) carry about 86% of the 455 miles. MEX-15D is a toll highway (cuota); MEX-15, MEX-37 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: Sinaloa, Nayarit, Jalisco, Michoacán. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Mazatlán to Uruapan, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-15 | 0–6 | 6 | Sinaloa |
| MEX-15D | 6–284 | 278 | Sinaloa, Nayarit, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 284–296 | 12 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 296–383 | 87 | Jalisco, Michoacán |
| local roads | 383–398 | 15 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 398–406 | 8 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 406–436 | 30 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37 | 436–454 | 18 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 454–455 | 1 | Michoacán |
- Mile 93 of this route: Sinaloa → Nayarit (state line)
- Mile 236 of this route: Nayarit → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 363 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
Stops between Mazatlán and Uruapan
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ixtlán del Rio (mile 226), Zamora de Hidalgo Cathedral (mile 398), Lago de Camécuaro National Park (mile 406)
- Nature and outdoors: Agua Grande Lagoon (mile 67), Lago de Camécuaro National Park (mile 406)
- Museums and history: Museo Regional de Nayarit (mile 174), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 226), Panteón de Belén (mile 299), Museo del Tequila y el Mariachi (mile 300), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 303), Zamora de Hidalgo Cathedral (mile 398)
Agua Grande Lagoon
Agua Grande is a large coastal lagoon in the Mexican state of Sinaloa that drains into the Pacific Ocean through the Teacapán Estuary.
Museo Regional de Nayarit
In the city of Tepic, the Museo Regional de Nayarit focuses on the different cultural traditions of pre-Hispanic Nayarit.
Ixtlán del Rio
Known locally as Los Toriles, the Ixtlán del Río site is famous for a temple with a fully circular floor plan, rare in Mesoamerica. People lived here from about 300 BC to AD 600, and an introductory gallery explains the finds.
Panteón de Belén
A historic cemetery in Guadalajara, Panteón de Belén is known for its legends and offers night tours.
Museo del Tequila y el Mariachi
The Museo del Tequila y el Mariachi is a space devoted to showing and sharing the culture of tequila and mariachi, both part of Mexico's heritage and cultural identity.
Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque
On Independencia Street in central Tlaquepaque, Jalisco, the Museo Regional de la Cerámica is one of the city's two main ceramics museums, alongside the Pantaleón Panduro Museum.
Zamora de Hidalgo Cathedral
Zamora's Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is a 19th-century Catholic church in the Michoacán city of Zamora de Hidalgo, attributed to the Celaya architect Eduardo Tresguerras.
Lago de Camécuaro National Park
Fed by countless springs, clear Lake Camécuaro near Tangancícuaro, about 13 km from Zamora, is ringed by old ahuehuete (sabino) trees. The national park is a popular spot for swimming, rowboats and picnics in their shade.
When you get to Uruapan
Barranca del Cupatitzio National Park
In Michoacán, Barranca del Cupatitzio National Park follows the headwaters of the Cupatitzio River, which bubbles up from an underground spring and carves a small ravine as it starts to flow.
Salto La Tzaráracua
About 10 km from Uruapan, Michoacán, the Tzaráracua waterfall drops roughly 40 meters. It is formed by the Cupatitzio River, which rises in the Barranca del Cupatitzio park inside the city.
More drives to Uruapan
- Durango to Uruapan
- Cuernavaca to Uruapan
- Mexico City to Uruapan
- Puebla to Uruapan
- Xalapa to Uruapan
- Veracruz to Uruapan
From Mazatlán to other places in Mexico
- Mazatlán to Calvillo
- Mazatlán to San Juan de los Lagos
- Mazatlán to Temacapulín
- Mazatlán to Tepatitlán
- Mazatlán to Amatitán
- Mazatlán to Ajijic
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Mazatlán to Uruapan?
About 8 h 3 min of driving without stops, over 455 miles.
How far is Uruapan from Mazatlán by car?
About 455 miles (732 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 Mazatlán to Uruapan?
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 Mazatlán to Uruapan?
The U.S. State Department rates Sinaloa Level 4: Do Not Travel; Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Jalisco 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 Mazatlán to Uruapan use?
In order: MEX-15, MEX-15D and MEX-37. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Mazatlán and Uruapan?
Closest to the road: Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 226, 0.6 mi from the route); Zamora de Hidalgo Cathedral (catholic cathedral, mile 398, 0.4 mi from the route); Lago de Camécuaro National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 406, 0.5 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.