The Wayro route from Metepec to El Rosario, Sinaloa is 549 miles (884 km), about 8 h 43 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 549 mi (884 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 43 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-55 → MEX-55D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 |
| Mexican states on the route | State of Mexico (Level 2), Michoacán (Level 4), Jalisco (Level 3), Nayarit (Level 2), Sinaloa (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-55D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 22.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
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 Metepec to El Rosario, Sinaloa is like
MEX-15D (492 mi) and MEX-55D (29 mi) carry about 95% of the 549 miles. MEX-55D, MEX-15D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-55, MEX-15 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 5 states: State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit, Sinaloa. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Metepec to El Rosario, Sinaloa, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 3–14 | 11 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 14–43 | 29 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 43–47 | 4 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 47–303 | 256 | State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 303–312 | 9 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 312–548 | 236 | Jalisco, Nayarit, Sinaloa |
| local roads | 548–549 | 1 | Sinaloa |
- Mile 65 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 232 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 360 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
- Mile 503 of this route: Nayarit → Sinaloa (state line)
Stops between Metepec and El Rosario, Sinaloa
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 341)
- Nature and outdoors: Rayón National Park (mile 68), Agua Grande Lagoon (mile 528)
- Museums and history: Calixtlahuaca (mile 9), Casa Museo López Portillo (mile 296), Universidad de Guadalajara. Museo de las Artes (mile 296), Guachimontones (mile 326), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 341), Tepic Cathedral (mile 422), Casa Museo Juan Escutia (mile 422)
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.
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.
Casa Museo López Portillo
Opened on May 10, 1982, this house museum in Guadalajara's historic center showcases decorative arts and promotes work by young artists from the metro area.
Universidad de Guadalajara. Museo de las Artes
The University of Guadalajara's Museo de las Artes, known as MUSA, opened on October 10, 1994, and was expanded in 2013.
Guachimontones
Near the town of Teuchitlán, Guachimontones is known for its circular structures. INAH describes it as the first large population center in western Mexico, emerging around 1000 BC, with two ball courts and about 40 circular buildings across 20 hectares.
Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería
The Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería, an interpretive museum of agave landscape and mining, is located in the municipality of Magdalena, Mexico.
Tepic Cathedral
The Immaculate Conception Cathedral, also known as Tepic Cathedral, stands on the main square in the center of Tepic and is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tepic.
Casa Museo Juan Escutia
In central Tepic, Casa Museo Juan Escutia honors Juan Escutia, one of the fighters who died defending Chapultepec Castle during the U.S. invasion of Mexico.
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.
More drives to El Rosario, Sinaloa
- Pabellón de Arteaga to El Rosario, Sinaloa
- Calvillo to El Rosario, Sinaloa
- Aguascalientes to El Rosario, Sinaloa
- San Juan de los Lagos to El Rosario, Sinaloa
- Tepatitlán to El Rosario, Sinaloa
- Guadalajara to El Rosario, Sinaloa
From Metepec to other places in Mexico
- Metepec to Valle de Bravo
- Metepec to El Oro
- Metepec to Ezequiel Montes
- Metepec to Zimapán
- Metepec to Tócuaro
- Metepec to Cotija
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Metepec to El Rosario, Sinaloa?
About 8 h 43 min of driving without stops, over 549 miles.
How far is El Rosario, Sinaloa from Metepec by car?
About 549 miles (884 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 Metepec to El Rosario, Sinaloa?
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 Metepec to El Rosario, Sinaloa?
The U.S. State Department rates State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Sinaloa Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Metepec to El Rosario, Sinaloa use?
In order: MEX-55, MEX-55D, MEX-15D and MEX-15. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Metepec and El Rosario, Sinaloa?
Closest to the road: Calixtlahuaca (archaeological site, mile 9, 1 mi from the route); Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (museum, mile 341, 0.6 mi from the route); Casa Museo Juan Escutia (museum, mile 422, 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.