The Wayro route from Mexico City to Zitácuaro is 98 miles (157 km), about 1 h 46 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 98 mi (157 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 1 h 46 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-134D → MEX-A6D → MEX-A7D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 |
| Mexican states on the route | Mexico City (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Michoacán (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-134D, MEX-A6D, MEX-A7D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 3.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
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 Mexico City to Zitácuaro is like
MEX-A7D (35 mi) and MEX-134D (20 mi) carry about 56% of the 98 miles. MEX-134D, MEX-A6D, MEX-A7D, MEX-15D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-15 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 3 states: Mexico City, State of Mexico, Michoacán. Of the 6 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Mexico City to Zitácuaro, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–13 | 13 | Mexico City, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 13–14 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-134D | 14–34 | 20 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 34–35 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-A6D | 35–50 | 15 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-A7D | 50–85 | 35 | State of Mexico, Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 85–91 | 6 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 91–96 | 5 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 96–98 | 2 | Michoacán |
- Mile 6 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 82 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
Stops between Mexico City and Zitácuaro
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Bosencheve National Park (mile 79)
- Nature and outdoors: Desierto de los Leones National Park (mile 23), La Marquesa National Park (mile 23), Bosencheve National Park (mile 79), Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (mile 89)
- Museums and history: Museo Tezozómoc (mile 8)
Museo Tezozómoc
Run by the Instituto Politécnico Nacional since 1999, Museo Tezozómoc is an interactive museum about science and technology.
Torres de Satélite
The Torres de Satélite are giant sculptures in Ciudad Satélite, Naucalpan, conceived from 1957 by architect Luis Barragán, painter Jesús Reyes Ferreira and sculptor Mathias Goeritz.
Desierto de los Leones National Park
Declared a national park in 1917, this fir, ash and oak forest in Mexico City's Cuajimalpa and Álvaro Obregón boroughs surrounds a former Carmelite monastery. Locals come to hike, run and cycle, and more than 100 bird species live here.
La Marquesa National Park
Set in high-altitude conifer forest along the Mexico City–Toluca highway, La Marquesa National Park offers roadside eateries, horse and ATV rentals, mountain biking and camping, and marks the site of the 1810 Battle of Monte de las Cruces.
Bosencheve National Park
Straddling Michoacán and the State of Mexico, Bosencheve National Park was established in 1940 and protects roughly 146 square kilometers of land.
Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve
Every fall, millions of monarch butterflies from across North America return to the oyamel fir forests about 100 km northwest of Mexico City, clustering so densely they bend branches. The reserve became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008.
More drives to Zitácuaro
- San Juan del Río to Zitácuaro
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Zitácuaro
- Zacatecas to Zitácuaro
- Fresnillo to Zitácuaro
- Durango to Zitácuaro
- Mazatlán to Zitácuaro
From Mexico City to other places in Mexico
- Mexico City to Metepec
- Mexico City to Toluca
- Mexico City to Cuernavaca
- Mexico City to Atlatlahucan
- Mexico City to Malinalco
- Mexico City to Cuautla
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Mexico City to Zitácuaro?
About 1 h 46 min of driving without stops, over 98 miles.
How far is Zitácuaro from Mexico City by car?
About 98 miles (157 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 Mexico City to Zitácuaro?
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 Mexico City to Zitácuaro?
The U.S. State Department rates Mexico City Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Mexico City to Zitácuaro use?
In order: MEX-134D, MEX-A6D, MEX-A7D, 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 Mexico City and Zitácuaro?
Closest to the road: Museo Tezozómoc (museum, mile 8, 3 mi from the route); Torres de Satélite (sculpture, mile 9, 2 mi from the route); Bosencheve National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 79, 0.9 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.