The Wayro route from Morelia to Atlixco is 267 miles (430 km), about 4 h 32 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 267 mi (430 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 32 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-126 → MEX-48D → MEX-15D → MEX-M40D |
| Mexican states on the route | Michoacán (Level 4), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-48D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.7 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 Morelia to Atlixco is like
MEX-M40D (139 mi) and MEX-15D (78 mi) carry about 81% of the 267 miles. MEX-48D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-126 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 5 states: Michoacán, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala, Puebla. None of the 9 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Morelia to Atlixco, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-126 | 0–4 | 4 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 4–6 | 2 | Michoacán |
| MEX-48D | 6–20 | 14 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 20–98 | 78 | Michoacán, State of Mexico |
| MEX-M40D | 98–237 | 139 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| local roads | 237–267 | 30 | Puebla |
- Mile 80 of this route: Michoacán → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 130 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 160 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 174 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 191 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 203 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 211 of this route: Hidalgo → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 234 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
Stops between Morelia and Atlixco
- Nature and outdoors: Insurgente José María Morelos y Pavón National Park (mile 7), Rayón National Park (mile 76), Parque nacional Xicoténcatl (mile 232)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 97), Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl (mile 142)
Insurgente José María Morelos y Pavón National Park
Insurgente José María Morelos y Pavón National Park protects about 72 square kilometers of mountain terrain in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt in Michoacán.
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.
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.
Atlantean figures
Crowning the main pyramid at the Tula archaeological zone, these basalt sculptures of Toltec warriors stand more than four meters tall in what was once the Toltec capital; the nearby Wall of Snakes shows carved serpents devouring skeletons.
Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl
The Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl is an archaeological museum located in Tula de Allende, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque
Built by Franciscan friar Francisco de Tembleque between 1554 and 1572, this 16th-century water system runs more than 48 km between Zempoala and Otumba. Its tallest arcade at Tepeyahualco reaches almost 40 meters, and UNESCO listed it in 2015.
Parque nacional Xicoténcatl
Covering roughly 600 hectares in central Tlaxcala, Xicohténcatl National Park takes in the historic center of Tlaxcala city plus Quiahuixtlán, Ocotelulco and Tepeticpac, which correspond to three of the old Tlaxcalan lordships.
Exconvent of Santa María Magdalena
The former convent of Santa María Magdalena (Exconvento de Santa María Magdalena) is a 17th-century Baroque church built by the Dieguino friars, still in use as a Catholic temple of the Archdiocese of Puebla.
Convento de Huejotzingo
Founded by Franciscans in the 16th century, the former convent of San Miguel Arcángel in Huejotzingo shows colonial Plateresque architecture on the western slopes of Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl. UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 1994.
More drives to Atlixco
- Cuernavaca to Atlixco
- Mexico City to Atlixco
- Toluca to Atlixco
- Querétaro to Atlixco
- Celaya to Atlixco
- San Miguel de Allende to Atlixco
From Morelia to other places in Mexico
- Morelia to Cotija
- Morelia to Amatitán
- Morelia to Tequila
- Morelia to Real de Asientos
- Morelia to Guadalupe, Zacatecas
- Morelia to Jerez, Zacatecas
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Morelia to Atlixco?
About 4 h 32 min of driving without stops, over 267 miles.
How far is Atlixco from Morelia by car?
About 267 miles (430 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 Morelia to Atlixco?
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 Morelia to Atlixco?
The U.S. State Department rates Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Morelia to Atlixco use?
In order: MEX-126, MEX-48D, MEX-15D and MEX-M40D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Morelia and Atlixco?
Closest to the road: Atlantean figures (atlantean figures, mile 142, 1 mi from the route); Exconvent of Santa María Magdalena (convent, mile 237, 1 mi from the route); Convento de Huejotzingo (convent, mile 249, 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.