The Wayro route from Oaxtepec to Pacanda is 254 miles (409 km), about 4 h 58 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 254 mi (409 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 58 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-160D → MEX-95D → MEX-106 → MEX-200 → EM 44 → MEX-55 → MEX-55D → MEX-15D → MEX-37D |
| Mexican states on the route | Morelos (Level 3), State of Mexico (Level 2), Michoacán (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-160D, MEX-95D, MEX-55D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.2 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 Oaxtepec to Pacanda is like
MEX-15D (89 mi) and MEX-37D (37 mi) carry about 50% of the 254 miles. MEX-160D, MEX-95D, MEX-55D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-106, MEX-200, MEX-55 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Morelos, State of Mexico, Michoacán. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Oaxtepec to Pacanda, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Morelos |
| MEX-160D | 1–17 | 16 | Morelos |
| MEX-95D | 17–28 | 11 | Morelos |
| connecting roads | 28–29 | 1 | Morelos |
| MEX-106 | 29–47 | 18 | Morelos, State of Mexico |
| MEX-200 | 47–51 | 4 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 51–55 | 4 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 55–58 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| EM 44 | 58–66 | 8 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 66–72 | 6 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 72–83 | 11 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 83–112 | 29 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 112–115 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 115–116 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 116–205 | 89 | State of Mexico, Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 205–206 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 206–243 | 37 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 243–248 | 5 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 248–254 | 6 | Michoacán |
- Mile 37 of this route: Morelos → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 134 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
Stops between Oaxtepec and Pacanda
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Tepoztlán Ex Convento Museum (mile 12), Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (mile 38), Parque de la Ciencia Fundadores (mile 73), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 113)
- Nature and outdoors: Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (mile 38), Cumbres del Ajusco National Park (mile 39), La Marquesa National Park (mile 58)
- Museums and history: Tepoztlán Ex Convento Museum (mile 12), Parque de la Ciencia Fundadores (mile 73), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 113), Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 154), Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro (mile 245)
Tepoztlán Ex Convento Museum
Tepoztlán's Dominican monastery, built between 1555 and 1580, keeps original 16th-century murals in its cloister. Upstairs, the museum covers local daily life, faith, festivals and dances, and the complex is part of a UNESCO World Heritage listing.
Lagunas de Zempoala National Park
Seven lagoons, three of them permanent, sit among pine, oak and fir forest above 3,000 meters in this park, decreed in 1936 on the Morelos–State of Mexico line. Hiking, horseback riding, camping and rowboats are popular here.
Cumbres del Ajusco National Park
Pine and oak forests climb toward alpine meadows in Cumbres del Ajusco National Park, on Mexico City's southern edge. It draws hikers, climbers and cyclists, and it gets occasional snow, a rarity for the region.
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.
Teatro Morelos
In Toluca's historic center, just west of the State of Mexico's Palace of Justice, Teatro Morelos stages plays along with other shows and cultural events.
Parque de la Ciencia Fundadores
Opened in 2021 in downtown Toluca on the site of the former Plaza Ángel María Garibay, this science park adds green space, children's play areas and a planetarium with a 360-degree screen.
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.
Teatro Morelos de Maravatío
Maravatío's Teatro Morelos is a late-19th-century theater in a French-influenced neoclassical style, designed by architect Rafael Guerrero Torres. It opened on January 11, 1879, with a performance by opera singer Ángela Peralta.
Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro
Pátzcuaro's basilica (Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Salud) rises on pre-Hispanic platforms beside its own plaza. Bishop Vasco de Quiroga planned it as a five-nave cathedral, only one nave was finished, and his remains rest inside.
When you get to Pacanda
Lake Pátzcuaro
Boats leave the shore of Lake Pátzcuaro for its islands, including Janitzio, topped by a statue of José María Morelos. Purépecha fishers here are known for butterfly-shaped nets, and whitefish is the local specialty.
Ihuatzio
On the shore of Lake Pátzcuaro, Ihuatzio was one of three main Purépecha power centers. Visitors can see raised walkways and two semicircular pyramids called yácatas; excavations here also turned up Chac Mool and coyote sculptures carved from volcanic rock.
More drives to Pacanda
- Amatitán to Pacanda
- Tequila to Pacanda
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Pacanda
- Real de Asientos to Pacanda
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Pacanda
- Zacatecas to Pacanda
From Oaxtepec to other places in Mexico
- Oaxtepec to Tonatico
- Oaxtepec to Omitlán
- Oaxtepec to El Oro
- Oaxtepec to Huasca de Ocampo
- Oaxtepec to Tetela de Ocampo
- Oaxtepec to Metztitlán
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Oaxtepec to Pacanda?
About 4 h 58 min of driving without stops, over 254 miles.
How far is Pacanda from Oaxtepec by car?
About 254 miles (409 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 Oaxtepec to Pacanda?
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 Oaxtepec to Pacanda?
The U.S. State Department rates Morelos Level 3: Reconsider Travel; 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 Oaxtepec to Pacanda use?
In order: MEX-160D, MEX-95D, MEX-106, MEX-200, EM 44, MEX-55, MEX-55D, MEX-15D and MEX-37D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Oaxtepec and Pacanda?
Closest to the road: Tepoztlán Ex Convento Museum (museum, mile 12, 0.6 mi from the route); Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 38, 0.4 mi from the route); Cathedral of Atlacomulco (catholic cathedral, mile 113, 0.2 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.