The Wayro route from Oaxtepec to Santa Fe de la Laguna is 242 miles (390 km), about 4 h 44 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 242 mi (390 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 44 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-160D → MEX-95D → MEX-106 → MEX-200 → EM 44 → MEX-55 → MEX-55D → MEX-15D → MEX-37D → MEX-15 |
| 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 9.7 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 Oaxtepec to Santa Fe de la Laguna is like
MEX-15D (89 mi) and MEX-55D (29 mi) carry about 49% of the 242 miles. MEX-160D, MEX-95D, MEX-55D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-106, MEX-200, MEX-55, MEX-15 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Morelos, State of Mexico, Michoacán. Of the 8 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Oaxtepec to Santa Fe de la Laguna, 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 | 206–226 | 20 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 226–227 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 227–242 | 15 | 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 Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Tepoztlán Ex Convento Museum (mile 12), Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (mile 38), Cosmovitral (mile 73), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 113)
- Nature and outdoors: El Tepozteco National Park (mile 12), Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (mile 38)
- Museums and history: Tepoztlán Ex Convento Museum (mile 12), Cosmovitral (mile 73), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 113), Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 154)
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.
El Tepozteco National Park
Eroded volcanic hills of the Sierra de Tepoztlán fill this national park, about half of which lies in Mexico City's Milpa Alta borough. A short, steep climb leads to the Tepozteco archaeological zone; wear good shoes, since the rocks get slippery.
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.
Ciénegas del Lerma
These marshes in the Toluca Valley are three lakes left from a wetland of about 27,000 hectares in the late 19th century. A Ramsar site since 2004, they hold dozens of endemic and threatened species and are a key stop for migratory species.
Cosmovitral
Toluca's Cosmovitral wraps a botanical garden of more than 500 plant species in a huge stained-glass work designed by artist Leopoldo Flores. Light filtering through the colored glass sets the mood as you walk the garden paths.
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.
Historic Centre of Morelia
Morelia's old core, founded in the 16th century as Valladolid, keeps more than 200 historic buildings in the region's pink stone around its cathedral and checkerboard streets. UNESCO added it to the World Heritage List in 1991.
When you get to Santa Fe de la Laguna
Tzintzuntzan
Once the political and economic capital of the Purépecha empire, governed by a hereditary line of uacúsecha, or 'eagle lords,' Tzintzuntzan preserves its yácatas, temple bases that combine rectangular and semicircular platforms around ritual plazas.
More drives to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Pedro Escobedo to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Amatitán to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Cadereyta to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Tequila to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Zimapán to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes to Santa Fe de la Laguna
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 Santa Fe de la Laguna?
About 4 h 44 min of driving without stops, over 242 miles.
How far is Santa Fe de la Laguna from Oaxtepec by car?
About 242 miles (390 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 Santa Fe de la Laguna?
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 Santa Fe de la Laguna?
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 Santa Fe de la Laguna use?
In order: MEX-160D, MEX-95D, MEX-106, MEX-200, EM 44, MEX-55, MEX-55D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D and MEX-15. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Oaxtepec and Santa Fe de la Laguna?
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.