The Wayro route from Oaxtepec to Zirahuén is 260 miles (419 km), about 4 h 54 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 260 mi (419 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 54 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-160D → MEX-95D → MEX-106 → MEX-200 → EM 44 → MEX-55 → MEX-55D → MEX-15D → MEX-37D → MEX-14D |
| 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, MEX-14D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.4 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 Zirahuén is like
MEX-15D (89 mi) and MEX-37D (38 mi) carry about 49% of the 260 miles. MEX-160D, MEX-95D, MEX-55D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D, MEX-14D 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 8 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Oaxtepec to Zirahuén, 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 | 206–244 | 38 | Michoacán |
| MEX-14D | 244–256 | 12 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 256–260 | 4 | 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 Zirahuén
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Carlos Pellicer (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: Museo Carlos Pellicer (mile 12), Cosmovitral (mile 73), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 113), Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 154), Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro (mile 248)
Museo Carlos Pellicer
Tepoztlán's Museo de Arte Prehispánico Carlos Pellicer, opened in 1965 and named for the poet and museographer, displays a collection of pre-Hispanic objects in the former granary of the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Natividad.
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.
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 Zirahuén
Lake Zirahuén
Small and deep, Lake Zirahuén is a mountain lake in the Santa Clara del Cobre municipality of Michoacán, with a sandy bottom partly covered in mud and no outlet to the sea.
More drives to Zirahuén
- Amatitán to Zirahuén
- Tequila to Zirahuén
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Zirahuén
- Pabellón de Hidalgo to Zirahuén
- San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes to Zirahuén
- Calvillo to Zirahuén
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 Zirahuén?
About 4 h 54 min of driving without stops, over 260 miles.
How far is Zirahuén from Oaxtepec by car?
About 260 miles (419 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 Zirahuén?
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 Zirahuén?
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 Zirahuén use?
In order: MEX-160D, MEX-95D, MEX-106, MEX-200, EM 44, MEX-55, MEX-55D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D and MEX-14D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Oaxtepec and Zirahuén?
Closest to the road: Museo Carlos Pellicer (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.