The Wayro route from Pabellón de Arteaga to Tzintzuntzan is 241 miles (388 km), about 4 h 13 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 241 mi (388 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 13 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-45 → MEX-45D → MEX-43D → MEX-15D → MEX-37D → MEX-15 → MEX-120 |
| Mexican states on the route | Aguascalientes (Level 2), Jalisco (Level 3), Guanajuato (Level 3), Michoacán (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-45D, MEX-43D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
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 Pabellón de Arteaga to Tzintzuntzan is like
MEX-45D (107 mi) and MEX-43D (51 mi) carry about 66% of the 241 miles. MEX-45D, MEX-43D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-45, MEX-15, MEX-120 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Guanajuato, Michoacán. Of the 4 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Pabellón de Arteaga to Tzintzuntzan, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 1–5 | 4 | Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 5–9 | 4 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 9–39 | 30 | Aguascalientes, Jalisco |
| MEX-45D | 39–146 | 107 | Jalisco, Guanajuato |
| MEX-43D | 146–197 | 51 | Guanajuato, Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 197–198 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 198–201 | 3 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 201–202 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 202–222 | 20 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 222–223 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 223–236 | 13 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 236–237 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-120 | 237–241 | 4 | Michoacán |
- Mile 35 of this route: Aguascalientes → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 83 of this route: Jalisco → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 183 of this route: Guanajuato → Michoacán (state line)
Stops between Pabellón de Arteaga and Tzintzuntzan
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Aguascalientes Cathedral (mile 20), Parque Rodolfo Landeros (mile 22)
- Nature and outdoors: La Pona (mile 19), Parque Rodolfo Landeros (mile 22)
- Museums and history: Aguascalientes Cathedral (mile 20)
La Pona
Inside the city of Aguascalientes, La Pona protects a native mesquite woodland as an ecological conservation zone, with a quiet forest area for walks and a separate section with sports and recreation spaces.
Aguascalientes Cathedral
The cathedral of Aguascalientes stands on the Plaza de la Patria in the city's historic center.
Parque Rodolfo Landeros
Also called Parque Héroes, this environmental and recreation park on Avenida José María Chávez in Aguascalientes has an artificial lake, bike rentals and several other attractions.
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 Tzintzuntzan
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.
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.
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 Tzintzuntzan
- Tequila to Tzintzuntzan
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Tzintzuntzan
- Zacatecas to Tzintzuntzan
- Jerez, Zacatecas to Tzintzuntzan
- Sombrerete to Tzintzuntzan
- Mazatlán to Tzintzuntzan
From Pabellón de Arteaga to other places in Mexico
- Pabellón de Arteaga to El Rosario, Sinaloa
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Temacapulín
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Amatitán
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Tequila
- Pabellón de Arteaga to San Luis Soyatlán
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Mazamitla
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Pabellón de Arteaga to Tzintzuntzan?
About 4 h 13 min of driving without stops, over 241 miles.
How far is Tzintzuntzan from Pabellón de Arteaga by car?
About 241 miles (388 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 Pabellón de Arteaga to Tzintzuntzan?
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 Pabellón de Arteaga to Tzintzuntzan?
The U.S. State Department rates Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Pabellón de Arteaga to Tzintzuntzan use?
In order: MEX-45, MEX-45D, MEX-43D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D, MEX-15 and MEX-120. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Pabellón de Arteaga and Tzintzuntzan?
Closest to the road: La Pona (park, mile 19, 2 mi from the route); Aguascalientes Cathedral (church building, mile 20, 0.2 mi from the route); Parque Rodolfo Landeros (park, mile 22, 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.