The Wayro route from Pátzcuaro to Pinos is 243 miles (391 km), about 5 h 0 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 243 mi (391 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 0 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-37D → MEX-15D → MEX-43D → MEX-45D → MEX-45 → GTO 77 → MEX-51 → ZAC 144 |
| Mexican states on the route | Michoacán (Level 4), Guanajuato (Level 3), Jalisco (Level 3), Zacatecas (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-43D, MEX-45D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
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 Pátzcuaro to Pinos is like
MEX-43D (51 mi) and GTO 77 (40 mi) carry about 37% of the 243 miles. MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-43D, MEX-45D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-45, MEX-51 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: Michoacán, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Zacatecas. Of the 3 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Pátzcuaro to Pinos, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 3–4 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 4–42 | 38 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 42–45 | 3 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 45–47 | 2 | Michoacán |
| MEX-43D | 47–98 | 51 | Michoacán, Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 98–116 | 18 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45 | 116–133 | 17 | Guanajuato |
| GTO 77 | 133–173 | 40 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-51 | 173–211 | 38 | Guanajuato, Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 211–214 | 3 | Jalisco |
| ZAC 144 | 214–242 | 28 | Zacatecas |
| local roads | 242–243 | 1 | Zacatecas |
- Mile 62 of this route: Michoacán → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 208 of this route: Guanajuato → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 214 of this route: Jalisco → Zacatecas (state line)
Stops between Pátzcuaro and Pinos
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Casa de Miguel Hidalgo (mile 173)
- Museums and history: Cristo Rey (mile 137), Casa de Miguel Hidalgo (mile 173)
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.
Cristo Rey
Atop Cerro del Cubilete near Silao, at about 2,600 meters, a 20-meter statue of Christ the King stands on a concrete dome, with a sanctuary and a Cristero museum nearby.
Casa de Miguel Hidalgo
The Museo Histórico Casa de Hidalgo, also called La Francia Chiquita, is a museum in the town of San Felipe, in the Mexican state of Guanajuato.
More drives to Pinos
- Calvillo to Pinos
- El Rosario, Sinaloa to Pinos
- Amatitán to Pinos
- Tequila to Pinos
- Paracho to Pinos
- Salamanca to Pinos
From Pátzcuaro to other places in Mexico
- Pátzcuaro to Amatitán
- Pátzcuaro to Tequila
- Pátzcuaro to Pabellón de Arteaga
- Pátzcuaro to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Pátzcuaro to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Pátzcuaro to Calvillo
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Pátzcuaro to Pinos?
About 5 h 0 min of driving without stops, over 243 miles.
How far is Pinos from Pátzcuaro by car?
About 243 miles (391 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 Pátzcuaro to Pinos?
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 Pátzcuaro to Pinos?
The U.S. State Department rates Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Pátzcuaro to Pinos use?
In order: MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-43D, MEX-45D, MEX-45, GTO 77, MEX-51 and ZAC 144. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Pátzcuaro and Pinos?
Closest to the road: Historic Centre of Morelia (urban area, mile 29, 9 mi from the route); Cristo Rey (monument, mile 137, 3 mi from the route); Casa de Miguel Hidalgo (museum, mile 173, 0.4 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.