The Wayro route from Pátzcuaro to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes is 252 miles (405 km), about 4 h 26 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 252 mi (405 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 26 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-37D → MEX-15D → MEX-43D → MEX-45D → MEX-45 → AGS 19 |
| Mexican states on the route | Michoacán (Level 4), Guanajuato (Level 3), Jalisco (Level 3), Aguascalientes (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-43D, MEX-45D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.1 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 Pátzcuaro to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes is like
MEX-45D (108 mi) and MEX-43D (51 mi) carry about 63% of the 252 miles. MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-43D, MEX-45D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-45 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 4 states: Michoacán, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Aguascalientes. Of the 4 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Pátzcuaro to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes, 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 | 98–206 | 108 | Guanajuato, Jalisco |
| MEX-45 | 206–235 | 29 | Jalisco, Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 235–239 | 4 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 239–242 | 3 | Aguascalientes |
| connecting roads | 242–243 | 1 | Aguascalientes |
| AGS 19 | 243–251 | 8 | Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 251–252 | 1 | Aguascalientes |
- Mile 62 of this route: Michoacán → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 161 of this route: Guanajuato → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 209 of this route: Jalisco → Aguascalientes (state line)
Stops between Pátzcuaro and San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Descubre (mile 222), Museo Espacio, Aguascalientes (mile 225)
- Nature and outdoors: Jardín Botánico Rey Netzahualcoyotl (mile 226)
- Museums and history: Museo Descubre (mile 222), Museo Espacio, Aguascalientes (mile 225)
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.
Museo Descubre
Museo Descubre is a hands-on, interactive museum in the city of Aguascalientes whose spiral-shaped interior leads inward along various paths of knowledge.
Museo Espacio, Aguascalientes
Inside the Tres Centurias complex at Aguascalientes' old train station, Museo Espacio is a contemporary art museum, so a visit pairs current work with a look at the city's railroad buildings.
Jardín Botánico Rey Netzahualcoyotl
The Jardín Botánico Rey Nezahualcóyotl is a botanical garden that falls under the administration of the Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes.
When you get to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
Santuario del Cristo Roto, San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
A 28-meter broken Christ, the Cristo Roto, stands on an island in the Presidente Calles dam at San José de Gracia, reachable only by boat. Sculptors Erasmo Aguilar and Miguel Romo Santino made it to recall what the town lost when the dam was built.
More drives to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Jerez, Zacatecas to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- El Rosario, Sinaloa to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Tepatitlán to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Amatitán to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Ajijic to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Tequila to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
From Pátzcuaro to other places in Mexico
- Pátzcuaro to Amatitán
- Pátzcuaro to Tequila
- Pátzcuaro to Pabellón de Arteaga
- Pátzcuaro to Pinos
- Pátzcuaro to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Pátzcuaro to Calvillo
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Pátzcuaro to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
About 4 h 26 min of driving without stops, over 252 miles.
How far is San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes from Pátzcuaro by car?
About 252 miles (405 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 San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
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 San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
The U.S. State Department rates Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Pátzcuaro to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes use?
In order: MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-43D, MEX-45D, MEX-45 and AGS 19. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Pátzcuaro and San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
Closest to the road: Museo Descubre (museum, mile 222, 0.3 mi from the route); Museo Espacio, Aguascalientes (art museum, mile 225, 0.8 mi from the route); Jardín Botánico Rey Netzahualcoyotl (botanical garden, mile 226, 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.