The Wayro route from Pátzcuaro to Taxco is 253 miles (407 km), about 4 h 31 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 253 mi (407 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 31 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-37D → MEX-15D → MEX-55D → MEX-55 → MEX-95 → MEX-92D |
| Mexican states on the route | Michoacán (Level 4), State of Mexico (Level 2), Guerrero (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-55D, MEX-92D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
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 Taxco is like
MEX-15D (90 mi) and MEX-55D (60 mi) carry about 59% of the 253 miles. MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-55D, MEX-92D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-55, MEX-95 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Michoacán, State of Mexico, Guerrero. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Pátzcuaro to Taxco, 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 | 42–132 | 90 | Michoacán, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 132–135 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 135–170 | 35 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 170–175 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 175–187 | 12 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 187–188 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 188–213 | 25 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 213–216 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 216–224 | 8 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 224–241 | 17 | State of Mexico, Guerrero |
| MEX-95 | 241–244 | 3 | Guerrero |
| connecting roads | 244–247 | 3 | Guerrero |
| MEX-92D | 247–252 | 5 | Guerrero |
| local roads | 252–253 | 1 | Guerrero |
- Mile 115 of this route: Michoacán → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 226 of this route: State of Mexico → Guerrero (state line)
- Mile 229 of this route: Guerrero → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 240 of this route: State of Mexico → Guerrero (state line)
Stops between Pátzcuaro and Taxco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 134), Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park (mile 236)
- Nature and outdoors: Rayón National Park (mile 111), Museo de Ciencias Naturales del Estado de México (mile 175), Nevado de Toluca National Park (mile 193), Desierto del Carmen National Park (mile 209), Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park (mile 236)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 134), Museo Felipe Santiago Gutiérrez (mile 174), Museo de Ciencias Naturales del Estado de México (mile 175), Xochicalco (mile 234)
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.
Rayón National Park
Just outside Tlalpujahua, Rayón National Park (Parque Nacional Rayón) marks the start of the area's famous butterfly reserve country, which stretches south and west from here.
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.
Museo Felipe Santiago Gutiérrez
In Toluca's historic center, a building from the late 18th and early 19th centuries holds about 225 watercolors, oils and drawings tracing the work of painter Felipe Santiago Gutiérrez. It opened in December 1992.
Museo de Ciencias Naturales del Estado de México
Set in the Parque de los Matlatzincas on Cerro del Calvario, the Natural Sciences Museum of the State of Mexico explores biology, geology and the preservation of natural resources.
Nevado de Toluca National Park
The Nevado de Toluca volcano was declared a flora and fauna protection area in 2013, a protected zone spanning ten municipalities of the State of Mexico, including Toluca, Zinacantepec and Temascaltepec.
Desierto del Carmen National Park
Declared a national park on October 10, 1942, Desierto del Carmen is a protected area in the municipality of Tenancingo, in the State of Mexico.
Xochicalco
A fortified hilltop city that thrived between about 650 and 900, Xochicalco is a UNESCO World Heritage site where you can see the Pyramid of the Plumed Serpent with its carved reliefs, ball courts, an underground observatory and a site museum.
Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park
Protected as a national park since 1936, this area near Taxco centers on the Cacahuamilpa caverns, where a guided route of about 4 km passes chambers up to 80 meters high, decorated with flowstone and floor-to-ceiling columns.
When you get to Taxco
Church of Santa Prisca de Taxco
Silver baron José de la Borda paid for Santa Prisca with the bonanza from his San Ignacio mine in Taxco, and the church was dedicated in 1759, the same year his nearby house on the plaza was finished.
William Spratling Museum
Taxco's archaeological museum grew from the collection of William Spratling, the American who revived the town's silver craft in the 1930s. It shows pre-Hispanic pieces, including Olmec and Mezcala-style works, plus a gallery on silversmithing.
Museo de Arte Virreinal de Taxco
Housed in the historic Casa Humboldt in Taxco, the Museo de Arte Virreinal shows colonial sacred art recovered from the Santa Prisca parish church, along with permanent exhibitions on Alexander von Humboldt and the town's history.
More drives to Taxco
- Morelia to Taxco
- Celaya to Taxco
- San Miguel de Allende to Taxco
- Irapuato to Taxco
- Salamanca to Taxco
- Guanajuato to Taxco
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 San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Pátzcuaro to Taxco?
About 4 h 31 min of driving without stops, over 253 miles.
How far is Taxco from Pátzcuaro by car?
About 253 miles (407 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 Taxco?
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 Taxco?
The U.S. State Department rates Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Guerrero 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 Taxco use?
In order: MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-55D, MEX-55, MEX-95 and MEX-92D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Pátzcuaro and Taxco?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Atlacomulco (catholic cathedral, mile 134, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo Felipe Santiago Gutiérrez (art museum, mile 174, 1 mi from the route); Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 236, 0.1 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.