The Wayro route from Pinos to Tócuaro is 250 miles (402 km), about 5 h 8 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 250 mi (402 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 8 min |
| Main roads, in order | ZAC 144 → MEX-51 → GTO 77 → MEX-45 → MEX-45D → MEX-43D → MEX-15D → MEX-37D → MEX-14 → MICH 19 |
| Mexican states on the route | Zacatecas (Level 4), 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 10.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
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 Pinos to Tócuaro is like
MEX-43D (52 mi) and GTO 77 (40 mi) carry about 37% of the 250 miles. MEX-45D, MEX-43D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-51, MEX-45, MEX-14 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: Zacatecas, Jalisco, Guanajuato, Michoacán. Of the 5 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Pinos to Tócuaro, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Zacatecas |
| ZAC 144 | 1–29 | 28 | Zacatecas |
| connecting roads | 29–32 | 3 | Jalisco |
| MEX-51 | 32–70 | 38 | Jalisco, Guanajuato |
| GTO 77 | 70–110 | 40 | Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 110–111 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45 | 111–127 | 16 | Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 127–128 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 128–145 | 17 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-43D | 145–197 | 52 | Guanajuato, Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 197–198 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 198–201 | 3 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 201–239 | 38 | Michoacán |
| MEX-14 | 239–243 | 4 | Michoacán |
| MICH 19 | 243–249 | 6 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 249–250 | 1 | Michoacán |
- Mile 29 of this route: Zacatecas → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 37 of this route: Jalisco → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 183 of this route: Guanajuato → Michoacán (state line)
Stops between Pinos and Tócuaro
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Casa de Miguel Hidalgo (mile 70)
- Museums and history: Casa de Miguel Hidalgo (mile 70), Cristo Rey (mile 106), Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro (mile 243), Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares (mile 243)
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.
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.
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.
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.
Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares
Housed in an 18th-century building adapted from the Colegio de San Nicolás, which Vasco de Quiroga founded in the 16th century, this INAH museum in Pátzcuaro shows Purépecha pottery, textiles, woodwork and lacquerware.
More drives to Tócuaro
- Amatitán to Tócuaro
- Tequila to Tócuaro
- San Juan de los Lagos to Tócuaro
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Tócuaro
- Pabellón de Hidalgo to Tócuaro
- San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes to Tócuaro
From Pinos to other places in Mexico
- Pinos to Temacapulín
- Pinos to San Luis Soyatlán
- Pinos to Bernal
- Pinos to Omitlán
- Pinos to Huasca de Ocampo
- Pinos to Chipilo
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Pinos to Tócuaro?
About 5 h 8 min of driving without stops, over 250 miles.
How far is Tócuaro from Pinos by car?
About 250 miles (402 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 Pinos to Tócuaro?
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 Pinos to Tócuaro?
The U.S. State Department rates Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel; 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 Pinos to Tócuaro use?
In order: ZAC 144, MEX-51, GTO 77, MEX-45, MEX-45D, MEX-43D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D, MEX-14 and MICH 19. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Pinos and Tócuaro?
Closest to the road: Casa de Miguel Hidalgo (museum, mile 70, 0.4 mi from the route); Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro (minor basilica, mile 243, 2 mi from the route); Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares (museum, mile 243, 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.