The Wayro route from Puebla to Zitácuaro is 178 miles (287 km), about 3 h 6 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 178 mi (287 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 6 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-150D → Viaducto → Periférico → MEX-134D → MEX-A6D → MEX-A7D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 |
| Mexican states on the route | Puebla (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Mexico City (Level 2), Michoacán (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-150D, MEX-134D, MEX-A6D, MEX-A7D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.1 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 Puebla to Zitácuaro is like
MEX-150D (66 mi) and MEX-A7D (34 mi) carry about 56% of the 178 miles. MEX-150D, MEX-134D, MEX-A6D, MEX-A7D, MEX-15D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-15 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 4 states: Puebla, State of Mexico, Mexico City, Michoacán. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Puebla to Zitácuaro, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Puebla |
| MEX-150D | 4–70 | 66 | Puebla, State of Mexico |
| local roads | 70–75 | 5 | State of Mexico, Mexico City |
| connecting roads | 75–76 | 1 | Mexico City |
| Viaducto | 76–83 | 7 | Mexico City |
| connecting roads | 83–84 | 1 | Mexico City |
| Periférico | 84–87 | 3 | Mexico City, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 87–88 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 88–94 | 6 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-134D | 94–115 | 21 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-A6D | 115–131 | 16 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-A7D | 131–165 | 34 | State of Mexico, Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 165–172 | 7 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 172–176 | 4 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 176–178 | 2 | Michoacán |
- Mile 40 of this route: Puebla → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 73 of this route: State of Mexico → Mexico City (state line)
- Mile 86 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 163 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
Stops between Puebla and Zitácuaro
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Garros Galería (mile 81), Los Pinos (mile 85), Museo Nacional de Historia (mile 85), Los Remedios National Park (mile 90)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Naucalli (mile 89), Los Remedios National Park (mile 90), Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (mile 170)
- Museums and history: Xochitecatl (mile 18), Cathedral of Nezahualcóyotl (mile 71), Museo Universitario del Chopo (mile 81), Garros Galería (mile 81), Los Pinos (mile 85), Museo Nacional de Historia (mile 85)
Xochitecatl
Xochitécatl is a pre-Hispanic archaeological site in the state of Tlaxcala. INAH runs it together with nearby Cacaxtla as a single zone, and the Xochitécatl site museum displays finds from the area.
Cathedral of Nezahualcóyotl
Consecrated on November 20, 2000, the Cathedral of Nezahualcóyotl, dedicated to Jesús, Señor de la Misericordia, is the seat of the Diocese of Nezahualcóyotl.
Museo Universitario del Chopo
In the Santa María la Ribera neighborhood, the Museo Universitario del Chopo is the National Autonomous University's venue for contemporary art collections.
Garros Galería
In Mexico City's Colonia Roma, Garros Galería is an art gallery and museum devoted entirely to cats.
Los Pinos
In Chapultepec Forest, Los Pinos served as the official residence and office of Mexico's presidents from 1934 to 2018.
Museo Nacional de Historia
Inside Chapultepec Castle in Chapultepec Park, the National Museum of History (Museo Nacional de Historia) covers Mexico's past as one of the country's national museums.
Parque Naucalli
Parque Naucalli is a park just outside Mexico City, in the municipality of Naucalpan de Juárez, where planning for the park began in 1975.
Los Remedios National Park
Los Remedios National Park, created by federal decree in 1938, covers about 400 hectares on the far western side of Naucalpan, just northwest of Mexico City.
Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve
Every fall, millions of monarch butterflies from across North America return to the oyamel fir forests about 100 km northwest of Mexico City, clustering so densely they bend branches. The reserve became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008.
More drives to Zitácuaro
- San Juan del Río to Zitácuaro
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Zitácuaro
- Zacatecas to Zitácuaro
- Fresnillo to Zitácuaro
- Durango to Zitácuaro
- Mazatlán to Zitácuaro
From Puebla to other places in Mexico
- Puebla to Calpulalpan
- Puebla to Cuautla
- Puebla to Otumba
- Puebla to Atlatlahucan
- Puebla to Cuernavaca
- Puebla to Omitlán
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Puebla to Zitácuaro?
About 3 h 6 min of driving without stops, over 178 miles.
How far is Zitácuaro from Puebla by car?
About 178 miles (287 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 Puebla to Zitácuaro?
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 Puebla to Zitácuaro?
The U.S. State Department rates Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Mexico City Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Puebla to Zitácuaro use?
In order: MEX-150D, Viaducto, Periférico, MEX-134D, MEX-A6D, MEX-A7D, MEX-15D and MEX-15. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Puebla and Zitácuaro?
Closest to the road: Los Pinos (museum, mile 85, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo Nacional de Historia (National museum, mile 85, 0.9 mi from the route); Los Remedios National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 90, 0.8 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.