The Wayro route from Santa Clara del Cobre to Amatitán is 213 miles (343 km), about 4 h 10 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 213 mi (343 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 10 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-120 → MEX-15 → MICH 39 → MEX-15D |
| Mexican states on the route | Michoacán (Level 4), Jalisco (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
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 Santa Clara del Cobre to Amatitán is like
MEX-15D (127 mi) and MEX-15 (46 mi) carry about 81% of the 213 miles. MEX-15D is a toll highway (cuota); MEX-120, MEX-15 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 2 states: Michoacán, Jalisco. Of the 8 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Santa Clara del Cobre to Amatitán, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-120 | 1–27 | 26 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 27–28 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 28–51 | 23 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 51–52 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MICH 39 | 52–58 | 6 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 58–62 | 4 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 62–63 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 63–190 | 127 | Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 190–213 | 23 | Jalisco |
- Mile 120 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
Stops between Santa Clara del Cobre and Amatitán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro (mile 11), Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares (mile 11), Tzintzuntzan (mile 22), Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 189)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 189)
- Museums and history: Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro (mile 11), Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares (mile 11), Ihuatzio (mile 14), Tzintzuntzan (mile 22), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 180), Guadalajara city museum (mile 184)
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.
Ihuatzio
On the shore of Lake Pátzcuaro, Ihuatzio was one of three main Purépecha power centers. Visitors can see raised walkways and two semicircular pyramids called yácatas; excavations here also turned up Chac Mool and coyote sculptures carved from volcanic rock.
Tzintzuntzan
Once the political and economic capital of the Purépecha empire, governed by a hereditary line of uacúsecha, or 'eagle lords,' Tzintzuntzan preserves its yácatas, temple bases that combine rectangular and semicircular platforms around ritual plazas.
Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque
On Independencia Street in central Tlaquepaque, Jalisco, the Museo Regional de la Cerámica is one of the city's two main ceramics museums, alongside the Pantaleón Panduro Museum.
Diana Theatre
The Diana Theatre, or Teatro Diana, is an indoor theater in Guadalajara, in the state of Jalisco, with seating for 2,345 people.
Guadalajara city museum
Guadalajara's city museum (Museo de la Ciudad), in the historic center, opened on February 14, 1992, and covers the city's history and many sides of its culture.
Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara
Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara is a public park in Zapopan, Jalisco, that hosts many events, including concerts, outdoor movie screenings and food festivals.
More drives to Amatitán
- Tepatitlán to Amatitán
- San Juan de los Lagos to Amatitán
- Aguascalientes to Amatitán
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Amatitán
- Calvillo to Amatitán
- El Rosario, Sinaloa to Amatitán
From Santa Clara del Cobre to other places in Mexico
- Santa Clara del Cobre to Real de Asientos
- Santa Clara del Cobre to Nombre de Dios
- Santa Clara del Cobre to San Ignacio, Sinaloa
- Santa Clara del Cobre to Mineral de Pozos
- Santa Clara del Cobre to Bernal
- Santa Clara del Cobre to Pedro Escobedo
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Santa Clara del Cobre to Amatitán?
About 4 h 10 min of driving without stops, over 213 miles.
How far is Amatitán from Santa Clara del Cobre by car?
About 213 miles (343 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 Santa Clara del Cobre to Amatitán?
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 Santa Clara del Cobre to Amatitán?
The U.S. State Department rates Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Santa Clara del Cobre to Amatitán use?
In order: MEX-120, MEX-15, MICH 39 and MEX-15D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Santa Clara del Cobre and Amatitán?
Closest to the road: Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares (museum, mile 11, 0.6 mi from the route); Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro (minor basilica, mile 11, 0.7 mi from the route); Tzintzuntzan (archaeological site, mile 22, 0.2 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.