Plan on about 8 h 43 min of driving for the 460-mile (740 km) trip from Tapalpa to Ixcateopan, before any stops.
| Distance | 460 mi (740 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 43 min |
| Main roads, in order | JAL 436 → MEX-54 → MEX-54D → MEX-GUA 10D → MEX-35 → JAL 122 → MEX-15D → MEX-55D → MEX-55 → MEX-95 → MEX-92D |
| Mexican states on the route | Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico, Guerrero |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-54D, MEX-GUA 10D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.4 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.
How the Tapalpa to Ixcateopan drive plays out
MEX-15D (204 mi) and MEX-55D (58 mi) carry about 57% of the 460 miles. It runs through 4 states: Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico, Guerrero. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-54D, MEX-GUA 10D and MEX-15D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Tapalpa and Ixcateopan
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Jalisco |
| JAL 436 | 1–20 | 19 | Jalisco |
| MEX-54 | 20–30 | 10 | Jalisco |
| local roads | 30–34 | 4 | Jalisco |
| MEX-54D | 34–56 | 22 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 56–58 | 2 | Jalisco |
| MEX-GUA 10D | 58–80 | 22 | Jalisco |
| MEX-35 | 80–109 | 29 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 109–110 | 1 | Jalisco |
| JAL 122 | 110–115 | 5 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 115–319 | 204 | Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 319–321 | 2 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 321–355 | 34 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 355–361 | 6 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 361–373 | 12 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 373–375 | 2 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 375–399 | 24 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 399–403 | 4 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 403–410 | 7 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 410–427 | 17 | State of Mexico, Guerrero |
| MEX-95 | 427–430 | 3 | Guerrero |
| connecting roads | 430–432 | 2 | Guerrero |
| MEX-92D | 432–437 | 5 | Guerrero |
| connecting roads | 437–439 | 2 | Guerrero |
| local roads | 439–460 | 21 | Guerrero |
- Mile 133 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 301 of this route: Michoacán → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 412 of this route: State of Mexico → Guerrero (state line)
- Mile 415 of this route: Guerrero → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 423 of this route: State of Mexico → Guerrero (state line)
Stops between Tapalpa and Ixcateopan
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park (mile 422), William Spratling Museum (mile 439), Church of Santa Prisca de Taxco (mile 439)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Estatal Sierra Morelos (mile 357), Museo de Ciencias Naturales del Estado de México (mile 361), Nevado de Toluca National Park (mile 379), Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park (mile 422)
- Museums and history: Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 280), Calixtlahuaca (mile 355), Museo de Ciencias Naturales del Estado de México (mile 361), William Spratling Museum (mile 439), Church of Santa Prisca de Taxco (mile 439)
Teatro Morelos de Maravatío
French influence shapes the neoclassical lines of the Teatro Morelos, a late-19th-century theater in Maravatío by architect Rafael Guerrero Torres. It first opened in January 1879.
Calixtlahuaca
Spread over the slopes of Cerro Tenismó near Toluca, this site's standout is the round Temple of Ehécatl-Quetzalcóatl, rebuilt in four phases. Nearby, a Mexica-era skull rack displays stone skulls set into cross-shaped walls.
Parque Estatal Sierra Morelos
This Toluca park, one of the State of Mexico's protected natural areas, is home to more than 500 species of plants and animals. Families come for the axolotl center, bat house, small farm and jogging track.
Teatro Morelos
In Toluca's historic center, just west of the State of Mexico's Palace of Justice, Teatro Morelos stages plays along with other shows and cultural events.
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.
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.
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.
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.
When you get to Ixcateopan
Ixcateopan
Some 36 kilometers from Taxco in the rugged mountains of northern Guerrero, the ruins at Ixcateopan de Cuauhtémoc belong to a city that served as an important regional ceremonial center.
More drives to Ixcateopan
- Tlaltizapán to Ixcateopan
- Tepoztlán to Ixcateopan
- Metepec to Ixcateopan
- Oaxtepec to Ixcateopan
- Tlayacapan to Ixcateopan
- Zacualpan de Amilpas to Ixcateopan
From Tapalpa to other places in Mexico
- Tapalpa to Temacapulín
- Tapalpa to Jalpa de Cánovas
- Tapalpa to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Tapalpa to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Tapalpa to Real de Asientos
- Tapalpa to Mineral de Pozos
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tapalpa to Ixcateopan?
About 8 h 43 min of driving without stops, over 460 miles.
How far is Ixcateopan from Tapalpa by car?
About 460 miles (740 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 Tapalpa to Ixcateopan?
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 Tapalpa to Ixcateopan?
The U.S. State Department rates Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; 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 Tapalpa to Ixcateopan use?
In order: JAL 436, MEX-54, MEX-54D, MEX-GUA 10D, MEX-35, JAL 122, MEX-15D, MEX-55D, MEX-55, MEX-95 and MEX-92D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Tapalpa to Ixcateopan?
Closest to the road: Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park (national park, mile 422, 0.3 mi from the route); William Spratling Museum (museum, mile 439, 0.4 mi from the route); Church of Santa Prisca de Taxco (church, mile 439, 0.4 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 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: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place 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.