The Wayro route from Tepatitlán to Santa Clara del Cobre is 172 miles (277 km), about 3 h 42 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 172 mi (277 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 42 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-90 → JAL 122 → MEX-15D → MICH 39 → MEX-15 → MEX-120 → MEX-14D |
| Mexican states on the route | Jalisco (Level 3), Michoacán (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-15D, MEX-14D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 6.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
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 Tepatitlán to Santa Clara del Cobre is like
MEX-15D (73 mi) and MEX-15 (23 mi) carry about 56% of the 172 miles. MEX-15D, MEX-14D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-90, MEX-15, MEX-120 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 2 states: Jalisco, Michoacán. Of the 4 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Tepatitlán to Santa Clara del Cobre, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–22 | 22 | Jalisco |
| MEX-90 | 22–25 | 3 | Jalisco |
| JAL 122 | 25–36 | 11 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 36–109 | 73 | Jalisco, Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 109–110 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MICH 39 | 110–122 | 12 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 122–145 | 23 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 145–146 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-120 | 146–157 | 11 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 157–159 | 2 | Michoacán |
| MEX-14D | 159–162 | 3 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 162–163 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-120 | 163–172 | 9 | Michoacán |
- Mile 54 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
Stops between Tepatitlán and Santa Clara del Cobre
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Tzintzuntzan (mile 151)
- Museums and history: Tzintzuntzan (mile 151), Ihuatzio (mile 154), Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro (mile 163), Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares (mile 163)
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.
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.
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 Santa Clara del Cobre
- Tequila to Santa Clara del Cobre
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Santa Clara del Cobre
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Santa Clara del Cobre
- Zacatecas to Santa Clara del Cobre
- Jerez, Zacatecas to Santa Clara del Cobre
- Fresnillo to Santa Clara del Cobre
From Tepatitlán to other places in Mexico
- Tepatitlán to Pabellón de Arteaga
- Tepatitlán to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Tepatitlán to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Tepatitlán to Calvillo
- Tepatitlán to Real de Asientos
- Tepatitlán to Jerez, Zacatecas
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tepatitlán to Santa Clara del Cobre?
About 3 h 42 min of driving without stops, over 172 miles.
How far is Santa Clara del Cobre from Tepatitlán by car?
About 172 miles (277 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 Tepatitlán to Santa Clara del Cobre?
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 Tepatitlán to Santa Clara del Cobre?
The U.S. State Department rates Jalisco 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 Tepatitlán to Santa Clara del Cobre use?
In order: MEX-90, JAL 122, MEX-15D, MICH 39, MEX-15, MEX-120 and MEX-14D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Tepatitlán and Santa Clara del Cobre?
Closest to the road: Tzintzuntzan (archaeological site, mile 151, 0.3 mi from the route); Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares (museum, mile 163, 1 mi from the route); Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro (minor basilica, mile 163, 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.