The Wayro route from Teziutlán to Ihuatzio is 364 miles (586 km), about 6 h 1 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 364 mi (586 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 1 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-129D → MEX-140D → MEX-136 → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → MEX-37D |
| Mexican states on the route | Puebla (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Michoacán (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-129D, MEX-140D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.6 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 Teziutlán to Ihuatzio is like
MEX-M40D (120 mi) and MEX-15D (90 mi) carry about 58% of the 364 miles. MEX-129D, MEX-140D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-136 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 5 states: Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Teziutlán to Ihuatzio, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Puebla |
| MEX-129D | 2–41 | 39 | Puebla |
| MEX-140D | 41–55 | 14 | Puebla, Tlaxcala |
| MEX-136 | 55–107 | 52 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-M40D | 107–227 | 120 | Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 227–228 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 228–318 | 90 | State of Mexico, Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 318–319 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 319–356 | 37 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 356–361 | 5 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 361–364 | 3 | Michoacán |
- Mile 47 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 116 of this route: Tlaxcala → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 124 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 136 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 153 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 167 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 197 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 247 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
Stops between Teziutlán and Ihuatzio
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Nacional del Títere (mile 63)
- Nature and outdoors: La Malinche National Park (mile 66), Parque nacional Xicoténcatl (mile 84)
- Museums and history: Museo Nacional del Títere (mile 63), Museo Casa de Piedra (mile 80), Tula (mile 184), Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 267)
Museo Nacional del Títere
On the main square of Huamantla, the National Puppet Museum (Museo Nacional del Títere) fills eight galleries with puppets from Mexico and abroad, including pieces tied to the Rosete Aranda family, whose company toured Mexico for generations.
La Malinche National Park
Tlaxcala's La Malinche National Park surrounds the inactive Matlalcuéyetl volcano, with pine, oak and fir forests on its slopes, hiking trails, birdwatching, and stone cabins and campsites at the Malintzi Vacation Center.
Museo Casa de Piedra
Apizaco's old railroad station, dating from 1916, now houses the Museo Casa de Piedra. Inside, photographs and documents trace the town's history, especially its long ties to the railroads.
Parque nacional Xicoténcatl
Covering roughly 600 hectares in central Tlaxcala, Xicohténcatl National Park takes in the historic center of Tlaxcala city plus Quiahuixtlán, Ocotelulco and Tepeticpac, which correspond to three of the old Tlaxcalan lordships.
Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque
Built by Franciscan friar Francisco de Tembleque between 1554 and 1572, this 16th-century water system runs more than 48 km between Zempoala and Otumba. Its tallest arcade at Tepeyahualco reaches almost 40 meters, and UNESCO listed it in 2015.
Church and former convent of Todos los Santos
Franciscan friars built this fortress-style convent in Zempoala, and the complex still keeps the classic layout of atrium, church, open chapel and cloister. It pairs well with a drive through the area's old pulque haciendas.
Tula
Once the Toltec capital, the Tula archaeological zone is best known for its Atlantes, basalt warrior figures over four meters (13 feet) tall crowning the main pyramid. Visitors also see a ball court, the Burnt Palace and the Coatepantli wall, carved with snakes devouring skeletons.
Teatro Morelos de Maravatío
Maravatío's Teatro Morelos is a late-19th-century theater in a French-influenced neoclassical style, designed by architect Rafael Guerrero Torres. It opened on January 11, 1879, with a performance by opera singer Ángela Peralta.
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.
When you get to Ihuatzio
Lake Pátzcuaro
Boats leave the shore of Lake Pátzcuaro for its islands, including Janitzio, topped by a statue of José María Morelos. Purépecha fishers here are known for butterfly-shaped nets, and whitefish is the local specialty.
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.
More drives to Ihuatzio
- Amatitán to Ihuatzio
- Tequila to Ihuatzio
- Pabellón de Hidalgo to Ihuatzio
- Calvillo to Ihuatzio
- Real de Asientos to Ihuatzio
- Zacatecas to Ihuatzio
From Teziutlán to other places in Mexico
- Teziutlán to Huejotzingo
- Teziutlán to Omitlán
- Teziutlán to Tepotzotlán
- Teziutlán to Huasca de Ocampo
- Teziutlán to Actopan
- Teziutlán to Metepec
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Teziutlán to Ihuatzio?
About 6 h 1 min of driving without stops, over 364 miles.
How far is Ihuatzio from Teziutlán by car?
About 364 miles (586 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 Teziutlán to Ihuatzio?
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 Teziutlán to Ihuatzio?
The U.S. State Department rates Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico 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 Teziutlán to Ihuatzio use?
In order: MEX-129D, MEX-140D, MEX-136, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D and MEX-37D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Teziutlán and Ihuatzio?
Closest to the road: Museo Nacional del Títere (museum, mile 63, 0.9 mi from the route); Tula (archaeological site, mile 184, 1 mi from the route); Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (opera house, mile 267, 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.