Teziutlán to Tócuaro Road Trip: Where to Stop on the Way

By admin, 3 October, 2026

The Wayro route from Teziutlán to Tócuaro is 367 miles (591 km), about 6 h 4 min of driving without stops.

U.S. State Department travel advisory: 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 TravelAdvisory issued May 29, 2026; checked September 29, 2026. Michoacán is the Mexican state that contains Tócuaro. This route passes through a state at the advisory's highest level. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive.
Museo Nacional del TítereLa Malinche National ParkBasílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, ApizacoMuseo Casa de PiedraAqueduct of Padre TemblequeAtlantean figuresSala Histórica QuetzalcóatlRayón National ParkBasilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, PátzcuaroTeziutlánTócuaro
Route from Teziutlán to Tócuaro with the 9 stops listed below (blue dots).
Distance367 mi (591 km)
Driving time, no stops6 h 4 min
Main roads, in orderMEX-129D → MEX-140D → MEX-136 → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → MEX-37D → MEX-14 → MICH 19
Mexican states on the routePuebla (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Michoacán (Level 4)
Toll roadsMEX-129D, MEX-140D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 14.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below9

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 insuranceRequired 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 Tócuaro is like

MEX-M40D (120 mi) and MEX-15D (90 mi) carry about 57% of the 367 miles. MEX-129D, MEX-140D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-136, MEX-14 are free federal roads (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 Tócuaro, road by road

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miState
local roads0–22Puebla
MEX-129D2–4139Puebla
MEX-140D41–5514Puebla, Tlaxcala
MEX-13655–10752Tlaxcala
MEX-M40D107–227120Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico
connecting roads227–2281State of Mexico
MEX-15D228–31890State of Mexico, Michoacán
connecting roads318–3191Michoacán
MEX-37D319–35637Michoacán
MEX-14356–3604Michoacán
MICH 19360–3677Michoacán
  • 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 Tócuaro

  • Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Nacional del Títere (mile 63)
  • Nature and outdoors: La Malinche National Park (mile 66), Rayón National Park (mile 249)
  • Museums and history: Museo Nacional del Títere (mile 63), Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Apizaco (mile 79), Museo Casa de Piedra (mile 80), Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl (mile 184), Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro (mile 360)

Museo Nacional del Títere

Mile 63 · Museum · 0.9 mi from the route

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

Mile 66 · National Park of Mexico · 10 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

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.

Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Apizaco

Mile 79 · Basilica · 2 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

In the city of Apizaco, this Catholic basilica (Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Misericordia) was begun in the third decade of the 20th century and completed in 1961.

Museo Casa de Piedra

Mile 80 · Railway museum · 2 mi from the route

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.

Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque

Mile 133 · Aqueduct · 2 mi from the route

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.

Atlantean figures

Mile 183 · Atlantean figures · 1 mi from the route

Crowning the main pyramid at the Tula archaeological zone, these basalt sculptures of Toltec warriors stand more than four meters tall in what was once the Toltec capital; the nearby Wall of Snakes shows carved serpents devouring skeletons.

Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl

Mile 184 · Museum · 1 mi from the route

The Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl is an archaeological museum located in Tula de Allende, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.

Rayón National Park

Mile 249 · National Park of Mexico · 5 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Just outside Tlalpujahua, Rayón National Park (Parque Nacional Rayón) marks the start of the area's famous butterfly reserve country, which stretches south and west from here.

Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro

Mile 360 · Minor basilica · 2 mi from the route

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.

More drives to Tócuaro

From Teziutlán to other places in Mexico

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from Teziutlán to Tócuaro?

About 6 h 4 min of driving without stops, over 367 miles.

How far is Tócuaro from Teziutlán by car?

About 367 miles (591 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 Tócuaro?

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 Tócuaro?

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 Tócuaro use?

In order: MEX-129D, MEX-140D, MEX-136, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D, MEX-14 and MICH 19. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.

What are good stops between Teziutlán and Tócuaro?

Closest to the road: Museo Nacional del Títere (museum, mile 63, 0.9 mi from the route); Atlantean figures (atlantean figures, mile 183, 1 mi from the route); Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl (museum, mile 184, 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.