The Wayro route from Tlacotalpan to Tócuaro is 506 miles (814 km), about 8 h 50 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 506 mi (814 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 50 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-175 → MEX-180 → MEX-180D → MEX-140 → MEX-140D → MEX-136 → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → MEX-37D → MEX-14 → MICH 19 |
| Mexican states on the route | Veracruz (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Michoacán (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-180D, MEX-140D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.2 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 Tlacotalpan to Tócuaro is like
MEX-M40D (121 mi) and MEX-140D (92 mi) carry about 42% of the 506 miles. MEX-180D, MEX-140D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-175, MEX-180, MEX-140, MEX-136, MEX-14 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 6 states: Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán. None of the 9 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Tlacotalpan to Tócuaro, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-175 | 0–9 | 9 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180 | 9–68 | 59 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 68–80 | 12 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180 | 80–89 | 9 | Veracruz |
| MEX-140 | 89–98 | 9 | Veracruz |
| MEX-140D | 98–106 | 8 | Veracruz |
| MEX-140 | 106–109 | 3 | Veracruz |
| MEX-140D | 109–193 | 84 | Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala |
| connecting roads | 193–194 | 1 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-136 | 194–245 | 51 | Tlaxcala |
| connecting roads | 245–246 | 1 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-M40D | 246–367 | 121 | Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 367–457 | 90 | State of Mexico, Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 457–458 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 458–495 | 37 | Michoacán |
| MEX-14 | 495–500 | 5 | Michoacán |
| MICH 19 | 500–506 | 6 | Michoacán |
- Mile 160 of this route: Veracruz → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 186 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 255 of this route: Tlaxcala → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 262 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 275 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 292 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 306 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 336 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 385 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
Stops between Tlacotalpan and Tócuaro
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Nacional Cofre de Perote (mile 150), La Malinche National Park (mile 206), Parque nacional Xicoténcatl (mile 221)
- Museums and history: Museo de Sitio de Cantona (mile 169), Tula (mile 322), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 368), Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 406), Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro (mile 500)
Parque Nacional Cofre de Perote
Cofre de Perote National Park protects the forested slopes of the mountain, and its role is practical as well as scenic: a little over 40 percent of the water used in Xalapa comes from here.
Museo de Sitio de Cantona
At the Cantona archaeological zone in Tepeyahualco, this site museum shows finds from more than 20 years of digs: pottery, obsidian and stone tools, musical instruments, greenstone and shell ornaments, and burial remains.
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.
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.
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.
Cathedral of Atlacomulco
Atlacomulco's cathedral, the Catedral de la Divina Providencia, is the seat of the Diocese of Atlacomulco and is dedicated to Divine Providence, making it the town's principal Catholic church.
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.
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.
More drives to Tócuaro
- Amatitán to Tócuaro
- Tequila to Tócuaro
- San Juan de los Lagos to Tócuaro
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Tócuaro
- Pinos to Tócuaro
- Pabellón de Hidalgo to Tócuaro
From Tlacotalpan to other places in Mexico
- Tlacotalpan to Chipilo
- Tlacotalpan to Oaxtepec
- Tlacotalpan to Huasca de Ocampo
- Tlacotalpan to Metztitlán
- Tlacotalpan to Tonatico
- Tlacotalpan to Ixcateopan
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tlacotalpan to Tócuaro?
About 8 h 50 min of driving without stops, over 506 miles.
How far is Tócuaro from Tlacotalpan by car?
About 506 miles (814 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 Tlacotalpan 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 Tlacotalpan to Tócuaro?
The U.S. State Department rates Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; 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 Tlacotalpan to Tócuaro use?
In order: MEX-175, MEX-180, MEX-180D, MEX-140, 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 Tlacotalpan and Tócuaro?
Closest to the road: Tula (archaeological site, mile 322, 1 mi from the route); Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (opera house, mile 406, 1 mi from the route); Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro (minor basilica, mile 500, 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.