The Wayro route from Tlaxco to Tócuaro is 285 miles (458 km), about 4 h 59 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 285 mi (458 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 59 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → MEX-37D → MEX-14 → MICH 19 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Michoacán (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.4 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.
What the drive from Tlaxco to Tócuaro is like
MEX-M40D (111 mi) and MEX-15D (90 mi) carry about 71% of the 285 miles. MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-14 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 4 states: Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Tlaxco to Tócuaro, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–34 | 34 | Tlaxcala, Hidalgo |
| MEX-M40D | 34–145 | 111 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 145–235 | 90 | State of Mexico, Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 235–236 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 236–273 | 37 | Michoacán |
| MEX-14 | 273–278 | 5 | Michoacán |
| MICH 19 | 278–284 | 6 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 284–285 | 1 | Michoacán |
- Mile 14 of this route: Tlaxcala → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 41 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 53 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 70 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 85 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 114 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 163 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
Stops between Tlaxco and Tócuaro
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo del Ferrocarril de Apan (mile 25)
- Nature and outdoors: Rayón National Park (mile 167)
- Museums and history: Museo del Ferrocarril de Apan (mile 25), Teotihuacan (mile 52), Tula (mile 101), Jorge R. Acosta Museum (mile 101), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 146), Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 185), Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro (mile 278), Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares (mile 278)
Museo del Ferrocarril de Apan
Set in Apan's old train station on the former Mexico City–Veracruz line, this railroad museum preserves the town's history.
Teotihuacan
Built between the 1st and 7th centuries AD, this UNESCO-listed ancient city lines the Avenue of the Dead, where you can walk between the Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon and the Temple of the Feathered Serpent.
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.
Jorge R. Acosta Museum
Next to the Tula ruins, the Museo de Sitio Jorge R. Acosta traces the rise and decline of the Toltecs and their city, Tollan Xicocotitlan. It moved into new facilities in 1982 and covers nearly 20 years of digs led by archaeologist Jorge R. Acosta.
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.
Rayón National Park
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.
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.
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 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 Tlaxco to other places in Mexico
- Tlaxco to Chipilo
- Tlaxco to Otumba
- Tlaxco to Omitlán
- Tlaxco to Atlatlahucan
- Tlaxco to Jilotepec
- Tlaxco to Zimapán
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tlaxco to Tócuaro?
About 4 h 59 min of driving without stops, over 285 miles.
How far is Tócuaro from Tlaxco by car?
About 285 miles (458 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 Tlaxco 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 Tlaxco to Tócuaro?
The U.S. State Department rates 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 Tlaxco to Tócuaro use?
In order: 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 Tlaxco and Tócuaro?
Closest to the road: Museo del Ferrocarril de Apan (museum, mile 25, 0.1 mi from the route); Tula (archaeological site, mile 101, 1 mi from the route); Jorge R. Acosta Museum (museum, mile 101, 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.