The Wayro route from Tonatico to Santa Fe de la Laguna is 212 miles (341 km), about 3 h 41 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 212 mi (341 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 41 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-55D → MEX-55 → MEX-15D → MEX-37D → MEX-15 |
| Mexican states on the route | State of Mexico (Level 2), Michoacán (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-55D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
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 Tonatico to Santa Fe de la Laguna is like
MEX-15D (90 mi) and MEX-55D (53 mi) carry about 67% of the 212 miles. MEX-55D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-55, MEX-15 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 2 states: State of Mexico, Michoacán. Of the 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Tonatico to Santa Fe de la Laguna, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 4–28 | 24 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 28–30 | 2 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 30–41 | 11 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 41–52 | 11 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 52–81 | 29 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 81–84 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 84–85 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 85–175 | 90 | State of Mexico, Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 175–196 | 21 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 196–211 | 15 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 211–212 | 1 | Michoacán |
- Mile 103 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
Stops between Tonatico and Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 82)
- Nature and outdoors: Desierto del Carmen National Park (mile 8), Nevado de Toluca National Park (mile 24), Parque Estatal Sierra Morelos (mile 46), Rayón National Park (mile 106)
- Museums and history: Museum José María Velasco (mile 42), Calixtlahuaca (mile 47), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 82)
Desierto del Carmen National Park
Declared a national park on October 10, 1942, Desierto del Carmen is a protected area in the municipality of Tenancingo, in the State of Mexico.
Nevado de Toluca National Park
The Nevado de Toluca volcano was declared a flora and fauna protection area in 2013, a protected zone spanning ten municipalities of the State of Mexico, including Toluca, Zinacantepec and Temascaltepec.
Museum José María Velasco
In Toluca's historic center, the Museo José María Velasco shares the work of 19th-century Mexican painter José María Velasco, with Plaza de los Mártires to the south and the Government Palace to the east.
Parque Estatal Sierra Morelos
This Toluca park, one of the State of Mexico's protected natural areas, is home to more than 500 species of plants and animals. Families come for the axolotl center, bat house, small farm and jogging track.
Calixtlahuaca
Spread over the slopes of Cerro Tenismó near Toluca, this site's standout is the round Temple of Ehécatl-Quetzalcóatl, rebuilt in four phases. Nearby, a Mexica-era skull rack displays stone skulls set into cross-shaped walls.
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.
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 Santa Fe de la Laguna
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.
More drives to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Pedro Escobedo to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Amatitán to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Cadereyta to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Tequila to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Zimapán to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes to Santa Fe de la Laguna
From Tonatico to other places in Mexico
- Tonatico to El Oro
- Tonatico to Bernal
- Tonatico to Mineral de Pozos
- Tonatico to Cuanajo
- Tonatico to Tócuaro
- Tonatico to Pacanda
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tonatico to Santa Fe de la Laguna?
About 3 h 41 min of driving without stops, over 212 miles.
How far is Santa Fe de la Laguna from Tonatico by car?
About 212 miles (341 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 Tonatico to Santa Fe de la Laguna?
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 Tonatico to Santa Fe de la Laguna?
The U.S. State Department rates 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 Tonatico to Santa Fe de la Laguna use?
In order: MEX-55D, MEX-55, MEX-15D, MEX-37D and MEX-15. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Tonatico and Santa Fe de la Laguna?
Closest to the road: Museum José María Velasco (art museum, mile 42, 1 mi from the route); Calixtlahuaca (archaeological site, mile 47, 1 mi from the route); Cathedral of Atlacomulco (catholic cathedral, mile 82, 0.1 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.