The Wayro route from Tzintzuntzan to Ixcateopan is 272 miles (438 km), about 5 h 15 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 272 mi (438 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 15 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-120 → MEX-15 → MEX-37D → MEX-15D → MEX-55D → MEX-55 → MEX-95 → MEX-92D |
| Mexican states on the route | Michoacán (Level 4), State of Mexico (Level 2), Guerrero (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-55D, MEX-92D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.9 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 Tzintzuntzan to Ixcateopan is like
MEX-15D (90 mi) and MEX-55D (58 mi) carry about 54% of the 272 miles. MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-55D, MEX-92D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-120, MEX-15, MEX-55, MEX-95 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Michoacán, State of Mexico, Guerrero. Of the 8 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Tzintzuntzan to Ixcateopan, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-120 | 0–5 | 5 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 5–19 | 14 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 19–40 | 21 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 40–130 | 90 | Michoacán, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 130–134 | 4 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 134–167 | 33 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 167–173 | 6 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 173–185 | 12 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 185–186 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 186–211 | 25 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 211–214 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 214–222 | 8 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 222–239 | 17 | State of Mexico, Guerrero |
| MEX-95 | 239–242 | 3 | Guerrero |
| connecting roads | 242–244 | 2 | Guerrero |
| MEX-92D | 244–250 | 6 | Guerrero |
| local roads | 250–272 | 22 | Guerrero |
- Mile 113 of this route: Michoacán → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 234 of this route: State of Mexico → Guerrero (state line)
Stops between Tzintzuntzan and Ixcateopan
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): José María Morelos y Pavón University History Museum (mile 173), Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park (mile 234), Church of Santa Prisca de Taxco (mile 251), Museo de Arte Virreinal de Taxco (mile 251)
- Nature and outdoors: Rayón National Park (mile 109), Nevado de Toluca National Park (mile 191), Desierto del Carmen National Park (mile 207), Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park (mile 234)
- Museums and history: José María Morelos y Pavón University History Museum (mile 173), Church of Santa Prisca de Taxco (mile 251), Museo de Arte Virreinal de Taxco (mile 251)
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.
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.
José María Morelos y Pavón University History Museum
The Museo de Historia Universitaria José María Morelos y Pavón is a history museum located in the city of Toluca de Lerdo.
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.
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.
Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park
Protected as a national park since 1936, this area near Taxco centers on the Cacahuamilpa caverns, where a guided route of about 4 km passes chambers up to 80 meters high, decorated with flowstone and floor-to-ceiling columns.
Church of Santa Prisca de Taxco
Silver baron José de la Borda paid for Santa Prisca with the bonanza from his San Ignacio mine in Taxco, and the church was dedicated in 1759, the same year his nearby house on the plaza was finished.
Museo de Arte Virreinal de Taxco
Housed in the historic Casa Humboldt in Taxco, the Museo de Arte Virreinal shows colonial sacred art recovered from the Santa Prisca parish church, along with permanent exhibitions on Alexander von Humboldt and the town's history.
When you get to Ixcateopan
Ixcateopan
Some 36 kilometers from Taxco in the rugged mountains of northern Guerrero, the ruins at Ixcateopan de Cuauhtémoc belong to a city that served as an important regional ceremonial center.
More drives to Ixcateopan
- Tlaltizapán to Ixcateopan
- Tepoztlán to Ixcateopan
- Metepec to Ixcateopan
- Oaxtepec to Ixcateopan
- Tlayacapan to Ixcateopan
- Zacualpan de Amilpas to Ixcateopan
From Tzintzuntzan to other places in Mexico
- Tzintzuntzan to Amatitán
- Tzintzuntzan to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Tzintzuntzan to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Tzintzuntzan to Real de Asientos
- Tzintzuntzan to Nombre de Dios
- Tzintzuntzan to San Ignacio, Sinaloa
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tzintzuntzan to Ixcateopan?
About 5 h 15 min of driving without stops, over 272 miles.
How far is Ixcateopan from Tzintzuntzan by car?
About 272 miles (438 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 Tzintzuntzan to Ixcateopan?
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 Tzintzuntzan to Ixcateopan?
The U.S. State Department rates Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Guerrero Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Tzintzuntzan to Ixcateopan use?
In order: MEX-120, MEX-15, MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-55D, MEX-55, MEX-95 and MEX-92D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Tzintzuntzan and Ixcateopan?
Closest to the road: Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 234, 0.1 mi from the route); Museo de Arte Virreinal de Taxco (museum, mile 251, 0.4 mi from the route); Church of Santa Prisca de Taxco (church building, mile 251, 0.4 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.