The Wayro route from Tzintzuntzan to Xilitla is 309 miles (497 km), about 7 h 12 min of driving without stops.
| Total distance | 309 mi (497 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 12 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-120 → MEX-15 → MEX-37D → MEX-15D → MEX-43D → MEX-45D → MEX-57D → QRO 4 → QRO 100 |
| Mexican states on the route | Michoacán, Guanajuato, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-43D, MEX-45D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
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.
How the Tzintzuntzan to Xilitla drive plays out
MEX-120 (110 mi) and MEX-43D (51 mi) carry about 52% of the 309 miles. It runs through 4 states: Michoacán, Guanajuato, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-37D, MEX-15D and MEX-43D. Of the 7 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Tzintzuntzan to Xilitla, 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 | 40–43 | 3 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 43–45 | 2 | Michoacán |
| MEX-43D | 45–96 | 51 | Michoacán, Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 96–147 | 51 | Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 147–157 | 10 | Querétaro |
| QRO 4 | 157–177 | 20 | Querétaro |
| QRO 100 | 177–186 | 9 | Querétaro |
| local roads | 186–191 | 5 | Querétaro |
| QRO 100 | 191–204 | 13 | Querétaro |
| MEX-120 | 204–309 | 105 | Querétaro, San Luis Potosí |
- Mile 60 of this route: Michoacán → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 139 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 293 of this route: Querétaro → San Luis Potosí (state line)
What to see on the way from Tzintzuntzan to Xilitla
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Santiago de Jalpan mission (mile 259)
- Nature and outdoors: El Cimatario National Park (mile 150)
- Museums and history: Historic Centre of Morelia (mile 27), Celaya Cathedral (mile 117), Querétaro Cathedral (mile 145), Queretaro Art Museum (mile 145), Santiago de Jalpan mission (mile 259), Santa María del Agua de Landa mission (mile 270)
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.
Celaya Cathedral
Where a former chapel once stood, annexed to the neighboring Temple of St. Francis, Celaya's main Catholic church now rises: the Immaculate Conception Cathedral.
Querétaro Cathedral
Querétaro's cathedral, dedicated to St. Philip Neri, is a Catholic church built by the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri in Santiago de Querétaro.
Queretaro Art Museum
Set in the cloister of the former San Agustín convent, the Museo de Arte de Querétaro opened in 1988 and shows paintings and sculpture across fifteen galleries.
El Cimatario National Park
El Cimatario National Park protects about 24 square kilometers of land just south of the city of Santiago de Querétaro.
Santiago de Jalpan mission
Built between 1751 and 1758 under Franciscan friar Junípero Serra, the Misión de Santiago de Jalpan is one of five Franciscan missions raised in Querétaro's Sierra Gorda.
Santa María del Agua de Landa mission
Built by Franciscans in the 18th century, the Mission of Santa María del Agua de Landa in Landa de Matamoros is an architectural complex in the churrigueresque style.
Once you reach Xilitla
Las Pozas
Created by Edward James in the Sierra Gorda, Las Pozas is a surrealist sculpture garden where concrete structures stand among waterfalls and pools in subtropical forest.
More drives to Xilitla
- Pedro Escobedo to Xilitla
- Tulancingo to Xilitla
- Actopan to Xilitla
- Otumba to Xilitla
- Celaya to Xilitla
- San Miguel de Allende to Xilitla
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 does it take to drive from Tzintzuntzan to Xilitla?
About 7 h 12 min of driving without stops, over 309 miles.
How far is Xilitla from Tzintzuntzan by car?
About 309 miles (497 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 Xilitla?
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 Xilitla?
The U.S. State Department rates Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Tzintzuntzan to Xilitla use?
In order: MEX-120, MEX-15, MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-43D, MEX-45D, MEX-57D, QRO 4 and QRO 100. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Tzintzuntzan to Xilitla?
Closest to the road: Queretaro Art Museum (art museum, mile 145, 1 mi from the route); Santiago de Jalpan mission (mission, mile 259, 0.7 mi from the route); Santa María del Agua de Landa mission (mission, mile 270, 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 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: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place 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.