The Wayro route from Uruapan to Cosalá is 554 miles (892 km), about 10 h 7 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 554 mi (892 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 7 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-37 → MEX-15 → MEX-15D → SIN 403 → SIN 402 |
| Mexican states on the route | Michoacán (Level 4), Jalisco (Level 3), Nayarit (Level 2), Sinaloa (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 22.2 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 Uruapan to Cosalá is like
MEX-15D (424 mi) and SIN 402 (34 mi) carry about 83% of the 554 miles. MEX-15D is a toll highway (cuota); MEX-37, MEX-15 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit, Sinaloa. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Uruapan to Cosalá, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37 | 1–19 | 18 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 19–48 | 29 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 48–58 | 10 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 58–73 | 15 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 73–163 | 90 | Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 163–171 | 8 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 171–505 | 334 | Jalisco, Nayarit, Sinaloa |
| connecting roads | 505–508 | 3 | Sinaloa |
| SIN 403 | 508–519 | 11 | Sinaloa |
| connecting roads | 519–520 | 1 | Sinaloa |
| SIN 402 | 520–554 | 34 | Sinaloa |
- Mile 93 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 221 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
- Mile 364 of this route: Nayarit → Sinaloa (state line)
Stops between Uruapan and Cosalá
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Lago de Camécuaro National Park (mile 50), Zamora de Hidalgo Cathedral (mile 58)
- Nature and outdoors: Lago de Camécuaro National Park (mile 50), Agua Grande Lagoon (mile 388)
- Museums and history: Zamora de Hidalgo Cathedral (mile 58), Casa Museo López Portillo (mile 156), Guachimontones (mile 186), Tepic Cathedral (mile 281), Museo Regional de Nayarit (mile 281)
- With kids: Acuario Michin Guadalajara (mile 157)
Lago de Camécuaro National Park
Fed by countless springs, clear Lake Camécuaro near Tangancícuaro, about 13 km from Zamora, is ringed by old ahuehuete (sabino) trees. The national park is a popular spot for swimming, rowboats and picnics in their shade.
Zamora de Hidalgo Cathedral
Zamora's Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is a 19th-century Catholic church in the Michoacán city of Zamora de Hidalgo, attributed to the Celaya architect Eduardo Tresguerras.
Casa Museo López Portillo
Opened on May 10, 1982, this house museum in Guadalajara's historic center showcases decorative arts and promotes work by young artists from the metro area.
Acuario Michin Guadalajara
Acuario Michin Guadalajara is an aquarium in the city of Guadalajara, in the Mexican state of Jalisco.
Guachimontones
Near the town of Teuchitlán, Guachimontones is known for its circular structures. INAH describes it as the first large population center in western Mexico, emerging around 1000 BC, with two ball courts and about 40 circular buildings across 20 hectares.
Tepic Cathedral
The Immaculate Conception Cathedral, also known as Tepic Cathedral, stands on the main square in the center of Tepic and is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tepic.
Museo Regional de Nayarit
In the city of Tepic, the Museo Regional de Nayarit focuses on the different cultural traditions of pre-Hispanic Nayarit.
Agua Grande Lagoon
Agua Grande is a large coastal lagoon in the Mexican state of Sinaloa that drains into the Pacific Ocean through the Teacapán Estuary.
Las Labradas
Las Labradas is an archaeological site set right on the coast of the municipality of San Ignacio, in the southern part of the Mexican state of Sinaloa.
More drives to Cosalá
- Sombrerete to Cosalá
- Aguascalientes to Cosalá
- San Juan de los Lagos to Cosalá
- Tepatitlán to Cosalá
- Guadalajara to Cosalá
- Tequila to Cosalá
From Uruapan to other places in Mexico
- Uruapan to Amatitán
- Uruapan to Tequila
- Uruapan to Pabellón de Arteaga
- Uruapan to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Uruapan to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Uruapan to Real de Asientos
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Uruapan to Cosalá?
About 10 h 7 min of driving without stops, over 554 miles.
How far is Cosalá from Uruapan by car?
About 554 miles (892 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 Uruapan to Cosalá?
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 Uruapan to Cosalá?
The U.S. State Department rates Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Sinaloa Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Uruapan to Cosalá use?
In order: MEX-37, MEX-15, MEX-15D, SIN 403 and SIN 402. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Uruapan and Cosalá?
Closest to the road: Lago de Camécuaro National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 50, 0.5 mi from the route); Zamora de Hidalgo Cathedral (catholic cathedral, mile 58, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo Regional de Nayarit (museum, mile 281, 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.