The Wayro route from Uruapan to El Salto, Durango is 514 miles (827 km), about 8 h 53 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 514 mi (827 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 53 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-37 → MEX-15 → MEX-15D → MEX-40D → MEX-40 |
| Mexican states on the route | Michoacán (Level 4), Jalisco (Level 3), Nayarit (Level 2), Sinaloa (Level 4), Durango (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-15D, MEX-40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.6 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 El Salto, Durango is like
MEX-15D (351 mi) and MEX-40D (76 mi) carry about 83% of the 514 miles. MEX-15D, MEX-40D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-37, MEX-15, MEX-40 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 5 states: Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit, Sinaloa, Durango. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Uruapan to El Salto, Durango, 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 | 171–432 | 261 | Jalisco, Nayarit, Sinaloa |
| MEX-40D | 432–508 | 76 | Sinaloa, Durango |
| MEX-40 | 508–513 | 5 | Durango |
| local roads | 513–514 | 1 | Durango |
- 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)
- Mile 475 of this route: Sinaloa → Durango (state line)
Stops between Uruapan and El Salto, Durango
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Lago de Camécuaro National Park (mile 50), Zamora de Hidalgo Cathedral (mile 58), Statue of Minerva, Guadalajara (mile 158)
- Nature and outdoors: Lago de Camécuaro National Park (mile 50), Parque Walt Disney (mile 155), Agua Grande Lagoon (mile 388)
- Museums and history: Zamora de Hidalgo Cathedral (mile 58), Museo de Cera (mile 156), Guachimontones (mile 186), Tepic Cathedral (mile 281), Museo Amado Nervo (mile 281)
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.
Parque Walt Disney
Despite sharing a name with Walt Disney, this recreational space in Guadalajara's Colonia Olímpica has no direct theme tied to Disney's amusement parks.
Museo de Cera
On the Plaza de la Liberación in downtown Guadalajara, the Museo de Cera has 12 rooms with more than 130 wax figures of athletes, singers, actors, politicians and religious figures. It opened in 1994.
Statue of Minerva, Guadalajara
At a roundabout fountain in Guadalajara, a bronze statue of Minerva, Roman goddess of wisdom, stands on a large pedestal inscribed with the names of 18 notable citizens.
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 Amado Nervo
Poet Amado Nervo was born on August 27, 1870, in this mid-19th-century house in downtown Tepic, which opened as a museum dedicated to him on April 27, 1970.
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.
More drives to El Salto, Durango
- San Juan de los Lagos to El Salto, Durango
- Tepatitlán to El Salto, Durango
- Guadalajara to El Salto, Durango
- Tequila to El Salto, Durango
- Zamora to El Salto, Durango
- Paracho to El Salto, Durango
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 El Salto, Durango?
About 8 h 53 min of driving without stops, over 514 miles.
How far is El Salto, Durango from Uruapan by car?
About 514 miles (827 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 El Salto, Durango?
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 El Salto, Durango?
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; Durango Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Uruapan to El Salto, Durango use?
In order: MEX-37, MEX-15, MEX-15D, MEX-40D and MEX-40. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Uruapan and El Salto, Durango?
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); Statue of Minerva, Guadalajara (statue, mile 158, 0.8 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.