The Wayro route from Uruapan to Tonatico is 250 miles (403 km), about 4 h 7 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 250 mi (403 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 7 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-14D → MEX-37D → MEX-15D → MEX-55D → MEX-55 |
| Mexican states on the route | Michoacán (Level 4), State of Mexico (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-14D, MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-55D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.0 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 Tonatico is like
MEX-15D (91 mi) and MEX-55D (58 mi) carry about 60% of the 250 miles. MEX-14D, MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-55D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-55 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 2 states: Michoacán, State of Mexico. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Uruapan to Tonatico, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Michoacán |
| MEX-14D | 4–37 | 33 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 37–75 | 38 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 75–166 | 91 | Michoacán, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 166–169 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 169–203 | 34 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 203–208 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 208–221 | 13 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 221–222 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 222–246 | 24 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 246–250 | 4 | State of Mexico |
- Mile 149 of this route: Michoacán → State of Mexico (state line)
Stops between Uruapan and Tonatico
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cosmovitral (mile 208)
- Nature and outdoors: Rayón National Park (mile 145), Parque Estatal Sierra Morelos (mile 204), Museo de Ciencias Naturales del Estado de México (mile 209), Nevado de Toluca National Park (mile 226), Desierto del Carmen National Park (mile 242)
- Museums and history: Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares (mile 33), Calixtlahuaca (mile 203), Cosmovitral (mile 208), Museo de Ciencias Naturales del Estado de México (mile 209)
Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares
Housed in an 18th-century building adapted from the Colegio de San Nicolás, which Vasco de Quiroga founded in the 16th century, this INAH museum in Pátzcuaro shows Purépecha pottery, textiles, woodwork and lacquerware.
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.
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.
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.
Cosmovitral
Toluca's Cosmovitral wraps a botanical garden of more than 500 plant species in a huge stained-glass work designed by artist Leopoldo Flores. Light filtering through the colored glass sets the mood as you walk the garden paths.
Museo de Ciencias Naturales del Estado de México
Set in the Parque de los Matlatzincas on Cerro del Calvario, the Natural Sciences Museum of the State of Mexico explores biology, geology and the preservation of natural resources.
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.
More drives to Tonatico
- Valle de Bravo to Tonatico
- Zitácuaro to Tonatico
- Tlalpujahua to Tonatico
- Amealco to Tonatico
- San Juan del Río to Tonatico
- Tequisquiapan to Tonatico
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 Tonatico?
About 4 h 7 min of driving without stops, over 250 miles.
How far is Tonatico from Uruapan by car?
About 250 miles (403 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 Tonatico?
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 Tonatico?
The U.S. State Department rates Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Uruapan to Tonatico use?
In order: MEX-14D, MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-55D and MEX-55. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Uruapan and Tonatico?
Closest to the road: Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares (museum, mile 33, 1 mi from the route); Cosmovitral (museum, mile 208, 0.8 mi from the route); Museo de Ciencias Naturales del Estado de México (museum, mile 209, 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.