The Wayro route from Uruapan to Zacatelco is 324 miles (522 km), about 5 h 6 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 324 mi (522 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 6 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-14D → MEX-37D → MEX-15D → MEX-M40D → MEX-117D → MEX-119 |
| Mexican states on the route | Michoacán (Level 4), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-14D, MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-117D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.0 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 Zacatelco is like
MEX-M40D (137 mi) and MEX-15D (92 mi) carry about 71% of the 324 miles. MEX-14D, MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-117D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-119 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 5 states: Michoacán, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala, Puebla. None of the 9 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Uruapan to Zacatelco, 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 | 75–167 | 92 | Michoacán, State of Mexico |
| MEX-M40D | 167–304 | 137 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| MEX-117D | 304–318 | 14 | Puebla, Tlaxcala |
| connecting roads | 318–319 | 1 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-119 | 319–324 | 5 | Tlaxcala |
- Mile 149 of this route: Michoacán → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 198 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 228 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 242 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 259 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 272 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 279 of this route: Hidalgo → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 302 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 306 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
Stops between Uruapan and Zacatelco
- Nature and outdoors: Rayón National Park (mile 145)
- Museums and history: Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro (mile 33), Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 127), Tula (mile 211), Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl (mile 211), Basílica de Ocotlán (mile 315), Museo Miguel N. Lira (mile 315)
Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro
Pátzcuaro's basilica (Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Salud) rises on pre-Hispanic platforms beside its own plaza. Bishop Vasco de Quiroga planned it as a five-nave cathedral, only one nave was finished, and his remains rest inside.
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.
Teatro Morelos de Maravatío
Maravatío's Teatro Morelos is a late-19th-century theater in a French-influenced neoclassical style, designed by architect Rafael Guerrero Torres. It opened on January 11, 1879, with a performance by opera singer Ángela Peralta.
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.
Tula
Once the Toltec capital, the Tula archaeological zone is best known for its Atlantes, basalt warrior figures over four meters (13 feet) tall crowning the main pyramid. Visitors also see a ball court, the Burnt Palace and the Coatepantli wall, carved with snakes devouring skeletons.
Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl
The Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl is an archaeological museum located in Tula de Allende, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque
Built by Franciscan friar Francisco de Tembleque between 1554 and 1572, this 16th-century water system runs more than 48 km between Zempoala and Otumba. Its tallest arcade at Tepeyahualco reaches almost 40 meters, and UNESCO listed it in 2015.
Basílica de Ocotlán
On Cerro de San Lorenzo near the city of Tlaxcala, the Basílica de Ocotlán is a standout of Mexican Churrigueresque Baroque, begun in 1670 and home to an ocote-wood image of the Virgin tied to a 1541 legend.
Museo Miguel N. Lira
Downtown Tlaxcala's Museo Miguel N. Lira fills the old State Printing Office, linked to the writer and poet. Visitors see his manuscripts, family photos and personal belongings, plus the original linotype machines and the press that printed his work.
When you get to Zacatelco
Laguna de Acomulco
A quiet lagoon in the state of Tlaxcala, Laguna de Acomulco is surrounded by vegetation and rural scenery and works well for a short walk, landscape photos or a calm break in nature.
Parque ecológico Los Ladrillos
Opened on April 2, 2015, Los Ladrillos Ecological Park is a nature reserve in the municipality of Zacatelco, in Tlaxcala.
More drives to Zacatelco
- Huamantla to Zacatelco
- Cuautla to Zacatelco
- Pachuca to Zacatelco
- Tulancingo to Zacatelco
- Tepotzotlán to Zacatelco
- Cuernavaca to Zacatelco
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 Zacatelco?
About 5 h 6 min of driving without stops, over 324 miles.
How far is Zacatelco from Uruapan by car?
About 324 miles (522 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 Zacatelco?
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 Zacatelco?
The U.S. State Department rates Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla 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 Zacatelco use?
In order: MEX-14D, MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-117D and MEX-119. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Uruapan and Zacatelco?
Closest to the road: Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (opera house, mile 127, 1 mi from the route); Tula (archaeological site, mile 211, 1 mi from the route); Museo Miguel N. Lira (museum, mile 315, 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.