The Wayro route from Zacatelco to Ajijic is 414 miles (666 km), about 6 h 54 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 414 mi (666 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 54 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-119 → MEX-117D → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → JAL 122 → MEX-35 → MEX-23 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Michoacán (Level 4), Jalisco (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-117D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.6 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.
What the drive from Zacatelco to Ajijic is like
MEX-15D (203 mi) and MEX-M40D (136 mi) carry about 82% of the 414 miles. MEX-117D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-119, MEX-35, MEX-23 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 6 states: Tlaxcala, Puebla, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco. None of the 7 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Zacatelco to Ajijic, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-119 | 0–6 | 6 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-117D | 6–21 | 15 | Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| MEX-M40D | 21–157 | 136 | Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 157–158 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 158–361 | 203 | State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 361–362 | 1 | Jalisco |
| JAL 122 | 362–367 | 5 | Jalisco |
| MEX-35 | 367–398 | 31 | Jalisco |
| MEX-23 | 398–414 | 16 | Jalisco |
- Mile 19 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 23 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 45 of this route: Tlaxcala → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 53 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 66 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 83 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 96 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 127 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 176 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 344 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
Stops between Zacatelco and Ajijic
- Nature and outdoors: Rayón National Park (mile 179)
- Museums and history: Museo Arqueológico de Apaxco (mile 97), Jorge R. Acosta Museum (mile 113), Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 197)
Teatro Xicohténcatl
Tlaxcala's Teatro Xicohténcatl opened in 1873 and was reopened in 1888 after remodeling. Look up to see John Fulton's ceiling mural of the nine muses, painted in Art Nouveau style against a Tlaxcalan landscape.
Church and former convent of Todos los Santos
Franciscan friars built this fortress-style convent in Zempoala, and the complex still keeps the classic layout of atrium, church, open chapel and cloister. It pairs well with a drive through the area's old pulque haciendas.
Museo Arqueológico de Apaxco
Founded in 1985, the Museo Arqueológico de Apaxco sits across from the parish church of San Francisco de Asís and beside the town hall in Apaxco, State of Mexico.
Atlantean figures
Crowning the main pyramid at the Tula archaeological zone, these basalt sculptures of Toltec warriors stand more than four meters tall in what was once the Toltec capital; the nearby Wall of Snakes shows carved serpents devouring skeletons.
Jorge R. Acosta Museum
Next to the Tula ruins, the Museo de Sitio Jorge R. Acosta traces the rise and decline of the Toltecs and their city, Tollan Xicocotitlan. It moved into new facilities in 1982 and covers nearly 20 years of digs led by archaeologist Jorge R. Acosta.
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.
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.
More drives to Ajijic
- Calvillo to Ajijic
- Jerez, Zacatecas to Ajijic
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Ajijic
- Fresnillo to Ajijic
- El Rosario, Sinaloa to Ajijic
- Sombrerete to Ajijic
From Zacatelco to other places in Mexico
- Zacatelco to Tlaxco
- Zacatelco to Calpulalpan
- Zacatelco to Otumba
- Zacatelco to Atlatlahucan
- Zacatelco to Omitlán
- Zacatelco to Huasca de Ocampo
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Zacatelco to Ajijic?
About 6 h 54 min of driving without stops, over 414 miles.
How far is Ajijic from Zacatelco by car?
About 414 miles (666 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 Zacatelco to Ajijic?
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 Zacatelco to Ajijic?
The U.S. State Department rates Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Zacatelco to Ajijic use?
In order: MEX-119, MEX-117D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, JAL 122, MEX-35 and MEX-23. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Zacatelco and Ajijic?
Closest to the road: Teatro Xicohténcatl (theatre building, mile 9, 1 mi from the route); Atlantean figures (atlantean figures, mile 113, 1 mi from the route); Jorge R. Acosta Museum (museum, mile 113, 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.