The Wayro route from Zacatelco to Maruata is 554 miles (891 km), about 8 h 59 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 554 mi (891 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 59 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-119 → MEX-117D → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → MEX-37D → MEX-14D → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Michoacán (Level 4), Guerrero (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-117D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D, MEX-14D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 22.1 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 Zacatelco to Maruata is like
MEX-37D (171 mi) and MEX-M40D (136 mi) carry about 55% of the 554 miles. MEX-117D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D, MEX-14D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-119, MEX-200 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 6 states: Tlaxcala, Puebla, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Guerrero. None of the 9 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Zacatelco to Maruata, 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 | 158–248 | 90 | State of Mexico, Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 248–249 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 249–287 | 38 | Michoacán |
| MEX-14D | 287–314 | 27 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 314–316 | 2 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 316–449 | 133 | Michoacán, Guerrero |
| connecting roads | 449–452 | 3 | Michoacán |
| MEX-200 | 452–554 | 102 | Michoacán |
- 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 413 of this route: Michoacán → Guerrero (state line)
- Mile 447 of this route: Guerrero → Michoacán (state line)
Stops between Zacatelco and Maruata
- Nature and outdoors: Barranca del Cupatitzio National Park (mile 316)
- Museums and history: Museo de Sitio de Ocotelulco (mile 9), Museo Miguel N. Lira (mile 9), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 158), Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 197), Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro (mile 291), Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares (mile 291)
Museo de Sitio de Ocotelulco
Ocotelulco was the principal Tlaxcalan lordship in 1519; its site museum displays about 750 excavated objects beside temple remains painted with Tezcatlipoca and the fire serpent, and an ethnobotanical garden surrounds the building.
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.
Exconvent of Santa María Magdalena
The former convent of Santa María Magdalena (Exconvento de Santa María Magdalena) is a 17th-century Baroque church built by the Dieguino friars, still in use as a Catholic temple of the Archdiocese of Puebla.
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.
Cathedral of Atlacomulco
Atlacomulco's cathedral, the Catedral de la Divina Providencia, is the seat of the Diocese of Atlacomulco and is dedicated to Divine Providence, making it the town's principal Catholic church.
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.
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.
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.
Barranca del Cupatitzio National Park
In Michoacán, Barranca del Cupatitzio National Park follows the headwaters of the Cupatitzio River, which bubbles up from an underground spring and carves a small ravine as it starts to flow.
More drives to Maruata
- San Luis Soyatlán to Maruata
- Guadalajara to Maruata
- Ajijic to Maruata
- Amatitán to Maruata
- Tepatitlán to Maruata
- San Juan de los Lagos to Maruata
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 Maruata?
About 8 h 59 min of driving without stops, over 554 miles.
How far is Maruata from Zacatelco by car?
About 554 miles (891 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 Maruata?
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 Maruata?
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; Guerrero Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Zacatelco to Maruata use?
In order: MEX-119, MEX-117D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D, MEX-14D and MEX-200. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Zacatelco and Maruata?
Closest to the road: Museo de Sitio de Ocotelulco (museum, mile 9, 1 mi from the route); Museo Miguel N. Lira (museum, mile 9, 1 mi from the route); Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (opera house, mile 197, 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.