The Wayro route from Zacualpan de Amilpas to Barra de Navidad is 557 miles (897 km), about 11 h 3 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 557 mi (897 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 11 h 3 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-160 → MEX-160D → MEX-95D → MEX-106 → MEX-200 → EM 44 → MEX-55 → MEX-55D → MEX-15D → MEX-110 → MEX-15 → MEX-54 → MEX-54D → MEX-200D |
| Mexican states on the route | Morelos (Level 3), State of Mexico (Level 2), Michoacán (Level 4), Jalisco (Level 3), Colima (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-160D, MEX-95D, MEX-55D, MEX-15D, MEX-54D, MEX-200D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 22.3 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 Zacualpan de Amilpas to Barra de Navidad is like
MEX-15D (188 mi) and MEX-110 (107 mi) carry about 53% of the 557 miles. MEX-160D, MEX-95D, MEX-55D, MEX-15D, MEX-54D, MEX-200D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-160, MEX-106, MEX-200, MEX-55, MEX-110, MEX-15, MEX-54 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 5 states: Morelos, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco, Colima. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Zacualpan de Amilpas to Barra de Navidad, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–7 | 7 | Morelos |
| MEX-160 | 7–17 | 10 | Morelos |
| MEX-160D | 17–38 | 21 | Morelos |
| connecting roads | 38–39 | 1 | Morelos |
| MEX-95D | 39–49 | 10 | Morelos |
| connecting roads | 49–50 | 1 | Morelos |
| MEX-106 | 50–68 | 18 | Morelos, State of Mexico |
| MEX-200 | 68–72 | 4 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 72–77 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 77–80 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| EM 44 | 80–88 | 8 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 88–93 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 93–104 | 11 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 104–133 | 29 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 133–137 | 4 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 137–325 | 188 | State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 325–330 | 5 | Jalisco |
| MEX-110 | 330–348 | 18 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 348–354 | 6 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 354–355 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-110 | 355–420 | 65 | Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-54 | 420–429 | 9 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 429–432 | 3 | Jalisco |
| MEX-54D | 432–456 | 24 | Jalisco, Colima |
| MEX-54 | 456–464 | 8 | Colima |
| MEX-110 | 464–488 | 24 | Colima |
| connecting roads | 488–490 | 2 | Colima |
| MEX-200D | 490–528 | 38 | Colima |
| MEX-200 | 528–556 | 28 | Colima, Jalisco |
| local roads | 556–557 | 1 | Jalisco |
- Mile 58 of this route: Morelos → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 155 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 323 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 330 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 378 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 447 of this route: Jalisco → Colima (state line)
- Mile 543 of this route: Colima → Jalisco (state line)
Stops between Zacualpan de Amilpas and Barra de Navidad
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (mile 59), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 134), Museo Comunitario de la Sal (mile 500)
- Nature and outdoors: El Tepozteco National Park (mile 34), Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (mile 59), Cumbres del Ajusco National Park (mile 61), La Marquesa National Park (mile 80), Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park (mile 442)
- Museums and history: El Tepozteco (mile 34), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 134), Museo Comunitario de la Sal (mile 500)
Templo y Exconvento de San Mateo Apóstol
Built by Augustinian friars, the Templo y Exconvento de San Mateo Apóstol in Atlatlahucan is well preserved, with murals and decorated vaults, and is associated with the origins of the Chinelo dancers.
El Tepozteco
High on a hill above Tepoztlán, El Tepozteco holds the remains of a shrine to Ometochtli-Tepoztécatl, god of pulque, fertility and the harvest, along with terraced platforms built from around AD 1200.
El Tepozteco National Park
Eroded volcanic hills of the Sierra de Tepoztlán fill this national park, about half of which lies in Mexico City's Milpa Alta borough. A short, steep climb leads to the Tepozteco archaeological zone; wear good shoes, since the rocks get slippery.
Lagunas de Zempoala National Park
Seven lagoons, three of them permanent, sit among pine, oak and fir forest above 3,000 meters in this park, decreed in 1936 on the Morelos–State of Mexico line. Hiking, horseback riding, camping and rowboats are popular here.
Cumbres del Ajusco National Park
Pine and oak forests climb toward alpine meadows in Cumbres del Ajusco National Park, on Mexico City's southern edge. It draws hikers, climbers and cyclists, and it gets occasional snow, a rarity for the region.
La Marquesa National Park
Set in high-altitude conifer forest along the Mexico City–Toluca highway, La Marquesa National Park offers roadside eateries, horse and ATV rentals, mountain biking and camping, and marks the site of the 1810 Battle of Monte de las Cruces.
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.
Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park
This national park in western Mexico protects the upper slopes of two volcanic peaks, Volcán de Colima and Nevado de Colima, in the states of Jalisco and Colima.
Museo Comunitario de la Sal
Set in an old warehouse in Cuyutlán, the community Salt Museum (Museo Comunitario de la Sal) explains how local salt has been harvested, from the old tapeixtle technique to modern methods, with historic photos of the salt works.
More drives to Barra de Navidad
- Cotija to Barra de Navidad
- Tepatitlán to Barra de Navidad
- San Juan de los Lagos to Barra de Navidad
- Nochistlán to Barra de Navidad
- Jalpa to Barra de Navidad
- Pátzcuaro to Barra de Navidad
From Zacualpan de Amilpas to other places in Mexico
- Zacualpan de Amilpas to Ixtenco
- Zacualpan de Amilpas to Omitlán
- Zacualpan de Amilpas to Tetela de Ocampo
- Zacualpan de Amilpas to Huasca de Ocampo
- Zacualpan de Amilpas to El Oro
- Zacualpan de Amilpas to Metztitlán
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Zacualpan de Amilpas to Barra de Navidad?
About 11 h 3 min of driving without stops, over 557 miles.
How far is Barra de Navidad from Zacualpan de Amilpas by car?
About 557 miles (897 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 Zacualpan de Amilpas to Barra de Navidad?
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 Zacualpan de Amilpas to Barra de Navidad?
The U.S. State Department rates Morelos Level 3: Reconsider Travel; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Colima Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Zacualpan de Amilpas to Barra de Navidad use?
In order: MEX-160, MEX-160D, MEX-95D, MEX-106, MEX-200, EM 44, MEX-55, MEX-55D, MEX-15D, MEX-110, MEX-15, MEX-54, MEX-54D and MEX-200D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Zacualpan de Amilpas and Barra de Navidad?
Closest to the road: Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 59, 0.3 mi from the route); Cathedral of Atlacomulco (catholic cathedral, mile 134, 0.1 mi from the route); Museo Comunitario de la Sal (museum, mile 500, 0.4 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.