The Wayro route from Zacualpan de Amilpas to Sayulita is 549 miles (883 km), about 9 h 46 min of driving without stops.
| Distance by road | 549 mi (883 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 9 h 46 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-160 → MEX-160D → MEX-95D → MEX-106 → MEX-200 → EM 44 → MEX-55 → MEX-55D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-70D → MEX-200D |
| Mexican states on the route | Morelos, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-160D, MEX-95D, MEX-55D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 22.0 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.
How the Zacualpan de Amilpas to Sayulita drive plays out
MEX-15D (321 mi) and MEX-55D (29 mi) carry about 64% of the 549 miles. It runs through 5 states: Morelos, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-160D, MEX-95D and MEX-55D. Of the 7 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Zacualpan de Amilpas to Sayulita, 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 | 137–393 | 256 | State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 393–402 | 9 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 402–467 | 65 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 467–501 | 34 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 501–519 | 18 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 519–534 | 15 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200 | 534–547 | 13 | Nayarit |
| local roads | 547–549 | 2 | Nayarit |
- 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 450 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Zacualpan de Amilpas and Sayulita
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Tepoztlán Ex Convento Museum (mile 34), Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (mile 59), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 134), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 431)
- Nature and outdoors: Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (mile 59), La Marquesa National Park (mile 80), Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 530)
- Museums and history: Tepoztlán Ex Convento Museum (mile 34), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 134), Museo de las Artes Populares de Jalisco (mile 386), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 431)
Tepoztlán Ex Convento Museum
Tepoztlán's Dominican monastery, built between 1555 and 1580, keeps original 16th-century murals in its cloister. Upstairs, the museum covers local daily life, faith, festivals and dances, and the complex is part of a UNESCO World Heritage listing.
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.
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
Dedicated to Divine Providence, the cathedral in Atlacomulco is the principal Catholic church in town and the seat of the local diocese.
Museo de las Artes Populares de Jalisco
Opened on May 31, 2000, in Guadalajara's historic center, this museum researches, safeguards and promotes the crafts and folk art of Jalisco.
Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería
Agave landscapes and mining are the twin themes of the Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería, an interpretive museum in the municipality of Magdalena.
Rincón de Guayabitos
Gentle waves are the draw at Rincón de Guayabitos, where roughly two kilometers of shoreline make this Compostela, Nayarit, beach town a favorite escape for people from Tepic and Guadalajara.
More drives to Sayulita
- Tepatitlán to Sayulita
- San Juan de los Lagos to Sayulita
- Jalpa to Sayulita
- León to Sayulita
- Aguascalientes to Sayulita
- Paracho to Sayulita
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 Sayulita?
About 9 h 46 min of driving without stops, over 549 miles.
How far is Sayulita from Zacualpan de Amilpas by car?
About 549 miles (883 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 Sayulita?
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 Sayulita?
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; Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Zacualpan de Amilpas to Sayulita use?
In order: MEX-160, MEX-160D, MEX-95D, MEX-106, MEX-200, EM 44, MEX-55, MEX-55D, MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-70D and MEX-200D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Zacualpan de Amilpas and Sayulita?
Closest to the road: Tepoztlán Ex Convento Museum (museum, mile 34, 0.5 mi from the route); Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (national park, mile 59, 0.3 mi from the route); Cathedral of Atlacomulco (cathedral, mile 134, 0.1 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 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: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place 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.