The Wayro route from Zacualpan de Amilpas to Tócuaro is 275 miles (443 km), about 5 h 24 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 275 mi (443 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 24 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-160 → MEX-160D → MEX-95D → MEX-106 → MEX-200 → EM 44 → MEX-55 → MEX-55D → MEX-15D → MEX-37D → MEX-14 → MICH 19 |
| Mexican states on the route | Morelos (Level 3), State of Mexico (Level 2), Michoacán (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-160D, MEX-95D, MEX-55D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.0 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 Zacualpan de Amilpas to Tócuaro is like
MEX-15D (90 mi) and MEX-37D (37 mi) carry about 46% of the 275 miles. MEX-160D, MEX-95D, MEX-55D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-160, MEX-106, MEX-200, MEX-55, MEX-14 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Morelos, State of Mexico, Michoacán. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Zacualpan de Amilpas to Tócuaro, 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 | 137–227 | 90 | State of Mexico, Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 227–264 | 37 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 264–265 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-14 | 265–269 | 4 | Michoacán |
| MICH 19 | 269–275 | 6 | Michoacán |
- Mile 58 of this route: Morelos → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 155 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
Stops between Zacualpan de Amilpas and Tócuaro
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Former convent of Saint Dominic de Guzmán (mile 22), Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (mile 59), Parque de la Ciencia Fundadores (mile 95)
- Nature and outdoors: Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (mile 59), Cumbres del Ajusco National Park (mile 61), La Marquesa National Park (mile 80), Rayón National Park (mile 158)
- Museums and history: Parque de la Ciencia Fundadores (mile 95), Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro (mile 269)
Former convent of Saint Dominic de Guzmán
In Oaxtepec, the Exconvento de Santo Domingo de Guzmán is among the first convents the Dominicans built in Mexico, and its walls preserve extensive fresco painting from the colonial era.
Templo y exconvento de San Guillermo
Augustinian friars began the Templo y Exconvento de San Guillermo in Totolapan in the mid-16th century; part of the UNESCO-listed Popocatépetl monasteries, it was badly damaged in the 2017 earthquake, and INAH has supervised its restoration.
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.
Ciénegas del Lerma
These marshes in the Toluca Valley are three lakes left from a wetland of about 27,000 hectares in the late 19th century. A Ramsar site since 2004, they hold dozens of endemic and threatened species and are a key stop for migratory species.
Parque de la Ciencia Fundadores
Opened in 2021 in downtown Toluca on the site of the former Plaza Ángel María Garibay, this science park adds green space, children's play areas and a planetarium with a 360-degree screen.
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.
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.
More drives to Tócuaro
- Amatitán to Tócuaro
- Tequila to Tócuaro
- San Juan de los Lagos to Tócuaro
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Tócuaro
- Pinos to Tócuaro
- Pabellón de Hidalgo to Tócuaro
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 Tócuaro?
About 5 h 24 min of driving without stops, over 275 miles.
How far is Tócuaro from Zacualpan de Amilpas by car?
About 275 miles (443 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 Tócuaro?
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 Tócuaro?
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 (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Zacualpan de Amilpas to Tócuaro use?
In order: MEX-160, MEX-160D, MEX-95D, MEX-106, MEX-200, EM 44, MEX-55, MEX-55D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D, MEX-14 and MICH 19. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Zacualpan de Amilpas and Tócuaro?
Closest to the road: Former convent of Saint Dominic de Guzmán (convent, mile 22, 0.9 mi from the route); Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 59, 0.3 mi from the route); Parque de la Ciencia Fundadores (museum, mile 95, 0.9 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.