The Wayro route from Zimapán to Ihuatzio is 245 miles (394 km), about 4 h 46 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 245 mi (394 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 46 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-85 → MEX-45 → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → MEX-37D |
| Mexican states on the route | Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Michoacán (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
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 Zimapán to Ihuatzio is like
MEX-15D (90 mi) and MEX-M40D (43 mi) carry about 54% of the 245 miles. MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-85, MEX-45 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán. Of the 5 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Zimapán to Ihuatzio, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 4–24 | 20 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-45 | 24–29 | 5 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 29–66 | 37 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-M40D | 66–109 | 43 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 109–199 | 90 | State of Mexico, Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 199–237 | 38 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 237–242 | 5 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 242–245 | 3 | Michoacán |
- Mile 78 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 127 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
Stops between Zimapán and Ihuatzio
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Tula (mile 63)
- Nature and outdoors: Rayón National Park (mile 130)
- Museums and history: Tula (mile 63), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 110), Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 148)
Tula
Once the Toltec capital, the Tula archaeological zone is best known for its Atlantes, basalt warrior figures over four meters (13 feet) tall crowning the main pyramid. Visitors also see a ball court, the Burnt Palace and the Coatepantli wall, carved with snakes devouring skeletons.
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.
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.
Historic Centre of Morelia
Morelia's old core, founded in the 16th century as Valladolid, keeps more than 200 historic buildings in the region's pink stone around its cathedral and checkerboard streets. UNESCO added it to the World Heritage List in 1991.
When you get to Ihuatzio
Lake Pátzcuaro
Boats leave the shore of Lake Pátzcuaro for its islands, including Janitzio, topped by a statue of José María Morelos. Purépecha fishers here are known for butterfly-shaped nets, and whitefish is the local specialty.
Tzintzuntzan
Once the political and economic capital of the Purépecha empire, governed by a hereditary line of uacúsecha, or 'eagle lords,' Tzintzuntzan preserves its yácatas, temple bases that combine rectangular and semicircular platforms around ritual plazas.
Ihuatzio
On the shore of Lake Pátzcuaro, Ihuatzio was one of three main Purépecha power centers. Visitors can see raised walkways and two semicircular pyramids called yácatas; excavations here also turned up Chac Mool and coyote sculptures carved from volcanic rock.
More drives to Ihuatzio
- Amatitán to Ihuatzio
- Tequila to Ihuatzio
- Pabellón de Hidalgo to Ihuatzio
- Calvillo to Ihuatzio
- Real de Asientos to Ihuatzio
- Zacatecas to Ihuatzio
From Zimapán to other places in Mexico
- Zimapán to El Oro
- Zimapán to Cuanajo
- Zimapán to Tócuaro
- Zimapán to Pacanda
- Zimapán to Zirahuén
- Zimapán to Pinos
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Zimapán to Ihuatzio?
About 4 h 46 min of driving without stops, over 245 miles.
How far is Ihuatzio from Zimapán by car?
About 245 miles (394 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 Zimapán to Ihuatzio?
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 Zimapán to Ihuatzio?
The U.S. State Department rates Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; 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 Zimapán to Ihuatzio use?
In order: MEX-85, MEX-45, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D and MEX-37D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Zimapán and Ihuatzio?
Closest to the road: Tula (archaeological site, mile 63, 0.3 mi from the route); Cathedral of Atlacomulco (catholic cathedral, mile 110, 2 mi from the route); Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (opera house, mile 148, 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.