The Wayro route from Zitácuaro to Apizaco is 178 miles (286 km), about 3 h 21 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 178 mi (286 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 21 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15 → MEX-15D → MEX-A7D → MEX-A6D → MEX-134D → MEX-134 → EM 10 → Periférico → MEX-136D → MEX-136 |
| Mexican states on the route | Michoacán (Level 4), State of Mexico (Level 2), Mexico City (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-15D, MEX-A7D, MEX-A6D, MEX-134D, MEX-5D, MEX-136D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.1 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 Zitácuaro to Apizaco is like
MEX-136 (59 mi) and MEX-A7D (34 mi) carry about 52% of the 178 miles. MEX-15D, MEX-A7D, MEX-A6D, MEX-134D, MEX-136D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-15, MEX-134, MEX-136 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: Michoacán, State of Mexico, Mexico City, Tlaxcala. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Zitácuaro to Apizaco, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 2–6 | 4 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 6–13 | 7 | Michoacán |
| MEX-A7D | 13–47 | 34 | Michoacán, State of Mexico |
| MEX-A6D | 47–63 | 16 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-134D | 63–85 | 22 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-134 | 85–88 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 88–96 | 8 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 96–98 | 2 | State of Mexico, Mexico City |
| EM 10 | 98–103 | 5 | Mexico City, State of Mexico |
| Periférico | 103–106 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 106–109 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-136D | 109–117 | 8 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 117–119 | 2 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-136 | 119–178 | 59 | State of Mexico, Tlaxcala |
- Mile 16 of this route: Michoacán → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 97 of this route: State of Mexico → Mexico City (state line)
- Mile 102 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 132 of this route: State of Mexico → Tlaxcala (state line)
Stops between Zitácuaro and Apizaco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Los Remedios National Park (mile 88), Paleontological Museum in Tocuila (mile 118), Cerrito de Los Melones (mile 119), Los Volcanes Biosphere Reserve (mile 135)
- Nature and outdoors: Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (mile 9), Los Remedios National Park (mile 88), Los Volcanes Biosphere Reserve (mile 135)
- Museums and history: Planetario Luis Enrique Erro (mile 98), Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 101), Paleontological Museum in Tocuila (mile 118), Cerrito de Los Melones (mile 119), Tepetlaoztoc (mile 124)
- With kids: Planetario Luis Enrique Erro (mile 98), Zoológico de San Juan de Aragón (mile 103)
Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve
Every fall, millions of monarch butterflies from across North America return to the oyamel fir forests about 100 km northwest of Mexico City, clustering so densely they bend branches. The reserve became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008.
Los Remedios National Park
Los Remedios National Park, created by federal decree in 1938, covers about 400 hectares on the far western side of Naucalpan, just northwest of Mexico City.
Planetario Luis Enrique Erro
Run by the National Polytechnic Institute, the Planetario Luis Enrique Erro in Mexico City is a planetarium open to the public and one of the longest-running in Latin America.
Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe
The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, at the foot of Tepeyac Hill in Mexico City's Gustavo A. Madero borough, is a Catholic basilica dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe within the Primate Archdiocese of Mexico.
Zoológico de San Juan de Aragón
Opened on November 20, 1964, near the San Juan de Aragón forest in Mexico City, this zoo was designed with a radial layout of semicircular exhibits that let visitors see animals from any angle.
Paleontological Museum in Tocuila
The Paleontological Museum in Tocuila, in Texcoco, State of Mexico, is a fossil museum displaying part of a rich deposit of Late Pleistocene animals from the Americas.
Cerrito de Los Melones
Named for the place where it sits, Cerrito de los Melones, the Ahuehuetitlán archaeological zone of ruler Nezahualcóyotl's palace is one of the few explored traces of the great pre-Hispanic city of Acolhuacan.
Tepetlaoztoc
Tepetlaoztoc, also spelled Tepetlaoxtoc, was an Aztec-Nahua settlement of the Late Postclassic period in central Mexico, and it stayed occupied into the colonial era.
Los Volcanes Biosphere Reserve
Surrounding the volcanoes Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl, Los Volcanes is a UNESCO biosphere reserve in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, where North American and tropical wildlife zones meet.
When you get to Apizaco
Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Apizaco
In the city of Apizaco, this Catholic basilica (Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Misericordia) was begun in the third decade of the 20th century and completed in 1961.
Museo Casa de Piedra
Apizaco's old railroad station, dating from 1916, now houses the Museo Casa de Piedra. Inside, photographs and documents trace the town's history, especially its long ties to the railroads.
Ex Convento de Santa María de la Concepción Atlihuetzia
The ruined walls of this 16th-century Franciscan convent in Atlihuetzia rise as high as 21 meters beside the 17th-century Purísima Concepción church. The site also holds a sanctuary to Cristóbal, honored as the first Catholic child martyr in the Americas.
More drives to Apizaco
- Mexico City to Apizaco
- Tepotzotlán to Apizaco
- Cuautla to Apizaco
- Toluca to Apizaco
- Cuernavaca to Apizaco
- Taxco to Apizaco
From Zitácuaro to other places in Mexico
- Zitácuaro to Amealco
- Zitácuaro to Cuanajo
- Zitácuaro to Ezequiel Montes
- Zitácuaro to Bernal
- Zitácuaro to Mineral de Pozos
- Zitácuaro to Pabellón de Arteaga
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Zitácuaro to Apizaco?
About 3 h 21 min of driving without stops, over 178 miles.
How far is Apizaco from Zitácuaro by car?
About 178 miles (286 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 Zitácuaro to Apizaco?
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 Zitácuaro to Apizaco?
The U.S. State Department rates Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Mexico City Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Zitácuaro to Apizaco use?
In order: MEX-15, MEX-15D, MEX-A7D, MEX-A6D, MEX-134D, MEX-134, EM 10, Periférico, MEX-136D and MEX-136. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Zitácuaro and Apizaco?
Closest to the road: Los Remedios National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 88, 0.8 mi from the route); Cerrito de Los Melones (archaeological site, mile 119, 0.4 mi from the route); Los Volcanes Biosphere Reserve (biosphere reserve, mile 135, 0.6 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.