The Wayro route from Zitácuaro to Atlatlahucan is 134 miles (215 km), about 3 h 5 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 134 mi (215 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 5 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15 → MEX-15D → MEX-A7D → MEX-55 → EM 44 → MEX-200 → MEX-95D → MEX-160D → MOR 2 |
| Mexican states on the route | Michoacán (Level 4), State of Mexico (Level 2), Morelos (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-15D, MEX-A7D, MEX-95D, MEX-160D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 5.3 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 Zitácuaro to Atlatlahucan is like
MEX-A7D (34 mi) and MEX-160D (13 mi) carry about 35% of the 134 miles. MEX-15D, MEX-A7D, MEX-95D, MEX-160D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-15, MEX-55, MEX-200 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Michoacán, State of Mexico, Morelos. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Zitácuaro to Atlatlahucan, 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 |
| connecting roads | 47–48 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 48–56 | 8 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 56–62 | 6 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 62–63 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| EM 44 | 63–71 | 8 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 71–73 | 2 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 73–78 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-200 | 78–83 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 83–97 | 14 | State of Mexico, Morelos |
| connecting roads | 97–104 | 7 | Morelos |
| MEX-95D | 104–110 | 6 | Morelos |
| MEX-160D | 110–123 | 13 | Morelos |
| MOR 2 | 123–127 | 4 | Morelos |
| connecting roads | 127–129 | 2 | Morelos |
| local roads | 129–134 | 5 | Morelos |
- Mile 16 of this route: Michoacán → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 89 of this route: State of Mexico → Morelos (state line)
Stops between Zitácuaro and Atlatlahucan
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (mile 91), Former convent of Saint Dominic de Guzmán (mile 127)
- Nature and outdoors: Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (mile 9), La Marquesa National Park (mile 71), Cumbres del Ajusco National Park (mile 89), Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (mile 91), El Tepozteco National Park (mile 115)
- Museums and history: Cuernavaca Cathedral (mile 104), Museo Fotográfico de Cuernavaca (mile 104), El Tepozteco (mile 115)
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.
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.
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.
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.
Cuernavaca Cathedral
Franciscans built this 16th-century convent church, now Cuernavaca's cathedral and part of the UNESCO-listed monasteries on the slopes of Popocatépetl; visitors can see its murals, side chapels and a sacred art museum.
Museo Fotográfico de Cuernavaca
The Museo Fotográfico de Cuernavaca is a photography museum in Cuernavaca, Morelos, housed in a building that resembles a French-style castle.
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.
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.
When you get to Atlatlahucan
Templo y Exconvento de San Juan Bautista de Yecapixtla
The 16th-century church and former monastery of San Juan Bautista in Yecapixtla belongs to the Monasteries on the Slopes of Popocatepetl, inscribed by UNESCO in 1994 as early missionary architecture with large open courtyards.
Monasteries on the slopes of Popocatépetl
Inscribed by UNESCO in 1994, this World Heritage site groups early 16th-century monasteries that Franciscan, Dominican and Augustinian friars built on the slopes of Popocatépetl, with large open spaces used to evangelize the Indigenous population.
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.
More drives to Atlatlahucan
- Cuernavaca to Atlatlahucan
- Metepec to Atlatlahucan
- Toluca to Atlatlahucan
- Valle de Bravo to Atlatlahucan
- San Juan del Río to Atlatlahucan
- Tequisquiapan to Atlatlahucan
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 Atlatlahucan?
About 3 h 5 min of driving without stops, over 134 miles.
How far is Atlatlahucan from Zitácuaro by car?
About 134 miles (215 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 Atlatlahucan?
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 Atlatlahucan?
The U.S. State Department rates Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Morelos Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Zitácuaro to Atlatlahucan use?
In order: MEX-15, MEX-15D, MEX-A7D, MEX-55, EM 44, MEX-200, MEX-95D, MEX-160D and MOR 2. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Zitácuaro and Atlatlahucan?
Closest to the road: Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 91, 0.4 mi from the route); El Tepozteco (archaeological site, mile 115, 1 mi from the route); Former convent of Saint Dominic de Guzmán (convent, mile 127, 0.8 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.