The Wayro route from Zitácuaro to Cuajinicuilapa is 395 miles (635 km), about 7 h 31 min of driving without stops.
| Distance by road | 395 mi (635 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 31 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15 → MEX-15D → MEX-A7D → MEX-55 → MEX-55D → MEX-95 → MEX-91D → MEX-95D → MEX-198 → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | Michoacán, State of Mexico, Guerrero, Morelos |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-15D, MEX-A7D, MEX-55D, MEX-91D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
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 Cuajinicuilapa is like
MEX-95D (116 mi) and MEX-200 (88 mi) carry about 52% of the 395 miles. It runs through 4 states: Michoacán, State of Mexico, Guerrero, Morelos. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-15D, MEX-A7D and MEX-55D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Zitácuaro to Cuajinicuilapa
| 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 | 56–68 | 12 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 68–70 | 2 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 70–94 | 24 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 94–98 | 4 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 98–105 | 7 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 105–122 | 17 | State of Mexico, Guerrero |
| MEX-95 | 122–132 | 10 | Guerrero, Morelos |
| MEX-91D | 132–139 | 7 | Morelos |
| MEX-95D | 139–228 | 89 | Morelos, Guerrero |
| MEX-95 | 228–235 | 7 | Guerrero |
| MEX-95D | 235–262 | 27 | Guerrero |
| connecting roads | 262–263 | 1 | Guerrero |
| MEX-198 | 263–287 | 24 | Guerrero |
| local roads | 287–307 | 20 | Guerrero |
| MEX-200 | 307–395 | 88 | Guerrero |
- Mile 16 of this route: Michoacán → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 107 of this route: State of Mexico → Guerrero (state line)
- Mile 110 of this route: Guerrero → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 117 of this route: State of Mexico → Guerrero (state line)
- Mile 126 of this route: Guerrero → Morelos (state line)
- Mile 149 of this route: Morelos → Guerrero (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Cuajinicuilapa
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Bosencheve National Park (mile 19), Cosmovitral (mile 55), Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park (mile 117)
- Nature and outdoors: Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (mile 9), Bosencheve National Park (mile 19), Nevado de Toluca National Park (mile 74), Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park (mile 117)
- Museums and history: Calixtlahuaca (mile 50), Cosmovitral (mile 55), Xochicalco (mile 139), Tehuacalco (mile 260)
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.
Bosencheve National Park
Straddling Michoacán and the State of Mexico, Bosencheve National Park was established in 1940 and protects roughly 146 square kilometers of land.
Calixtlahuaca
Spread over the slopes of Cerro Tenismó near Toluca, this site's standout is the round Temple of Ehécatl-Quetzalcóatl, rebuilt in four phases. Nearby, a Mexica-era skull rack displays stone skulls set into cross-shaped walls.
Cosmovitral
Toluca's Cosmovitral wraps a botanical garden of more than 500 plant species in a huge stained-glass work designed by artist Leopoldo Flores. Light filtering through the colored glass sets the mood as you walk the garden paths.
Nevado de Toluca National Park
The Nevado de Toluca volcano was declared a flora and fauna protection area in 2013, a protected zone spanning ten municipalities of the State of Mexico, including Toluca, Zinacantepec and Temascaltepec.
Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park
Protected as a national park since 1936, this area near Taxco centers on the Cacahuamilpa caverns, where a guided route of about 4 km passes chambers up to 80 meters high, decorated with flowstone and floor-to-ceiling columns.
Xochicalco
A fortified hilltop city that thrived between about 650 and 900, Xochicalco is a UNESCO World Heritage site where you can see the Pyramid of the Plumed Serpent with its carved reliefs, ball courts, an underground observatory and a site museum.
Tehuacalco
Near Chilpancingo, Tehuacalco is an archaeological site tied to the Yope people, with excavation work carried out in the 2000s.
More drives to Cuajinicuilapa
- Orizaba to Cuajinicuilapa
- Tepoztlán to Cuajinicuilapa
- Tetela del Volcán to Cuajinicuilapa
- Córdoba, Mexico to Cuajinicuilapa
- Atlixco to Cuajinicuilapa
- Huejotzingo to Cuajinicuilapa
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 does it take to drive from Zitácuaro to Cuajinicuilapa?
About 7 h 31 min of driving without stops, over 395 miles.
What is the driving distance from Zitácuaro to Cuajinicuilapa?
About 395 miles (635 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 Cuajinicuilapa?
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 Cuajinicuilapa?
The U.S. State Department rates Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Guerrero Level 4: Do Not Travel; Morelos Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Zitácuaro to Cuajinicuilapa?
In order: MEX-15, MEX-15D, MEX-A7D, MEX-55, MEX-55D, MEX-95, MEX-91D, MEX-95D, MEX-198 and MEX-200. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Zitácuaro to Cuajinicuilapa?
Closest to the road: Bosencheve National Park (national park, mile 19, 0.9 mi from the route); Cosmovitral (museum, mile 55, 0.8 mi from the route); Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park (national park, mile 117, 0.3 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.