Parks Manager

National parks near Mazatlán, Guerrero

Mazatlán sits inside the Chilpancingo area and reaches the same parks. See national parks near Chilpancingo for the full write-up.

General Juan N. Álvarez National Park is the closest national park to Mazatlán, Guerrero — 44.5 km (27.6 mi) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 1 hr behind the wheel.

General Juan N. Álvarez, El Veladero, and Grutas de Cacahuamilpa make a full day trip — leave early. El Tepozteco, Lagunas de Zempoala, Nevado de Toluca, Cumbres del Ajusco, Sacromonte, Insurgente Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, and Fuentes Brotantes de Tlalpan are better with a night booked nearby.

Mazatlán has a population of about 5,316.

National parks near Mazatlán

Parks ranked by distance from Mazatlán
ParkStraight-line distanceEstimated driveRealistic trip
General Juan N. Álvarez National Park44.5 km (27.6 mi)1 hrDoable as a day trip
El Veladero National Park74.2 km (46.1 mi)1 hr 31 minDoable as a day trip
Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park137 km (85.3 mi)2 hr 28 minDoable as a day trip
El Tepozteco National Park178 km (111 mi)3 hr 4 minBest as a weekend
Lagunas de Zempoala National Park181 km (112 mi)3 hr 7 minBest as a weekend
Nevado de Toluca National Park188 km (117 mi)3 hr 13 minBest as a weekend
Cumbres del Ajusco National Park199 km (124 mi)3 hr 23 minBest as a weekend
Sacromonte National Park202 km (125 mi)3 hr 25 minBest as a weekend
Insurgente Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla National Park206 km (128 mi)3 hr 29 minBest as a weekend
Fuentes Brotantes de Tlalpan National Park208 km (129 mi)3 hr 30 minBest as a weekend

When to make this trip

General Juan N. Álvarez National Park is generally best December through April, the drier and less humid stretch, with May and November as the quieter shoulder either side.

June to November is the wet and hurricane season — heavy rain, high humidity, and occasional storm closures.

Heat and humidity are constant. Plan activity for early morning and carry more water than feels necessary.

Month-by-month detail for General Juan N. Álvarez National Park

Seeing more than one

Several parks near Mazatlán are close enough to each other to combine on one trip, so the drive from home only has to happen once.

Distances between parks near Mazatlán
PairApartEstimated drive
El Tepozteco → Lagunas de Zempoala23.8 km (14.8 mi)37 min
Grutas de Cacahuamilpa → Lagunas de Zempoala47.4 km (29.4 mi)1 hr 3 min
Grutas de Cacahuamilpa → El Tepozteco56.6 km (35.2 mi)1 hr 13 min
General Juan N. Álvarez → El Veladero115 km (71.8 mi)2 hr 9 min

Planning a trip from Mazatlán

Distances here are straight-line and the drive estimate adds a road factor on top, but mountain passes and seasonal closures can change it a lot — a route that looks like three hours in June can be shut entirely in February. Confirm road status with the park before you commit to a date.

Read the General Juan N. Álvarez National Park guide

Other towns in Chilpancingo de los Bravo

Common questions

What is the closest national park to Mazatlán?

General Juan N. Álvarez National Park. It is about 44.5 km (27.6 mi) from Mazatlán, roughly 1 hr of driving.

Can I do a national park day trip from Mazatlán?

Yes — General Juan N. Álvarez National Park, El Veladero National Park, and Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park are within about a three-hour drive.

How many national parks are near Mazatlán?

10 parks are within reach of Mazatlán, 3 of them close enough for a day trip.

When is the best time to visit the parks near Mazatlán?

For General Juan N. Álvarez National Park, the closest one, generally December through April, the drier and less humid stretch. Either side of that, May and November stays quieter.