By air: General Francisco J. Múgica International Airport (MLM) serves Morelia with direct flights from Mexico City, Guadalajara, Tijuana, and several US cities. Uruapan's Francisco Villa Airport (UPN) has fewer connections but is more convenient for Paricutín and the butterfly reserve.
By road: Morelia is about 330 km west of Mexico City via the cuota (toll) motorway — a 3–4 hour drive. From Guadalajara it's about 250 km east, roughly 2.5 hours. The state's main cities are connected by the federal highway system; travel between Morelia, Pátzcuaro, and Uruapan is straightforward.
By bus: First-class bus services (ETN, Primera Plus, Estrella Roja) connect Morelia to Mexico City, Guadalajara, and other major cities with frequency throughout the day. The Terminal de Autobuses de Morelia is a few kilometres from the historic centre.
Within the state: Combi vans and second-class buses connect the main cities and towns, including Pátzcuaro, Uruapan, Zitácuaro (for the butterfly reserve), and Angahuan. For the more remote destinations — the butterfly sanctuary and Paricutín — hiring a car or taking a guided tour from Morelia or Uruapan is considerably easier.