By road, Aguascalientes and Lo de Marcos are about 289 miles (465 km) apart, or roughly 4 h 53 min of driving.
| Distance by road | 289 mi (465 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 4 h 53 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-45 → MEX-45D → MEX-80D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-70D → MEX-200D → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-45D, MEX-80D, MEX-90D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.6 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.
The Aguascalientes–Lo de Marcos drive in a few lines
MEX-80D (87 mi) and MEX-15D (77 mi) carry about 57% of the 289 miles. It runs through 3 states: Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-45D, MEX-80D and MEX-90D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Aguascalientes to Lo de Marcos
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 2–19 | 17 | Aguascalientes, Jalisco |
| MEX-45D | 19–33 | 14 | Jalisco |
| local roads | 33–45 | 12 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 45–132 | 87 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 132–144 | 12 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 144–152 | 8 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 152–217 | 65 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 217–252 | 35 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 252–270 | 18 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 270–285 | 15 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200 | 285–289 | 4 | Nayarit |
- Mile 16 of this route: Aguascalientes → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 201 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Aguascalientes and Lo de Marcos
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 142), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 211)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 142), Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 281)
- Museums and history: Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos (mile 51), Teocaltitan Archaeological Site (mile 58), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 133), Casa Museo López Portillo (mile 137), Guachimontones (mile 167), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 211)
Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos
Gothic-style ribbed vaults rise over the interior of San Juan de los Lagos' cathedral basilica, built from 1732 to 1769, where you'll also find a silver-framed Way of the Cross.
Teocaltitan Archaeological Site
Near Jalostotitlán in the Los Altos region, the Teocaltitán site holds pyramids, sunken patios and a ball court spread across about nine hectares, built by a people who dominated much of the area from AD 400 to 900.
Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque
Ceramics lovers in central Tlaquepaque, Jalisco, can find the Museo Regional de la Cerámica on Independencia Street. Along with the Pantaleón Panduro Museum, it is one of the city's two principal pottery museums.
Casa Museo López Portillo
Opened on May 10, 1982, this house museum in Guadalajara's historic center showcases decorative arts and promotes work by young artists from the metro area.
Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara
Concerts, outdoor movie nights and food festivals are among the many events held at Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara, a public park in Zapopan, Jalisco.
Guachimontones
About 40 circular buildings and two ball courts spread over 20 hectares at Guachimontones, outside Teuchitlán. INAH calls it western Mexico's first large population center, dating back to around 1000 BC.
Ixtlán del Rio
Known locally as Los Toriles, the Ixtlán del Río site is famous for a temple with a fully circular floor plan, rare in Mesoamerica. People lived here from about 300 BC to AD 600, and an introductory gallery explains the finds.
Rincón de Guayabitos
Visitors from Guadalajara and Tepic often head to this Nayarit beach town in the municipality of Compostela. Its shore runs about two kilometers, and the waves tend to be calm.
More drives to Lo de Marcos
- San Juan de los Lagos to Lo de Marcos
- León to Lo de Marcos
- Paracho to Lo de Marcos
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Lo de Marcos
- Pabellón de Hidalgo to Lo de Marcos
- Tzintzuntzan to Lo de Marcos
From Aguascalientes to other places in Mexico
- Aguascalientes to Jerez, Zacatecas
- Aguascalientes to Fresnillo
- Aguascalientes to Nombre de Dios
- Aguascalientes to El Rosario, Sinaloa
- Aguascalientes to Mazatlán
- Aguascalientes to San Ignacio, Sinaloa
Continue Your Adventure
- Aguascalientes to Ezequiel Montes Road Trip: Route & Stops
- Aguascalientes to Pachuca Road Trip: Route, Tolls & Stops
- Aguascalientes to San Miguel, Morelos Road Trip: Stops & Tolls
- Aguascalientes to Atlixco Road Trip: Where to Stop on the Way
- Aguascalientes to Huamantla Road Trip: Route, Stops & Safety
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Aguascalientes to Lo de Marcos?
About 4 h 53 min of driving without stops, over 289 miles.
What is the driving distance from Aguascalientes to Lo de Marcos?
About 289 miles (465 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 Aguascalientes to Lo de Marcos?
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 Aguascalientes to Lo de Marcos?
The U.S. State Department rates Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Aguascalientes to Lo de Marcos?
In order: MEX-45, MEX-45D, MEX-80D, MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-70D, MEX-200D and MEX-200. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Aguascalientes and Lo de Marcos?
Closest to the road: Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (museum, mile 133, 1 mi from the route); Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (park, mile 142, 0.9 mi from the route); Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 211, 0.5 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.