The Wayro route from Aguascalientes to Mazatlán is 436 miles (702 km), about 7 h 6 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 436 mi (702 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 6 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-45 → MEX-45D → MEX-80D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 |
| Mexican states on the route | Aguascalientes (Level 2), Jalisco (Level 3), Nayarit (Level 2), Sinaloa (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-45D, MEX-80D, MEX-90D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.5 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 Aguascalientes to Mazatlán is like
MEX-15D (290 mi) and MEX-80D (87 mi) carry about 86% of the 436 miles. MEX-45D, MEX-80D, MEX-15D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-45, MEX-15 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Nayarit, Sinaloa. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Aguascalientes to Mazatlán, road by road
| 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 | 152–430 | 278 | Jalisco, Nayarit, Sinaloa |
| MEX-15 | 430–436 | 6 | Sinaloa |
- Mile 16 of this route: Aguascalientes → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 201 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
- Mile 344 of this route: Nayarit → Sinaloa (state line)
Stops between Aguascalientes and Mazatlán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 142), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 211)
- Nature and outdoors: Agua Azul (mile 136), Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 142), Agua Grande Lagoon (mile 369)
- Museums and history: Teocaltitan Archaeological Site (mile 58), Museo Regional de la Cerámica (mile 133), Guadalajara city museum (mile 137), Guachimontones (mile 167), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 211), Casa Museo Juan Escutia (mile 262)
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 Cerámica
On Calle Independencia in central Tlaquepaque, Jalisco, the Museo Regional de la Cerámica is one of the town's two main ceramics museums.
Agua Azul
Parque Agua Azul is an urban park on Calzada Independencia in Guadalajara's historic center, a green stop close to downtown.
Guadalajara city museum
Guadalajara's city museum (Museo de la Ciudad), in the historic center, opened on February 14, 1992, and covers the city's history and many sides of its culture.
Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara
Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara is a public park in Zapopan, Jalisco, that hosts many events, including concerts, outdoor movie screenings and food festivals.
Guachimontones
Near the town of Teuchitlán, Guachimontones is known for its circular structures. INAH describes it as the first large population center in western Mexico, emerging around 1000 BC, with two ball courts and about 40 circular buildings across 20 hectares.
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.
Casa Museo Juan Escutia
In central Tepic, Casa Museo Juan Escutia honors Juan Escutia, one of the fighters who died defending Chapultepec Castle during the U.S. invasion of Mexico.
Agua Grande Lagoon
Agua Grande is a large coastal lagoon in the Mexican state of Sinaloa that drains into the Pacific Ocean through the Teacapán Estuary.
When you get to Mazatlán
Observatorio 1873
Built in the mid-19th century as a military lookout to guard Mazatlán's port against pirates and enemies, Observatorio 1873 is now a tourism park.
Teatro Ángela Peralta, Mazatlán
Built during the Porfirian era of Mazatlán's port, the Teatro Ángela Peralta is a historic theater building in the city of Mazatlán, in the state of Sinaloa.
Basilica Cathedral of Mazatlán
In Mazatlán's historic center, the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception is a Baroque Revival church and the seat of the Diocese of Mazatlán.
More drives to Mazatlán
- Guadalajara to Mazatlán
- Morelia to Mazatlán
- León to Mazatlán
- Irapuato to Mazatlán
- Querétaro to Mazatlán
- Saltillo to Mazatlán
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 San Ignacio, Sinaloa
- Aguascalientes to Cosalá
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Aguascalientes to Mazatlán?
About 7 h 6 min of driving without stops, over 436 miles.
How far is Mazatlán from Aguascalientes by car?
About 436 miles (702 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 Mazatlán?
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 Mazatlán?
The U.S. State Department rates Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Sinaloa Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Aguascalientes to Mazatlán use?
In order: MEX-45, MEX-45D, MEX-80D, MEX-15D and MEX-15. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Aguascalientes and Mazatlán?
Closest to the road: Museo Regional de la Cerámica (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 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.