Aguascalientes to San Francisco is about 296 road miles (476 km): roughly 5 h 2 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance by road | 296 mi (476 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 5 h 2 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 11.8 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 San Francisco is like
MEX-80D (87 mi) and MEX-15D (77 mi) carry about 55% of the 296 miles. It runs through 3 states: Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-45D, MEX-80D and MEX-90D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Aguascalientes to San Francisco
| 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 | 285–295 | 10 | Nayarit |
| local roads | 295–296 | 1 | Nayarit |
- Mile 16 of this route: Aguascalientes → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 201 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
Stops between Aguascalientes and San Francisco
- 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: Teocaltitan Archaeological Site (mile 58), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 133), Museo Regional de Guadalajara (mile 137), Guachimontones (mile 167), National Museum of Tequila (mile 173), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 211)
Teocaltitan Archaeological Site
A people who dominated much of Los Altos between AD 400 and 900 built Teocaltitán, near Jalostotitlán. The site's pyramids, sunken patios and ball court cover about nine hectares.
Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque
Tlaquepaque has two main ceramics museums, and this is one of them: the Museo Regional de la Cerámica, on Independencia Street in the center of town. The other is the Pantaleón Panduro Museum.
Diana Theatre
The Diana Theatre, or Teatro Diana, is an indoor theater in Guadalajara, in the state of Jalisco, with seating for 2,345 people.
Museo Regional de Guadalajara
Facing the Rotonda de los Jaliscienses Ilustres in downtown Guadalajara, the Museo Regional de Guadalajara fills a full city block bounded by Hidalgo, Pino Suárez, Liceo and Independencia streets.
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.
National Museum of Tequila
In the town of Tequila, MUNAT, the National Museum of Tequila, covers the history of the drink behind the region's fame. Jalisco's state government reclaimed the museum in 2026 and announced it will reopen with updated exhibits.
Ixtlán del Rio
A temple built on a completely round floor plan, unusual anywhere in Mesoamerica, is the highlight at the Ixtlán del Río archaeological site, which locals call Los Toriles. An introductory gallery explains the finds.
Rincón de Guayabitos
Gentle waves are the draw at Rincón de Guayabitos, where roughly two kilometers of shoreline make this Compostela, Nayarit, beach town a favorite escape for people from Tepic and Guadalajara.
More drives to San Francisco
- La Manzanilla to San Francisco
- Barra de Navidad to San Francisco
- Tecomán to San Francisco
- San Juan de los Lagos to San Francisco
- Pénjamo to San Francisco
- León to San Francisco
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
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Aguascalientes to San Francisco?
About 5 h 2 min of driving without stops, over 296 miles.
How far is San Francisco from Aguascalientes by car?
About 296 miles (476 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 San Francisco?
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 San Francisco?
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 San Francisco?
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.
Where can you stop on the way from Aguascalientes to San Francisco?
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.