Plan on about 7 h 21 min of driving for the 355-mile (572 km) trip from Amatitán to Real de Catorce, before any stops.
| Distance by road | 355 mi (572 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 21 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15 → MEX-15D → MEX-80D → MEX-80 → MEX-70 → MEX-57D → MEX-49 → MEX-63 → SLP 43 |
| Mexican states on the route | Jalisco, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-15D, MEX-80D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
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.
Driving Amatitán to Real de Catorce: the shape of the trip
MEX-80D (114 mi) and MEX-63 (74 mi) carry about 53% of the 355 miles. It runs through 3 states: Jalisco, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-15D, MEX-80D and MEX-57D. Of the 7 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Amatitán and Real de Catorce
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-15 | 0–26 | 26 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 26–46 | 20 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 46–48 | 2 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 48–121 | 73 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80 | 121–154 | 33 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 154–195 | 41 | Jalisco, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-80 | 195–199 | 4 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-70 | 199–216 | 17 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 216–231 | 15 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-49 | 231–241 | 10 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-63 | 241–315 | 74 | San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 43 | 315–349 | 34 | San Luis Potosí |
| local roads | 349–355 | 6 | San Luis Potosí |
- Mile 179 of this route: Jalisco → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 190 of this route: Guanajuato → San Luis Potosí (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Real de Catorce
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Teatro José Rosas Moreno (mile 144), Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (mile 144)
- Nature and outdoors: Agua Azul (mile 30)
- Museums and history: Museo del Periodismo y las Artes Gráficas (mile 30), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 34), Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos (mile 116), Teatro José Rosas Moreno (mile 144), Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (mile 144), San Luis Potosí Cathedral (mile 224)
Museo del Periodismo y las Artes Gráficas
The Museo del Periodismo y las Artes Gráficas stands on Paseo Alcalde, formerly Avenida Alcalde, in the city of Guadalajara, Jalisco.
Agua Azul
Parque Agua Azul is an urban park on Calzada Independencia in Guadalajara's historic center, a green stop close to downtown.
Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque
On Independencia Street in central Tlaquepaque, Jalisco, the Museo Regional de la Cerámica is one of the city's two main ceramics museums, alongside the Pantaleón Panduro Museum.
Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos
Pilgrims come from far and wide to San Juan de los Lagos to see the small image of the Virgin kept in this cathedral basilica, built between 1732 and 1769. Inside are Gothic-style ribbed vaults and a silver-framed Way of the Cross.
Teatro José Rosas Moreno
Construction of the Teatro José Rosas Moreno in Lagos de Moreno began in 1867, and the theater opened on May 5, 1907. It is named for Jalisco writer José Rosas Moreno.
Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera
The Museo Casa Agustín Rivera Altos de Jalisco is a museum in the town of Lagos de Moreno, in the Mexican state of Jalisco.
San Luis Potosí Cathedral
A parish church from 1609 once stood where San Luis Potosí's cathedral rose between 1701 and 1728. Today the Baroque building serves as the seat of the archdiocese.
When you get to Real de Catorce
High in the mountains of northern San Luis Potosí Real de Catorce is a former silver-mining town whose most prosperous era began in 1778. It joined the Pueblos Mágicos program in 2001, and its identity grew out of both its mining past and the culture of the Huichol (Wixárika) people.
- Túnel de Ogarrio: The Túnel de Ogarrio, the town's famous tunnel, is one of the landmarks SECTUR highlights for visitors to Real de Catorce. source
- Parroquia de la Purísima Concepción: The Parroquia de la Purísima Concepción is the parish church at the center of town life, and the feast of St. Francis of Assisi on October 4 is its biggest celebration. source
- Museo Parroquial Padre José Robledo: The Museo Parroquial Padre José Robledo preserves pieces of the town's religious history. source
More drives to Real de Catorce
- Comfort, TX to Real de Catorce
- San Antonio, TX to Real de Catorce
- Boerne, TX to Real de Catorce
- San Marcos, TX to Real de Catorce
- McAllen, TX to Real de Catorce
- Bandera, TX to Real de Catorce
From Amatitán to other places in Mexico
- Amatitán to Temacapulín
- Amatitán to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Amatitán to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Amatitán to Real de Asientos
- Amatitán to Pinos
- Amatitán to San Ignacio, Sinaloa
Coming to Real de Catorce from the United States? Border crossings, permits and routes from U.S. cities: Driving to Real de Catorce, Mexico from the U.S.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Amatitán to Real de Catorce?
About 7 h 21 min of driving without stops, over 355 miles.
How far is Real de Catorce from Amatitán by car?
About 355 miles (572 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 Amatitán to Real de Catorce?
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 Amatitán to Real de Catorce?
The U.S. State Department rates Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Amatitán to Real de Catorce?
In order: MEX-15, MEX-15D, MEX-80D, MEX-80, MEX-70, MEX-57D, MEX-49, MEX-63 and SLP 43. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Amatitán and Real de Catorce?
Closest to the road: Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (museum, mile 34, 1 mi from the route); Teatro José Rosas Moreno (opera house, mile 144, 0.3 mi from the route); Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (museum, mile 144, 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.