By road, Apizaco and San Blas are about 557 miles (897 km) apart, or roughly 8 h 57 min of driving.
| Distance | 557 mi (897 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 57 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-136 → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → NAY 12 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-M40D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 22.3 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.
On the road from Apizaco to San Blas
MEX-15D (394 mi) and MEX-M40D (120 mi) carry about 92% of the 557 miles. It runs through 6 states: Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-M40D and MEX-15D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Apizaco and San Blas
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-136 | 1–27 | 26 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-M40D | 27–147 | 120 | Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 147–148 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 148–405 | 257 | State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 405–413 | 8 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 413–550 | 137 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| NAY 12 | 550–555 | 5 | Nayarit |
| local roads | 555–557 | 2 | Nayarit |
- Mile 35 of this route: Tlaxcala → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 43 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 56 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 73 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 86 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 117 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 166 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 334 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 462 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
Places worth a stop between Apizaco and San Blas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Statue of Minerva, Guadalajara (mile 400), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 442)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 149), Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 187), Museo del Periodismo y las Artes Gráficas (mile 398), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 442), Museo Regional de Nayarit (mile 524)
Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque
Built by Franciscan friar Francisco de Tembleque between 1554 and 1572, this 16th-century water system runs more than 48 km between Zempoala and Otumba. Its tallest arcade at Tepeyahualco reaches almost 40 meters, and UNESCO listed it in 2015.
Atlantean figures
Crowning the main pyramid at the Tula archaeological zone, these basalt sculptures of Toltec warriors stand more than four meters tall in what was once the Toltec capital; the nearby Wall of Snakes shows carved serpents devouring skeletons.
Cathedral of Atlacomulco
Dedicated to Divine Providence, the cathedral in Atlacomulco is the principal Catholic church in town and the seat of the local diocese.
Teatro Morelos de Maravatío
Maravatío's Teatro Morelos is a late-19th-century theater in a French-influenced neoclassical style, designed by architect Rafael Guerrero Torres. It opened on January 11, 1879, with a performance by opera singer Ángela Peralta.
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.
Statue of Minerva, Guadalajara
At a roundabout fountain in Guadalajara, a bronze statue of Minerva, Roman goddess of wisdom, stands on a large pedestal inscribed with the names of 18 notable citizens.
Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería
In the municipality of Magdalena, Mexico, an interpretive museum focuses on two subjects: the agave landscape and mining.
Museo Regional de Nayarit
In the city of Tepic, the Museo Regional de Nayarit focuses on the different cultural traditions of pre-Hispanic Nayarit.
More drives to San Blas
- Guadalajara to San Blas
- Tepatitlán to San Blas
- San Juan de los Lagos to San Blas
- Zamora to San Blas
- Colima to San Blas
- Lagos de Moreno to San Blas
From Apizaco to other places in Mexico
- Apizaco to Omitlán
- Apizaco to Huasca de Ocampo
- Apizaco to Atlatlahucan
- Apizaco to Metepec
- Apizaco to Jilotepec
- Apizaco to Malinalco
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Apizaco to San Blas?
About 8 h 57 min of driving without stops, over 557 miles.
What is the driving distance from Apizaco to San Blas?
About 557 miles (897 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 Apizaco to San Blas?
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 Apizaco to San Blas?
The U.S. State Department rates Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Apizaco to San Blas use?
In order: MEX-136, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-15 and NAY 12. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Apizaco and San Blas?
Closest to the road: Atlantean figures (sculptures, mile 103, 1 mi from the route); Statue of Minerva, Guadalajara (statue, mile 400, 0.8 mi from the route); Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (museum, mile 442, 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.