Plan on about 8 h 20 min of driving for the 525-mile (845 km) trip from Calpulalpan to San Blas, before any stops.
| Distance by road | 525 mi (845 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 20 min |
| Main roads, in order | 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 21.0 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 Calpulalpan to San Blas is like
MEX-15D (392 mi) and MEX-M40D (112 mi) carry about 96% of the 525 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 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Calpulalpan to San Blas, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-M40D | 4–116 | 112 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 116–372 | 256 | State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 372–382 | 10 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 382–518 | 136 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| NAY 12 | 518–523 | 5 | Nayarit |
| local roads | 523–525 | 2 | Nayarit |
- Mile 4 of this route: Tlaxcala → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 11 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 24 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 40 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 55 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 85 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 134 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 302 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 430 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
Where to stop on the way to San Blas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 410)
- Museums and history: Jorge R. Acosta Museum (mile 71), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 117), Museum of Paleontology of Guadalajara (mile 365), Museo de Cera (mile 365), Guachimontones (mile 395), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 410), Tepic Cathedral (mile 492), Museo Amado Nervo (mile 492)
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.
Jorge R. Acosta Museum
Next to the Tula ruins, the Museo de Sitio Jorge R. Acosta traces the rise and decline of the Toltecs and their city, Tollan Xicocotitlan. It moved into new facilities in 1982 and covers nearly 20 years of digs led by archaeologist Jorge R. Acosta.
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.
Museum of Paleontology of Guadalajara
Inside Guadalajara's Parque Agua Azul, the Museum of Paleontology opened in 2000 as one of only a few Mexican museums devoted to fossils, with exhibits developed with Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH).
Museo de Cera
On the Plaza de la Liberación in downtown Guadalajara, the Museo de Cera has 12 rooms with more than 130 wax figures of athletes, singers, actors, politicians and religious figures. It opened in 1994.
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.
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.
Tepic Cathedral
Serving the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tepic, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, also called Tepic Cathedral, stands on the main square in the heart of the city.
Museo Amado Nervo
Poet Amado Nervo was born on August 27, 1870, in this mid-19th-century house in downtown Tepic, which opened as a museum dedicated to him on April 27, 1970.
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 Calpulalpan to other places in Mexico
- Calpulalpan to Omitlán
- Calpulalpan to Huasca de Ocampo
- Calpulalpan to Actopan
- Calpulalpan to Atlatlahucan
- Calpulalpan to Metepec
- Calpulalpan to Jilotepec
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Calpulalpan to San Blas?
About 8 h 20 min of driving without stops, over 525 miles.
What is the driving distance from Calpulalpan to San Blas?
About 525 miles (845 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 Calpulalpan 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 Calpulalpan 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 Calpulalpan to San Blas use?
In order: MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-15 and NAY 12. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Calpulalpan to San Blas?
Closest to the road: Jorge R. Acosta Museum (museum, mile 71, 1 mi from the route); Museum of Paleontology of Guadalajara (museum, mile 365, 1 mi from the route); Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (museum, mile 410, 0.6 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.