The Wayro route from Calpulalpan to San Francisco is 525 miles (845 km), about 8 h 24 min of driving without stops.
| Total distance | 525 mi (845 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 24 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-70D → MEX-200D → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-70D, MEX-200D |
| 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.
The Calpulalpan–San Francisco drive in a few lines
MEX-15D (321 mi) and MEX-M40D (112 mi) carry about 82% of the 525 miles. It runs through 6 states: Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-M40D, MEX-15D and MEX-70D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Calpulalpan to San Francisco
| 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 | 382–447 | 65 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 447–481 | 34 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 481–499 | 18 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 499–514 | 15 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200 | 514–524 | 10 | Nayarit |
| local roads | 524–525 | 1 | 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)
Stops between Calpulalpan and San Francisco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 410)
- Nature and outdoors: Agua Azul (mile 365), Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 510)
- Museums and history: Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl (mile 71), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 117), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 362), Teatro Degollado (mile 365), Guachimontones (mile 395), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 410)
Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque
Running more than 48 km between Zempoala and Otumba, Padre Tembleque's 16th-century water system has been on UNESCO's list since 2015. The friar built it from 1554 to 1572.
Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl
The Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl is an archaeological museum located in Tula de Allende, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
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.
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.
Agua Azul
Parque Agua Azul is an urban park on Calzada Independencia in Guadalajara's historic center, a green stop close to downtown.
Teatro Degollado
On Guadalajara's central plaza, along Belén Street between Hidalgo and Morelos avenues, the neoclassical Teatro Degollado is known for its varied performances and artistic design.
Guachimontones
About 40 circular buildings and two ball courts spread over 20 hectares at Guachimontones, outside Teuchitlán. INAH calls it western Mexico's first large population center, dating back to around 1000 BC.
Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería
The Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería, an interpretive museum of agave landscape and mining, is located in the municipality of Magdalena, Mexico.
Rincón de Guayabitos
Visitors from Guadalajara and Tepic often head to this Nayarit beach town in the municipality of Compostela. Its shore runs about two kilometers, and the waves tend to be calm.
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 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 Francisco?
About 8 h 24 min of driving without stops, over 525 miles.
What is the driving distance from Calpulalpan to San Francisco?
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 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 Calpulalpan to San Francisco?
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 Francisco use?
In order: MEX-M40D, 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 Calpulalpan to San Francisco?
Closest to the road: Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (museum, mile 362, 1 mi from the route); Agua Azul (park, 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.