Celaya to San Blas is about 351 road miles (565 km): roughly 6 h 19 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Total distance | 351 mi (565 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 6 h 19 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-45 → MEX-45D → MEX-90 → MEX-90D → MEX-110 → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → NAY 12 |
| Mexican states on the route | Guanajuato, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-45D, MEX-90D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.0 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.
Driving Celaya to San Blas: the shape of the trip
MEX-15D (211 mi) and MEX-90 (46 mi) carry about 73% of the 351 miles. It runs through 4 states: Guanajuato, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-45D, MEX-90D and MEX-15D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Celaya to San Blas, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45 | 2–37 | 35 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 37–42 | 5 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-90 | 42–88 | 46 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-90D | 88–101 | 13 | Guanajuato, Michoacán |
| MEX-110 | 101–123 | 22 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 123–198 | 75 | Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 198–208 | 10 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 208–344 | 136 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| NAY 12 | 344–349 | 5 | Nayarit |
| local roads | 349–351 | 2 | Nayarit |
- Mile 99 of this route: Guanajuato → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 129 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 256 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
What to see on the way from Celaya to San Blas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ixtlán del Rio (mile 267)
- Museums and history: Irapuato Cathedral (mile 40), Plazuelas (mile 80), Museo de las Artes Populares de Jalisco (mile 191), Guachimontones (mile 221), National Museum of Tequila (mile 227), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 267), Casa Museo Juan Escutia (mile 318), Tepic Cathedral (mile 318)
Irapuato Cathedral
Irapuato's cathedral, dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, dates from the 18th century and has a Baroque facade. It served as the seat of the local parish until 2004, when the new Diocese of Irapuato made it a cathedral.
Plazuelas
Near Pénjamo, Plazuelas flourished between AD 450 and 700. Trails lead to Casas Tapadas, a platform crowned by four pyramid bases, a ball court, and rocks carved with spirals and La Maqueta, a low-relief model of Casas Tapadas.
Museo de las Artes Populares de Jalisco
Opened on May 31, 2000, in Guadalajara's historic center, this museum researches, safeguards and promotes the crafts and folk art of Jalisco.
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.
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
Between roughly 300 BC and AD 600, people made their home at Los Toriles in Ixtlán del Río. Today visitors come for its circular temple, a rare design in Mesoamerica.
Casa Museo Juan Escutia
In central Tepic, Casa Museo Juan Escutia honors Juan Escutia, one of the fighters who died defending Chapultepec Castle during the U.S. invasion of Mexico.
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.
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 Celaya to other places in Mexico
- Celaya to Real de Asientos
- Celaya to Amatitán
- Celaya to Zacatecas
- Celaya to Tequila
- Celaya to Jerez, Zacatecas
- Celaya to Sombrerete
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Celaya to San Blas?
About 6 h 19 min of driving without stops, over 351 miles.
What is the driving distance from Celaya to San Blas?
About 351 miles (565 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 Celaya 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 Celaya to San Blas?
The U.S. State Department rates Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; 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.
Which highways go from Celaya to San Blas?
In order: MEX-45, MEX-45D, MEX-90, MEX-90D, MEX-110, 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 Celaya to San Blas?
Closest to the road: Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 267, 0.6 mi from the route); Casa Museo Juan Escutia (museum, mile 318, 1 mi from the route); Tepic Cathedral (cathedral, mile 318, 2 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.