Plan on about 9 h 42 min of driving for the 516-mile (831 km) trip from Ciudad Tula to Mexcaltitán, before any stops.
| Total distance | 516 mi (831 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 9 h 42 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-101 → SLP 80D → SLP 75D → MEX-57D → MEX-57 → MEX-70 → MEX-80 → MEX-80D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-57D, MEX-80D, MEX-90D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.7 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.
How the Ciudad Tula to Mexcaltitán drive plays out
MEX-15D (140 mi) and MEX-80D (128 mi) carry about 52% of the 516 miles. It runs through 5 states: Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-57D, MEX-80D and MEX-90D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Ciudad Tula to Mexcaltitán: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Tamaulipas |
| MEX-101 | 2–25 | 23 | Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 80D | 25–57 | 32 | San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 75D | 57–77 | 20 | San Luis Potosí |
| connecting roads | 77–79 | 2 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 79–100 | 21 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 100–116 | 16 | San Luis Potosí |
| local roads | 116–126 | 10 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 126–135 | 9 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-70 | 135–152 | 17 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-80 | 152–155 | 3 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-80D | 155–197 | 42 | San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Jalisco |
| MEX-80 | 197–230 | 33 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 230–316 | 86 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 316–327 | 11 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 327–337 | 10 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 337–466 | 129 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| MEX-15 | 466–489 | 23 | Nayarit |
| local roads | 489–516 | 27 | Nayarit |
- Mile 23 of this route: Tamaulipas → San Luis Potosí (state line)
- Mile 162 of this route: San Luis Potosí → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 173 of this route: Guanajuato → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 385 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
Places worth a stop between Ciudad Tula and Mexcaltitán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (mile 206)
- Museums and history: Museo del Ferrocarril Jesús García Corona (mile 117), Catedral Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, San Luis Potosí (mile 118), Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (mile 206), Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos (mile 235), Teatro Degollado (mile 321), Museo del Periodismo y las Artes Gráficas (mile 321), Guachimontones (mile 350), Tepic Cathedral (mile 447), Casa Museo Juan Escutia (mile 447)
Museo del Ferrocarril Jesús García Corona
Opened on August 12, 2009, in San Luis Potosí's Barrio del Montecillo, this railroad museum focuses on the steam locomotive, its parts and history, and its role in 20th-century Mexico.
Catedral Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, San Luis Potosí
The Basilica Sanctuary of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a Catholic church on the Calzada de Guadalupe in the historic center of San Luis Potosí.
Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera
Lagos de Moreno, in the state of Jalisco, is home to the Museo Casa Agustín Rivera Altos de Jalisco, a local museum in town.
Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos
Gothic-style ribbed vaults rise over the interior of San Juan de los Lagos' cathedral basilica, built from 1732 to 1769, where you'll also find a silver-framed Way of the Cross.
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.
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.
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.
Tepic Cathedral
On Tepic's main square, right in the city center, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, also known as Tepic Cathedral, serves the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tepic.
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.
More drives to Mexcaltitán
- Lo de Marcos to Mexcaltitán
- San Francisco to Mexcaltitán
- Sayulita to Mexcaltitán
- Bucerías to Mexcaltitán
- Nuevo Nayarit to Mexcaltitán
- Amatitán to Mexcaltitán
From Ciudad Tula to other places in Mexico
- Ciudad Tula to Mineral de Pozos
- Ciudad Tula to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Ciudad Tula to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Ciudad Tula to Jalpa de Cánovas
- Ciudad Tula to Temacapulín
- Ciudad Tula to Angangueo
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Ciudad Tula to Mexcaltitán?
About 9 h 42 min of driving without stops, over 516 miles.
How far is Mexcaltitán from Ciudad Tula by car?
About 516 miles (831 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 Ciudad Tula to Mexcaltitán?
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 Ciudad Tula to Mexcaltitán?
The U.S. State Department rates Tamaulipas Level 4: Do Not Travel; San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider 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 Ciudad Tula to Mexcaltitán?
In order: MEX-101, SLP 80D, SLP 75D, MEX-57D, MEX-57, MEX-70, MEX-80, MEX-80D, MEX-15D and MEX-15. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Ciudad Tula and Mexcaltitán?
Closest to the road: Museo del Ferrocarril Jesús García Corona (museum, mile 117, 1 mi from the route); Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (museum, mile 206, 0.4 mi from the route); Casa Museo Juan Escutia (museum, mile 447, 1 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.