Plan on about 5 h 39 min of driving for the 275-mile (443 km) trip from Ciudad Tula to Temacapulín, before any stops.
| Total distance | 275 mi (443 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 5 h 39 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-101 → SLP 80D → SLP 75D → MEX-57D → MEX-57 → MEX-70 → MEX-80 → MEX-80D |
| Mexican states on the route | Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Jalisco |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-57D, MEX-80D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
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 Ciudad Tula to Temacapulín
MEX-80D (68 mi) and MEX-80 (36 mi) carry about 38% of the 275 miles. It runs through 4 states: Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Jalisco. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-57D and MEX-80D. Of the 6 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Ciudad Tula to Temacapulín
| 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 | 230–256 | 26 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 256–259 | 3 | Jalisco |
| local roads | 259–275 | 16 | Jalisco |
- 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)
Stops between Ciudad Tula and Temacapulín
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (mile 206), Teatro José Rosas Moreno (mile 207)
- Museums and history: Federico Silva Museum (mile 117), Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (mile 206), Teatro José Rosas Moreno (mile 207), Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos (mile 235), Teocaltitan Archaeological Site (mile 242)
Teatro de la Paz
Built between 1889 and 1894 and opened on December 4, 1894, San Luis Potosí's Teatro de la Paz is a historic monument listed by INAH.
Federico Silva Museum
Opened on September 18, 2003, in San Luis Potosí's historic center, the Federico Silva Museum is devoted entirely to sculpture.
Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera
The Museo Casa Agustín Rivera Altos de Jalisco is a museum you'll find in the town of Lagos de Moreno, in the state of Jalisco.
Teatro José Rosas Moreno
Lagos de Moreno's Teatro José Rosas Moreno opened its doors on May 5, 1907, some forty years after construction began in 1867. It honors a writer from Jalisco.
Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos
Pilgrims come from far and wide to San Juan de los Lagos to see the small image of the Virgin kept in this cathedral basilica, built between 1732 and 1769. Inside are Gothic-style ribbed vaults and a silver-framed Way of the Cross.
Teocaltitan Archaeological Site
Near Jalostotitlán in the Los Altos region, the Teocaltitán site holds pyramids, sunken patios and a ball court spread across about nine hectares, built by a people who dominated much of the area from AD 400 to 900.
More drives to Temacapulín
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Temacapulín
- Pabellón de Hidalgo to Temacapulín
- San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes to Temacapulín
- Real de Asientos to Temacapulín
- Pinos to Temacapulín
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Temacapulín
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 Angangueo
- Ciudad Tula to Tócuaro
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Ciudad Tula to Temacapulín?
About 5 h 39 min of driving without stops, over 275 miles.
How far is Temacapulín from Ciudad Tula by car?
About 275 miles (443 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 Temacapulín?
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 Temacapulín?
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 (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Ciudad Tula to Temacapulín use?
In order: MEX-101, SLP 80D, SLP 75D, MEX-57D, MEX-57, MEX-70, MEX-80 and MEX-80D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Ciudad Tula to Temacapulín?
Closest to the road: Federico Silva Museum (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); Teatro José Rosas Moreno (opera house, mile 207, 0.3 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.