The Wayro route from El Salto, Durango to Temacapulín is 397 miles (639 km), about 8 h 1 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 397 mi (639 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 1 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-40D → DGO 45 → MEX-45 → MEX-45D → MEX-80D |
| Mexican states on the route | Durango (Level 3), Zacatecas (Level 4), Aguascalientes (Level 2), Jalisco (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-40D, MEX-45D, MEX-80D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.9 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.
What the drive from El Salto, Durango to Temacapulín is like
MEX-45 (192 mi) and MEX-45D (76 mi) carry about 68% of the 397 miles. MEX-40D, MEX-45D, MEX-80D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-45 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 4 states: Durango, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Jalisco. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from El Salto, Durango to Temacapulín, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Durango |
| MEX-40D | 3–47 | 44 | Durango |
| local roads | 47–52 | 5 | Durango |
| DGO 45 | 52–65 | 13 | Durango |
| connecting roads | 65–66 | 1 | Durango |
| MEX-45 | 66–193 | 127 | Durango, Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 193–205 | 12 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 205–213 | 8 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 213–263 | 50 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 263–291 | 28 | Zacatecas, Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 291–296 | 5 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 296–325 | 29 | Aguascalientes, Jalisco |
| MEX-45D | 325–339 | 14 | Jalisco |
| local roads | 339–350 | 11 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 350–351 | 1 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 351–377 | 26 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 377–380 | 3 | Jalisco |
| local roads | 380–397 | 17 | Jalisco |
- Mile 116 of this route: Durango → Zacatecas (state line)
- Mile 268 of this route: Zacatecas → Aguascalientes (state line)
- Mile 321 of this route: Aguascalientes → Jalisco (state line)
Stops between El Salto, Durango and Temacapulín
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): La Ferrería (mile 55), Sierra de Órganos National Park (mile 122), Museum of Contemporary Art (mile 306)
- Nature and outdoors: Sierra de Órganos National Park (mile 122)
- Museums and history: La Ferrería (mile 55), Guadalupe regional museum (mile 240), Museo de la Insurgencia (mile 285), Museum of Contemporary Art (mile 306), Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos (mile 356), Teocaltitan Archaeological Site (mile 364)
La Ferrería
La Ferrería is an archaeological site in Durango Municipality, set in country of mesquite and aloe.
Sierra de Órganos National Park
Volcanic activity and erosion shaped the 20- to 60-meter rock spires of Sierra de Órganos, a national park near Sombrerete created in 2000. Western movies have been filmed here, and visitors hike marked trails, mountain bike and camp.
Historic centre of Zacatecas
Founded in 1546 after a rich silver strike, Zacatecas climbs the steep sides of a narrow valley; its UNESCO-listed center holds an 18th-century Baroque cathedral, colonial convents, the Calderón Theater and the old González Market.
Guadalupe regional museum
In Guadalupe, Zacatecas, the Museo de Guadalupe fills a former college that sent missionaries to the north and holds an important collection of 17th- to 19th-century painting, including works by Cristóbal de Villalpando, Miguel Cabrera and Juan Correa.
Museo de la Insurgencia
Set in a 17th-century estate, the Museo de la Insurgencia opened in 1964 to tell the story of Mexico's independence movement. One hall shows farm, mining and textile tools from hacienda work; another displays everyday objects from past eras.
Museum of Contemporary Art
Aguascalientes' Museum of Contemporary Art shows works by contemporary Mexican artists in its Jesús F. Contreras gallery.
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 El Salto, Durango to other places in Mexico
- El Salto, Durango to Sombrerete
- El Salto, Durango to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- El Salto, Durango to Calvillo
- El Salto, Durango to Mazamitla
- El Salto, Durango to Tócuaro
- El Salto, Durango to Zirahuén
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from El Salto, Durango to Temacapulín?
About 8 h 1 min of driving without stops, over 397 miles.
How far is Temacapulín from El Salto, Durango by car?
About 397 miles (639 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 El Salto, Durango 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 El Salto, Durango to Temacapulín?
The U.S. State Department rates Durango Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel; Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from El Salto, Durango to Temacapulín use?
In order: MEX-40D, DGO 45, MEX-45, MEX-45D and MEX-80D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between El Salto, Durango and Temacapulín?
Closest to the road: La Ferrería (archaeological site, mile 55, 0.4 mi from the route); Sierra de Órganos National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 122, 1 mi from the route); Museum of Contemporary Art (art museum, mile 306, 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 mile 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 (roughly 2 to 7 miles depending on the type, farther for World Heritage sites): at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, with no more than five of one type, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place and city 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.