Ezequiel Montes to Sayulita is about 416 road miles (669 km): roughly 7 h 26 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance | 416 mi (669 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 26 min |
| Main roads, in order | QRO 5 → QRO 4 → MEX-57D → MEX-45D → MEX-90 → MEX-90D → MEX-110 → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-70D → MEX-200D → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | Querétaro, Guanajuato, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-57D, MEX-45D, MEX-90D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.6 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 Ezequiel Montes–Sayulita drive in a few lines
MEX-15D (140 mi) and MEX-45D (65 mi) carry about 49% of the 416 miles. It runs through 5 states: Querétaro, Guanajuato, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-57D, MEX-45D and MEX-90D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Ezequiel Montes to Sayulita: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| QRO 5 | 0–7 | 7 | Querétaro |
| QRO 4 | 7–25 | 18 | Querétaro |
| connecting roads | 25–26 | 1 | Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 26–38 | 12 | Querétaro |
| MEX-45D | 38–103 | 65 | Querétaro, Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 103–104 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-90 | 104–149 | 45 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-90D | 149–162 | 13 | Guanajuato, Michoacán |
| MEX-110 | 162–185 | 23 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 185–260 | 75 | Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 260–269 | 9 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 269–334 | 65 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 334–368 | 34 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 368–386 | 18 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 386–401 | 15 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200 | 401–414 | 13 | Nayarit |
| local roads | 414–416 | 2 | Nayarit |
- Mile 45 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 161 of this route: Guanajuato → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 190 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 318 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
What to see on the way from Ezequiel Montes to Sayulita
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ixtlán del Rio (mile 327)
- Nature and outdoors: Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 396)
- Museums and history: Museo Regional de Querétaro (mile 37), Querétaro Cathedral (mile 38), Celaya Cathedral (mile 65), Irapuato Cathedral (mile 101), Plazuelas (mile 141), Guachimontones (mile 283), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 327)
Museo Regional de Querétaro
The state's regional museum occupies the former Great Convent of San Francisco in central Santiago de Querétaro, a building dating from the 1540s and 1550s.
Querétaro Cathedral
Querétaro's cathedral, dedicated to St. Philip Neri, is a Catholic church built by the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri in Santiago de Querétaro.
Celaya Cathedral
Celaya's main Catholic church, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, occupies the space of a former chapel that was annexed to the neighboring Temple of St. Francis.
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.
Convento de Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro
Better known as El Perpetuo Socorro, this Guadalajara church is home to a Passionist convent that has housed the order's postulants since 2020.
Guachimontones
Western Mexico's first large population center, according to INAH, took shape near Teuchitlán around 1000 BC. Guachimontones stands out for its round architecture, with roughly 40 circular structures across the site.
Ixtlán del Rio
Known locally as Los Toriles, the Ixtlán del Río site is famous for a temple with a fully circular floor plan, rare in Mesoamerica. People lived here from about 300 BC to AD 600, and an introductory gallery explains the finds.
Rincón de Guayabitos
Gentle waves are the draw at Rincón de Guayabitos, where roughly two kilometers of shoreline make this Compostela, Nayarit, beach town a favorite escape for people from Tepic and Guadalajara.
More drives to Sayulita
- Tepatitlán to Sayulita
- San Juan de los Lagos to Sayulita
- Jalpa to Sayulita
- León to Sayulita
- Aguascalientes to Sayulita
- Paracho to Sayulita
From Ezequiel Montes to other places in Mexico
- Ezequiel Montes to Tzintzuntzan
- Ezequiel Montes to Tócuaro
- Ezequiel Montes to Pacanda
- Ezequiel Montes to Santa Clara del Cobre
- Ezequiel Montes to Zirahuén
- Ezequiel Montes to Pinos
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Ezequiel Montes to Sayulita?
About 7 h 26 min of driving without stops, over 416 miles.
What is the driving distance from Ezequiel Montes to Sayulita?
About 416 miles (669 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 Ezequiel Montes to Sayulita?
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 Ezequiel Montes to Sayulita?
The U.S. State Department rates Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; 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 Ezequiel Montes to Sayulita?
In order: QRO 5, QRO 4, MEX-57D, MEX-45D, MEX-90, MEX-90D, MEX-110, MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-70D, MEX-200D and MEX-200. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Ezequiel Montes and Sayulita?
Closest to the road: Querétaro Cathedral (cathedral, mile 38, 1 mi from the route); Convento de Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro (convent, mile 253, 1 mi from the route); Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 327, 0.5 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.