The Wayro route from Fresnillo to San Francisco is 403 miles (649 km), about 7 h 7 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 403 mi (649 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 7 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-45 → MEX-45D → MEX-80D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-70D → MEX-200D → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-45D, MEX-80D, MEX-90D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.1 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 Fresnillo to San Francisco drive plays out
MEX-80D (87 mi) and MEX-15D (76 mi) carry about 40% of the 403 miles. It runs through 4 states: Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-45D, MEX-80D and MEX-90D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Fresnillo to San Francisco: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 1–14 | 13 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 14–65 | 51 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 65–93 | 28 | Zacatecas, Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 93–97 | 4 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 97–127 | 30 | Aguascalientes, Jalisco |
| MEX-45D | 127–140 | 13 | Jalisco |
| local roads | 140–152 | 12 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 152–239 | 87 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 239–250 | 11 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 250–259 | 9 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 259–324 | 65 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 324–359 | 35 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 359–377 | 18 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 377–392 | 15 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200 | 392–402 | 10 | Nayarit |
| local roads | 402–403 | 1 | Nayarit |
- Mile 70 of this route: Zacatecas → Aguascalientes (state line)
- Mile 124 of this route: Aguascalientes → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 308 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
Places worth a stop between Fresnillo and San Francisco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Historic centre of Aguascalientes (mile 108), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 318)
- Nature and outdoors: Agua Azul (mile 244), Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 387)
- Museums and history: Historic centre of Zacatecas (mile 36), Museo de la Insurgencia (mile 88), Historic centre of Aguascalientes (mile 108), Teocaltitan Archaeological Site (mile 165), Universidad de Guadalajara. Museo de las Artes (mile 245), Guachimontones (mile 273), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 318)
Historic centre of Zacatecas
Zacatecas' UNESCO-listed center packs in an 18th-century Baroque cathedral, colonial convents, the Calderón Theater and the old González Market, all set on the steep sides of a narrow valley.
Museo de la Insurgencia
A 17th-century estate has housed the Museo de la Insurgencia since 1964. Beyond the story of Mexico's fight for independence, its halls show hacienda work tools and everyday objects from earlier times.
Historic centre of Aguascalientes
The historic center of Aguascalientes is the city's zone of historic monuments, which INAH has declared part of the nation's heritage.
Teocaltitan Archaeological Site
Pyramids, sunken patios and a ball court spread over roughly nine hectares at Teocaltitán, close to Jalostotitlán in the Los Altos region.
Agua Azul
Parque Agua Azul is an urban park on Calzada Independencia in Guadalajara's historic center, a green stop close to downtown.
Universidad de Guadalajara. Museo de las Artes
The University of Guadalajara's Museo de las Artes, known as MUSA, opened on October 10, 1994, and was expanded in 2013.
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
Rincón de Guayabitos is a beach town in Compostela, Nayarit, with about two kilometers of shore known for gentle waves, a popular getaway from Tepic and Guadalajara.
More drives to San Francisco
- La Manzanilla to San Francisco
- Barra de Navidad to San Francisco
- Tecomán to San Francisco
- San Juan de los Lagos to San Francisco
- Pénjamo to San Francisco
- León to San Francisco
From Fresnillo to other places in Mexico
- Fresnillo to Calvillo
- Fresnillo to San Juan de los Lagos
- Fresnillo to Temacapulín
- Fresnillo to Tepatitlán
- Fresnillo to Amatitán
- Fresnillo to Ajijic
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Fresnillo to San Francisco?
About 7 h 7 min of driving without stops, over 403 miles.
How far is San Francisco from Fresnillo by car?
About 403 miles (649 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 Fresnillo to San Francisco?
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 Fresnillo to San Francisco?
The U.S. State Department rates Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel; Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Fresnillo to San Francisco use?
In order: MEX-45, MEX-45D, MEX-80D, 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 Fresnillo and San Francisco?
Closest to the road: Historic centre of Aguascalientes (historic district, mile 108, 0.1 mi from the route); Agua Azul (park, mile 244, 1 mi from the route); Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 318, 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.