Plan on about 2 h 14 min of driving for the 128-mile (206 km) trip from Guadalajara to Tepic, before any stops.
| Distance | 128 mi (206 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 2 h 14 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15D → MEX-15 |
| Mexican states on the route | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 5.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
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 Guadalajara to Tepic
MEX-15D (108 mi) and MEX-15 (9 mi) carry about 91% of the 128 miles. It runs through 2 states: Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-15D. Of the 5 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Guadalajara to Tepic
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–5 | 5 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 5–9 | 4 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 9–18 | 9 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 18–122 | 104 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 122–128 | 6 | Nayarit |
- Mile 66 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
Stops between Guadalajara and Tepic
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 7), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 47), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 77)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 7)
- Museums and history: Guachimontones (mile 32), National Museum of Tequila (mile 37), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 47), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 77)
Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara
Zapopan's Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara is a public park in Jalisco with a busy event calendar that includes open-air film screenings, live concerts and food festivals.
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.
National Museum of Tequila
Jalisco's state government took back the National Museum of Tequila in 2026, announcing a reopening with refreshed displays. The museum, known as MUNAT, tells the story of the spirit in the town that shares its name.
Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería
In the municipality of Magdalena, Mexico, an interpretive museum focuses on two subjects: the agave landscape and mining.
Ixtlán del Rio
Between roughly 300 BC and AD 600, people made their home at Los Toriles in Ixtlán del Río. Today visitors come for its circular temple, a rare design in Mesoamerica.
Arriving in Tepic
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.
Museo Amado Nervo
Poet Amado Nervo was born on August 27, 1870, in this mid-19th-century house in downtown Tepic, which opened as a museum dedicated to him on April 27, 1970.
More drives to Tepic
- León to Tepic
- Irapuato to Tepic
- Morelia to Tepic
- San Luis Potosí to Tepic
- Querétaro to Tepic
- Toluca to Tepic
From Guadalajara to other places in Mexico
- Guadalajara to Pabellón de Arteaga
- Guadalajara to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Guadalajara to Calvillo
- Guadalajara to Real de Asientos
- Guadalajara to Guadalupe, Zacatecas
- Guadalajara to Zacatecas
Continue Your Adventure
- Guadalajara to Nuevo Ideal Road Trip: Where to Stop on the Way
- Guadalajara to Huamantla Road Trip: Stops, Tolls & Drive Time
- Guadalajara to Zacualpan de Amilpas Road Trip: Stops & Tolls
- Guadalajara to Teziutlán Road Trip: Stops, Tolls & Drive Time
- Guadalajara to Otumba Road Trip: Distance, Time & Stops
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Guadalajara to Tepic?
About 2 h 14 min of driving without stops, over 128 miles.
How far is Tepic from Guadalajara by car?
About 128 miles (206 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 Guadalajara to Tepic?
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 Guadalajara to Tepic?
The U.S. State Department rates 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 Guadalajara to Tepic use?
In order: MEX-15D and MEX-15. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Guadalajara and Tepic?
Closest to the road: Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (park, mile 7, 0.9 mi from the route); Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (museum, mile 47, 0.5 mi from the route); Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 77, 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.