Plan on about 6 h 23 min of driving for the 364-mile (585 km) trip from Guadalupe, Zacatecas, Mexico to San Francisco, before any stops.
| Total distance | 364 mi (585 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 6 h 23 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-45D → MEX-45 → 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 14.5 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 Guadalupe, Zacatecas to San Francisco drive plays out
MEX-80D (87 mi) and MEX-15D (78 mi) carry about 45% of the 364 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, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Guadalupe, Zacatecas to San Francisco
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 4–25 | 21 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 25–53 | 28 | Zacatecas, Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 53–57 | 4 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 57–87 | 30 | Aguascalientes, Jalisco |
| MEX-45D | 87–100 | 13 | Jalisco |
| local roads | 100–112 | 12 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 112–199 | 87 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 199–211 | 12 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 211–219 | 8 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 219–285 | 66 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 285–319 | 34 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 319–337 | 18 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 337–352 | 15 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200 | 352–362 | 10 | Nayarit |
| local roads | 362–364 | 2 | Nayarit |
- Mile 30 of this route: Zacatecas → Aguascalientes (state line)
- Mile 83 of this route: Aguascalientes → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 268 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Guadalupe, Zacatecas and San Francisco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Aguascalientes Cathedral (mile 68), Museo Regional de Aguascalientes (mile 68), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 278)
- Nature and outdoors: Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 347)
- Museums and history: Aguascalientes Cathedral (mile 68), Museo Regional de Aguascalientes (mile 68), Teocaltitan Archaeological Site (mile 126), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 201), Guadalajara Cathedral (mile 204), Museo del Periodismo y las Artes Gráficas (mile 204), Guachimontones (mile 234), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 278)
Aguascalientes Cathedral
The cathedral of Aguascalientes stands on the Plaza de la Patria in the city's historic center.
Museo Regional de Aguascalientes
An early 20th-century building by self-taught architect Refugio Reyes holds this INAH museum of Aguascalientes history, with fossils, archaeological finds, colonial paintings by Juan Correa and more than 300 devotional ex-voto paintings.
Teocaltitan Archaeological Site
A people who dominated much of Los Altos between AD 400 and 900 built Teocaltitán, near Jalostotitlán. The site's pyramids, sunken patios and ball court cover about nine hectares.
Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque
On Independencia Street in central Tlaquepaque, Jalisco, the Museo Regional de la Cerámica is one of the city's two main ceramics museums, alongside the Pantaleón Panduro Museum.
Guadalajara Cathedral
In the Centro of Guadalajara, the Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady is the seat of the Archdiocese of Guadalajara and a minor basilica.
Museo del Periodismo y las Artes Gráficas
The Museo del Periodismo y las Artes Gráficas stands on Paseo Alcalde, formerly Avenida Alcalde, in the city of Guadalajara, Jalisco.
Guachimontones
Near the town of Teuchitlán, Guachimontones is known for its circular structures. INAH describes it as the first large population center in western Mexico, emerging around 1000 BC, with two ball courts and about 40 circular buildings across 20 hectares.
Ixtlán del Rio
A temple built on a completely round floor plan, unusual anywhere in Mesoamerica, is the highlight at the Ixtlán del Río archaeological site, which locals call Los Toriles. An introductory gallery explains the finds.
Rincón de Guayabitos
Visitors from Guadalajara and Tepic often head to this Nayarit beach town in the municipality of Compostela. Its shore runs about two kilometers, and the waves tend to be calm.
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 Guadalupe, Zacatecas to other places in Mexico
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to San Juan de los Lagos
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Temacapulín
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Tepatitlán
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Amatitán
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Ajijic
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Tequila
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Guadalupe, Zacatecas, Mexico to San Francisco?
About 6 h 23 min of driving without stops, over 364 miles.
What is the driving distance from Guadalupe, Zacatecas, Mexico to San Francisco?
About 364 miles (585 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 Guadalupe, Zacatecas 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 Guadalupe, Zacatecas 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 Guadalupe, Zacatecas to San Francisco use?
In order: MEX-45D, MEX-45, 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.
Where can you stop on the way from Guadalupe, Zacatecas to San Francisco?
Closest to the road: Aguascalientes Cathedral (cathedral, mile 68, 0.2 mi from the route); Museo Regional de Aguascalientes (history museum, mile 68, 0.3 mi from the route); Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 278, 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.