The Wayro route from Irapuato to Mazatlán is 451 miles (726 km), about 7 h 35 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 451 mi (726 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 35 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-90 → MEX-90D → MEX-110 → MEX-15D → MEX-15 |
| Mexican states on the route | Guanajuato (Level 3), Michoacán (Level 4), Jalisco (Level 3), Nayarit (Level 2), Sinaloa (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-90D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.0 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 Irapuato to Mazatlán is like
MEX-15D (353 mi) and MEX-90 (45 mi) carry about 88% of the 451 miles. MEX-90D, MEX-15D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-90, MEX-110, MEX-15 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 5 states: Guanajuato, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit, Sinaloa. Of the 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Irapuato to Mazatlán, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-90 | 2–47 | 45 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-90D | 47–61 | 14 | Guanajuato, Michoacán |
| MEX-110 | 61–83 | 22 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 83–158 | 75 | Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 158–167 | 9 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 167–445 | 278 | Jalisco, Nayarit, Sinaloa |
| MEX-15 | 445–451 | 6 | Sinaloa |
- Mile 59 of this route: Guanajuato → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 88 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 216 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
- Mile 359 of this route: Nayarit → Sinaloa (state line)
Stops between Irapuato and Mazatlán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ixtlán del Rio (mile 226)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Walt Disney (mile 150), Agua Grande Lagoon (mile 384)
- Museums and history: Plazuelas (mile 39), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 147), Guadalajara Cathedral (mile 151), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 226), Casa Museo Juan Escutia (mile 277)
Tequila Corralejo
Tequila Corralejo is distilled in Pénjamo, Guanajuato, at the historic Hacienda de Corralejo, where the brand, established in 1996, offers guided tours and hosts social events.
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.
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.
Parque Walt Disney
Despite sharing a name with Walt Disney, this recreational space in Guadalajara's Colonia Olímpica has no direct theme tied to Disney's amusement parks.
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.
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.
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.
Agua Grande Lagoon
Agua Grande is a large coastal lagoon in the Mexican state of Sinaloa that drains into the Pacific Ocean through the Teacapán Estuary.
When you get to Mazatlán
Observatorio 1873
Built in the mid-19th century as a military lookout to guard Mazatlán's port against pirates and enemies, Observatorio 1873 is now a tourism park.
Teatro Ángela Peralta, Mazatlán
Built during the Porfirian era of Mazatlán's port, the Teatro Ángela Peralta is a historic theater building in the city of Mazatlán, in the state of Sinaloa.
Basilica Cathedral of Mazatlán
In Mazatlán's historic center, the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception is a Baroque Revival church and the seat of the Diocese of Mazatlán.
More drives to Mazatlán
- Aguascalientes to Mazatlán
- Guadalajara to Mazatlán
- Morelia to Mazatlán
- León to Mazatlán
- Querétaro to Mazatlán
- Saltillo to Mazatlán
From Irapuato to other places in Mexico
- Irapuato to Paracho
- Irapuato to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Irapuato to Amatitán
- Irapuato to Tequila
- Irapuato to Jerez, Zacatecas
- Irapuato to Sombrerete
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Irapuato to Mazatlán?
About 7 h 35 min of driving without stops, over 451 miles.
How far is Mazatlán from Irapuato by car?
About 451 miles (726 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 Irapuato to Mazatlán?
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 Irapuato to Mazatlán?
The U.S. State Department rates Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Sinaloa Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Irapuato to Mazatlán use?
In order: MEX-90, MEX-90D, MEX-110, MEX-15D and MEX-15. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Irapuato and Mazatlán?
Closest to the road: Tequila Corralejo (distillery, mile 24, 1 mi from the route); Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (museum, mile 147, 1 mi from the route); Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 226, 0.6 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.