La Peñita de Jaltemba to Real de Catorce is about 467 road miles (752 km): roughly 8 h 57 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Total distance | 467 mi (752 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 57 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-200D → MEX-70D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-80D → MEX-80 → MEX-70 → MEX-57D → MEX-49 → MEX-63 → SLP 43 |
| Mexican states on the route | Nayarit, Jalisco, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-200D, MEX-70D, MEX-15D, MEX-80D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.7 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.
How the La Peñita de Jaltemba to Real de Catorce drive plays out
MEX-80D (114 mi) and MEX-15D (86 mi) carry about 43% of the 467 miles. It runs through 4 states: Nayarit, Jalisco, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-200D, MEX-70D and MEX-15D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
La Peñita de Jaltemba to Real de Catorce: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 4–9 | 5 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 9–61 | 52 | Nayarit |
| MEX-15D | 61–127 | 66 | Nayarit, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 127–138 | 11 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 138–158 | 20 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 158–161 | 3 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 161–233 | 72 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80 | 233–266 | 33 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 266–308 | 42 | Jalisco, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-80 | 308–311 | 3 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-70 | 311–328 | 17 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 328–343 | 15 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-49 | 343–353 | 10 | San Luis Potosí |
| connecting roads | 353–354 | 1 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-63 | 354–427 | 73 | San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 43 | 427–460 | 33 | San Luis Potosí |
| local roads | 460–467 | 7 | San Luis Potosí |
- Mile 78 of this route: Nayarit → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 291 of this route: Jalisco → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 301 of this route: Guanajuato → San Luis Potosí (state line)
What to see on the way from La Peñita de Jaltemba to Real de Catorce
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 97), Statue of Minerva, Guadalajara (mile 140), Teatro José Rosas Moreno (mile 256), Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (mile 257)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Walt Disney (mile 144)
- Museums and history: Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 97), Panteón de Belén (mile 142), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 146), Teatro José Rosas Moreno (mile 256), Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (mile 257), San Luis Potosí Cathedral (mile 336)
Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería
The Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería, an interpretive museum of agave landscape and mining, is located in the municipality of Magdalena, Mexico.
Statue of Minerva, Guadalajara
At a roundabout fountain in Guadalajara, a bronze statue of Minerva, Roman goddess of wisdom, stands on a large pedestal inscribed with the names of 18 notable citizens.
Panteón de Belén
A historic cemetery in Guadalajara, Panteón de Belén is known for its legends and offers night tours.
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.
Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque
Tlaquepaque has two main ceramics museums, and this is one of them: the Museo Regional de la Cerámica, on Independencia Street in the center of town. The other is the Pantaleón Panduro Museum.
Teatro José Rosas Moreno
Construction of the Teatro José Rosas Moreno in Lagos de Moreno began in 1867, and the theater opened on May 5, 1907. It is named for Jalisco writer José Rosas Moreno.
Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera
The Museo Casa Agustín Rivera Altos de Jalisco is a museum you'll find in the town of Lagos de Moreno, in the state of Jalisco.
San Luis Potosí Cathedral
San Luis Potosí's cathedral anchors the city's historic center, which UNESCO lists as a component of the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro World Heritage Site.
In Real de Catorce itself
High in the mountains of northern San Luis Potosí Real de Catorce is a former silver-mining town whose most prosperous era began in 1778. It joined the Pueblos Mágicos program in 2001, and its identity grew out of both its mining past and the culture of the Huichol (Wixárika) people.
- Túnel de Ogarrio: The Túnel de Ogarrio, the town's famous tunnel, is one of the landmarks SECTUR highlights for visitors to Real de Catorce. source
- Parroquia de la Purísima Concepción: The Parroquia de la Purísima Concepción is the parish church at the center of town life, and the feast of St. Francis of Assisi on October 4 is its biggest celebration. source
- Museo Parroquial Padre José Robledo: The Museo Parroquial Padre José Robledo preserves pieces of the town's religious history. source
More drives to Real de Catorce
- Comfort, TX to Real de Catorce
- San Antonio, TX to Real de Catorce
- Boerne, TX to Real de Catorce
- San Marcos, TX to Real de Catorce
- McAllen, TX to Real de Catorce
- Bandera, TX to Real de Catorce
From La Peñita de Jaltemba to other places in Mexico
- La Peñita de Jaltemba to Temacapulín
- La Peñita de Jaltemba to Jalpa de Cánovas
- La Peñita de Jaltemba to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- La Peñita de Jaltemba to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- La Peñita de Jaltemba to Tócuaro
- La Peñita de Jaltemba to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
Coming to Real de Catorce from the United States? Border crossings, permits and routes from U.S. cities: Driving to Real de Catorce, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from La Peñita de Jaltemba to Real de Catorce?
About 8 h 57 min of driving without stops, over 467 miles.
How far is Real de Catorce from La Peñita de Jaltemba by car?
About 467 miles (752 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 La Peñita de Jaltemba to Real de Catorce?
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 La Peñita de Jaltemba to Real de Catorce?
The U.S. State Department rates Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from La Peñita de Jaltemba to Real de Catorce?
In order: MEX-200D, MEX-70D, MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-80D, MEX-80, MEX-70, MEX-57D, MEX-49, MEX-63 and SLP 43. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between La Peñita de Jaltemba and Real de Catorce?
Closest to the road: Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (museum, mile 97, 0.6 mi from the route); Teatro José Rosas Moreno (opera house, mile 256, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (museum, mile 257, 0.4 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.