Linares to Ajijic is about 478 road miles (770 km): roughly 9 h 39 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance by road | 478 mi (770 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 39 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-58 → MEX-57 → MEX-57D → MEX-70 → MEX-80 → MEX-80D → MEX-GUA 10D → MEX-23 |
| Mexican states on the route | Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Jalisco |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-57D, MEX-80D, MEX-GUA 10D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
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 Linares to Ajijic is like
MEX-57 (164 mi) and MEX-80D (114 mi) carry about 58% of the 478 miles. It runs through 4 states: Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Jalisco. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-57D, MEX-80D and MEX-GUA 10D. Of the 7 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Linares and Ajijic
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Nuevo León |
| MEX-58 | 1–62 | 61 | Nuevo León |
| MEX-57 | 62–135 | 73 | Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 135–145 | 10 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 145–220 | 75 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 220–241 | 21 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 241–257 | 16 | San Luis Potosí |
| local roads | 257–267 | 10 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 267–276 | 9 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-70 | 276–293 | 17 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-80 | 293–296 | 3 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-80D | 296–338 | 42 | San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Jalisco |
| MEX-80 | 338–371 | 33 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 371–443 | 72 | Jalisco |
| MEX-GUA 10D | 443–461 | 18 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 461–462 | 1 | Jalisco |
| MEX-23 | 462–478 | 16 | Jalisco |
- Mile 124 of this route: Nuevo León → San Luis Potosí (state line)
- Mile 303 of this route: San Luis Potosí → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 314 of this route: Guanajuato → Jalisco (state line)
What to see on the way from Linares to Ajijic
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Teatro José Rosas Moreno (mile 347), Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (mile 347)
- Museums and history: Matehuala Cathedral (mile 140), Museo Leonora Carrington (mile 258), Museo del Virreinato (mile 258), Teatro José Rosas Moreno (mile 347), Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (mile 347), Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos (mile 376), Teocaltitan Archaeological Site (mile 383)
Matehuala Cathedral
Matehuala's Immaculate Conception Cathedral is the seat of the Diocese of Matehuala; it is open for worship though still under construction.
Museo Leonora Carrington
Inside the Centro de las Artes, a former state penitentiary, this museum shows Leonora Carrington's sculptures, engravings, drawings, jewelry and personal objects, including monumental bronzes of her fantastical creatures.
Museo del Virreinato
Set in the 18th-century former convent of the Discalced Carmelites in San Luis Potosí, the Museo del Virreinato is dedicated to Mexican art from the viceregal period.
Teatro José Rosas Moreno
Lagos de Moreno's Teatro José Rosas Moreno opened its doors on May 5, 1907, some forty years after construction began in 1867. It honors a writer from Jalisco.
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.
Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos
Pilgrims come from far and wide to San Juan de los Lagos to see the small image of the Virgin kept in this cathedral basilica, built between 1732 and 1769. Inside are Gothic-style ribbed vaults and a silver-framed Way of the Cross.
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.
More drives to Ajijic
- Calvillo to Ajijic
- Jerez, Zacatecas to Ajijic
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Ajijic
- Fresnillo to Ajijic
- El Rosario, Sinaloa to Ajijic
- Sombrerete to Ajijic
From Linares to other places in Mexico
- Linares to Pinos
- Linares to Mineral de Pozos
- Linares to Pinal de Amoles
- Linares to San Juan de los Lagos
- Linares to Jerez, Zacatecas
- Linares to Calvillo
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Linares to Ajijic?
About 9 h 39 min of driving without stops, over 478 miles.
How far is Ajijic from Linares by car?
About 478 miles (770 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 Linares to Ajijic?
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 Linares to Ajijic?
The U.S. State Department rates Nuevo León Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Linares to Ajijic use?
In order: MEX-58, MEX-57, MEX-57D, MEX-70, MEX-80, MEX-80D, MEX-GUA 10D and MEX-23. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Linares to Ajijic?
Closest to the road: Museo del Virreinato (museum, mile 258, 1 mi from the route); Teatro José Rosas Moreno (opera house, mile 347, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (museum, mile 347, 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.