The Wayro route from Mascota to Real de Catorce is 450 miles (724 km), about 9 h 53 min of driving without stops.
| Distance by road | 450 mi (724 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 9 h 53 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-70 → MEX-15 → MEX-15D → MEX-80D → MEX-80 → MEX-57D → MEX-49 → MEX-63 → SLP 43 |
| Mexican states on the route | Jalisco, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-15D, MEX-80D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.0 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.
How the Mascota to Real de Catorce drive plays out
MEX-70 (124 mi) and MEX-80D (113 mi) carry about 53% of the 450 miles. It runs through 3 states: Jalisco, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-15D, MEX-80D and MEX-57D. Of the 7 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Mascota to Real de Catorce, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-70 | 0–107 | 107 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 107–121 | 14 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 121–140 | 19 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 140–144 | 4 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 144–216 | 72 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80 | 216–249 | 33 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 249–290 | 41 | Jalisco, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-80 | 290–293 | 3 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-70 | 293–310 | 17 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 310–325 | 15 | San Luis Potosí |
| connecting roads | 325–326 | 1 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-49 | 326–336 | 10 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-63 | 336–409 | 73 | San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 43 | 409–443 | 34 | San Luis Potosí |
| local roads | 443–450 | 7 | San Luis Potosí |
- Mile 273 of this route: Jalisco → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 283 of this route: Guanajuato → San Luis Potosí (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Mascota and Real de Catorce
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila (mile 93), Teatro José Rosas Moreno (mile 239), Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (mile 239)
- Museums and history: Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila (mile 93), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 128), Teatro José Rosas Moreno (mile 239), Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (mile 239), San Luis Potosí Cathedral (mile 318)
- With kids: Acuario Michin Guadalajara (mile 124)
Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila
Around the town of Tequila, the Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of blue agave fields shaped by the plant's use for tequila since the 16th century.
Acuario Michin Guadalajara
Acuario Michin Guadalajara is an aquarium in the city of Guadalajara, in the Mexican state of Jalisco.
Convento de Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro
Better known as El Perpetuo Socorro, this Guadalajara church is home to a Passionist convent that has housed the order's postulants since 2020.
Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque
Ceramics lovers in central Tlaquepaque, Jalisco, can find the Museo Regional de la Cerámica on Independencia Street. Along with the Pantaleón Panduro Museum, it is one of the city's two principal pottery museums.
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
Lagos de Moreno, in the state of Jalisco, is home to the Museo Casa Agustín Rivera Altos de Jalisco, a local museum in town.
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.
When you get to Real de Catorce
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 Mascota to other places in Mexico
- Mascota to Temacapulín
- Mascota to Jalpa de Cánovas
- Mascota to Boca de Pascuales
- Mascota to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Mascota to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Mascota to Tócuaro
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 Mascota to Real de Catorce?
About 9 h 53 min of driving without stops, over 450 miles.
How far is Real de Catorce from Mascota by car?
About 450 miles (724 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 Mascota 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 Mascota to Real de Catorce?
The U.S. State Department rates 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.
What roads does the drive from Mascota to Real de Catorce use?
In order: MEX-70, MEX-15, MEX-15D, MEX-80D, MEX-80, 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 Mascota and Real de Catorce?
Closest to the road: Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila (historic site, mile 93, 0.4 mi from the route); Teatro José Rosas Moreno (opera house, mile 239, 0.3 mi from the route); Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (museum, mile 239, 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.