By road, Matehuala and Ajijic are about 339 miles (545 km) apart, or roughly 6 h 31 min of driving.
| Distance | 339 mi (545 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 6 h 31 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-57 → MEX-57D → MEX-70 → MEX-80 → MEX-80D → MEX-GUA 10D → MEX-23 |
| Mexican states on the route | 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 13.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
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 Matehuala to Ajijic drive plays out
MEX-80D (113 mi) and MEX-57 (94 mi) carry about 61% of the 339 miles. It runs through 3 states: San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Jalisco. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-57D, MEX-80D and MEX-GUA 10D. Of the 6 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Matehuala to Ajijic: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 2–80 | 78 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 80–101 | 21 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 101–117 | 16 | San Luis Potosí |
| local roads | 117–127 | 10 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 127–136 | 9 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-70 | 136–153 | 17 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-80 | 153–157 | 4 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-80D | 157–198 | 41 | San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Jalisco |
| MEX-80 | 198–231 | 33 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 231–303 | 72 | Jalisco |
| MEX-GUA 10D | 303–321 | 18 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 321–322 | 1 | Jalisco |
| MEX-23 | 322–339 | 17 | Jalisco |
- Mile 163 of this route: San Luis Potosí → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 174 of this route: Guanajuato → Jalisco (state line)
Places worth a stop between Matehuala and Ajijic
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (mile 207), Teatro José Rosas Moreno (mile 208)
- Museums and history: Centro de las Artes de San Luis Potosí (mile 119), Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (mile 207), Teatro José Rosas Moreno (mile 208), Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos (mile 236), Teocaltitan Archaeological Site (mile 244)
Teatro de la Paz
Built between 1889 and 1894 and opened on December 4, 1894, San Luis Potosí's Teatro de la Paz is a historic monument listed by INAH.
Centro de las Artes de San Luis Potosí
San Luis Potosí's Centro de las Artes Centenario occupies the state's former penitentiary on Calzada de Guadalupe, an eclectic-style building listed as a historic monument by INAH.
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.
Teatro José Rosas Moreno
Named after Jalisco writer José Rosas Moreno, this theater in Lagos de Moreno took decades to finish: work started in 1867, and it opened on May 5, 1907.
Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos
Gothic-style ribbed vaults rise over the interior of San Juan de los Lagos' cathedral basilica, built from 1732 to 1769, where you'll also find a silver-framed Way of the Cross.
Teocaltitan Archaeological Site
Pyramids, sunken patios and a ball court spread over roughly nine hectares at Teocaltitán, close to Jalostotitlán in the Los Altos region.
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 Matehuala to other places in Mexico
- Matehuala to San Juan de los Lagos
- Matehuala to Pabellón de Arteaga
- Matehuala to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Matehuala to Calvillo
- Matehuala to Temacapulín
- Matehuala to Jalpa
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Matehuala to Ajijic?
About 6 h 31 min of driving without stops, over 339 miles.
How far is Ajijic from Matehuala by car?
About 339 miles (545 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 Matehuala 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 Matehuala to Ajijic?
The U.S. State Department rates 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.
Which highways go from Matehuala to Ajijic?
In order: 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.
What are good stops between Matehuala and Ajijic?
Closest to the road: Teatro de la Paz (theater, mile 119, 1 mi from the route); Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (museum, mile 207, 0.4 mi from the route); Teatro José Rosas Moreno (opera house, mile 208, 0.3 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.