Mineral de Pozos to San Francisco is about 398 road miles (640 km): roughly 7 h 21 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance | 398 mi (640 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 21 min |
| Main roads, in order | GTO 100 → MEX-110 → MEX-51 → MEX-110D → MEX-45 → MEX-45D → MEX-80 → MEX-80D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-70D → MEX-200D → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | Guanajuato, Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-110D, MEX-45D, MEX-80D, MEX-90D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
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.
The Mineral de Pozos–San Francisco drive in a few lines
MEX-80D (86 mi) and MEX-15D (77 mi) carry about 41% of the 398 miles. It runs through 3 states: Guanajuato, Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-110D, MEX-45D and MEX-80D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Mineral de Pozos to San Francisco
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| GTO 100 | 0–6 | 6 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-110 | 6–32 | 26 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-51 | 32–36 | 4 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-110 | 36–73 | 37 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-110D | 73–82 | 9 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45 | 82–95 | 13 | Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 95–96 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 96–132 | 36 | Guanajuato, Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 132–133 | 1 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80 | 133–147 | 14 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 147–233 | 86 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 233–245 | 12 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 245–254 | 9 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 254–319 | 65 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 319–354 | 35 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 354–372 | 18 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 372–386 | 14 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200 | 386–397 | 11 | Nayarit |
| local roads | 397–398 | 1 | Nayarit |
- Mile 116 of this route: Guanajuato → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 303 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
Places worth a stop between Mineral de Pozos and San Francisco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Miguel Hidalgo House, Dolores Hidalgo (mile 36), Basílica Colegiata de Guanajuato (mile 70), Alfredo Dugès Museum (mile 70), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 313)
- Nature and outdoors: Alfredo Dugès Museum (mile 70), Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 382)
- Museums and history: Miguel Hidalgo House, Dolores Hidalgo (mile 36), Basílica Colegiata de Guanajuato (mile 70), Alfredo Dugès Museum (mile 70), Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos (mile 153), Museo del Periodismo y las Artes Gráficas (mile 239), Guachimontones (mile 268), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 313)
Miguel Hidalgo House, Dolores Hidalgo
Built in 1779, the Casa de Hidalgo in Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato, is also known as the Museo Histórico Curato de Dolores.
Basílica Colegiata de Guanajuato
On Guanajuato's Plaza de la Paz, the Basilica of Our Lady of Guanajuato stands opposite the plaque marking the city center as a World Heritage Site.
Alfredo Dugès Museum
Named for French naturalist Alfredo Dugès, who settled in Guanajuato, this natural history museum is in the city of Guanajuato.
Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos
Raised between 1732 and 1769, the cathedral basilica of San Juan de los Lagos draws pilgrims from far away who come to visit the small image of the Virgin kept inside.
Diana Theatre
The Diana Theatre, or Teatro Diana, is an indoor theater in Guadalajara, in the state of Jalisco, with seating for 2,345 people.
Museo del Periodismo y las Artes Gráficas
The Museo del Periodismo y las Artes Gráficas stands on Paseo Alcalde, formerly Avenida Alcalde, in the city of Guadalajara, Jalisco.
Guachimontones
Western Mexico's first large population center, according to INAH, took shape near Teuchitlán around 1000 BC. Guachimontones stands out for its round architecture, with roughly 40 circular structures across the site.
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.
Rincón de Guayabitos
Visitors from Guadalajara and Tepic often head to this Nayarit beach town in the municipality of Compostela. Its shore runs about two kilometers, and the waves tend to be calm.
More drives to San Francisco
- La Manzanilla to San Francisco
- Barra de Navidad to San Francisco
- Tecomán to San Francisco
- San Juan de los Lagos to San Francisco
- Pénjamo to San Francisco
- León to San Francisco
From Mineral de Pozos to other places in Mexico
- Mineral de Pozos to Temacapulín
- Mineral de Pozos to Tócuaro
- Mineral de Pozos to Pacanda
- Mineral de Pozos to Omitlán
- Mineral de Pozos to Huasca de Ocampo
- Mineral de Pozos to Ixcateopan
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Mineral de Pozos to San Francisco?
About 7 h 21 min of driving without stops, over 398 miles.
How far is San Francisco from Mineral de Pozos by car?
About 398 miles (640 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 Mineral de Pozos to San Francisco?
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 Mineral de Pozos to San Francisco?
The U.S. State Department rates Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Mineral de Pozos to San Francisco?
In order: GTO 100, MEX-110, MEX-51, MEX-110D, MEX-45, MEX-45D, MEX-80, MEX-80D, MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-70D, MEX-200D and MEX-200. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Mineral de Pozos and San Francisco?
Closest to the road: Miguel Hidalgo House, Dolores Hidalgo (museum, mile 36, 0.4 mi from the route); Basílica Colegiata de Guanajuato (basilica, mile 70, 0.6 mi from the route); Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 313, 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.