Plan on about 10 h 27 min of driving for the 521-mile (839 km) trip from Real de Catorce to Mexcaltitán, before any stops.
| Distance | 521 mi (839 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 10 h 27 min |
| Main roads, in order | SLP 43 → MEX-63 → MEX-49 → MEX-57D → MEX-70 → MEX-80 → MEX-80D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 |
| Mexican states on the route | San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-57D, MEX-80D, MEX-90D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.8 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.
How the Real de Catorce to Mexcaltitán drive plays out
MEX-15D (140 mi) and MEX-80D (128 mi) carry about 51% of the 521 miles. It runs through 4 states: San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-57D, MEX-80D and MEX-90D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Real de Catorce to Mexcaltitán
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–7 | 7 | San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 43 | 7–40 | 33 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-63 | 40–114 | 74 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-49 | 114–125 | 11 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 125–140 | 15 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-70 | 140–157 | 17 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-80 | 157–160 | 3 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-80D | 160–201 | 41 | San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Jalisco |
| MEX-80 | 201–234 | 33 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 234–321 | 87 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 321–332 | 11 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 332–341 | 9 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 341–470 | 129 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| connecting roads | 470–471 | 1 | Nayarit |
| MEX-15 | 471–494 | 23 | Nayarit |
| local roads | 494–521 | 27 | Nayarit |
- Mile 167 of this route: San Luis Potosí → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 178 of this route: Guanajuato → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 390 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
What to see on the way from Real de Catorce to Mexcaltitán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (mile 211)
- Museums and history: San Luis Potosí Cathedral (mile 131), Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (mile 211), Teocaltitan Archaeological Site (mile 247), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 322), Guadalajara Cathedral (mile 326), Universidad de Guadalajara. Museo de las Artes (mile 326), Guachimontones (mile 355), Tepic Cathedral (mile 452), Casa Museo Juan Escutia (mile 452)
San Luis Potosí Cathedral
A parish church from 1609 once stood where San Luis Potosí's cathedral rose between 1701 and 1728. Today the Baroque building serves as the seat of the archdiocese.
Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera
The Museo Casa Agustín Rivera Altos de Jalisco is a museum in the town of Lagos de Moreno, in the Mexican state of Jalisco.
Teocaltitan Archaeological Site
Near Jalostotitlán in the Los Altos region, the Teocaltitán site holds pyramids, sunken patios and a ball court spread across about nine hectares, built by a people who dominated much of the area from AD 400 to 900.
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.
Guadalajara Cathedral
In the Centro of Guadalajara, the Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady is the seat of the Archdiocese of Guadalajara and a minor basilica.
Universidad de Guadalajara. Museo de las Artes
The University of Guadalajara's Museo de las Artes, known as MUSA, opened on October 10, 1994, and was expanded in 2013.
Guachimontones
Near the town of Teuchitlán, Guachimontones is known for its circular structures. INAH describes it as the first large population center in western Mexico, emerging around 1000 BC, with two ball courts and about 40 circular buildings across 20 hectares.
Tepic Cathedral
On Tepic's main square, right in the city center, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, also known as Tepic Cathedral, serves the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tepic.
Casa Museo Juan Escutia
In central Tepic, Casa Museo Juan Escutia honors Juan Escutia, one of the fighters who died defending Chapultepec Castle during the U.S. invasion of Mexico.
More drives to Mexcaltitán
- Lo de Marcos to Mexcaltitán
- San Francisco to Mexcaltitán
- Sayulita to Mexcaltitán
- Bucerías to Mexcaltitán
- Nuevo Nayarit to Mexcaltitán
- Amatitán to Mexcaltitán
From Real de Catorce to other places in Mexico
- Real de Catorce to Tócuaro
- Real de Catorce to Pacanda
- Real de Catorce to Omitlán
- Real de Catorce to Huasca de Ocampo
- Real de Catorce to Boca de Pascuales
- Real de Catorce to Chacala
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Real de Catorce to Mexcaltitán?
About 10 h 27 min of driving without stops, over 521 miles.
What is the driving distance from Real de Catorce to Mexcaltitán?
About 521 miles (839 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 Real de Catorce to Mexcaltitán?
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 Real de Catorce to Mexcaltitán?
The U.S. State Department rates San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; 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.
What roads does the drive from Real de Catorce to Mexcaltitán use?
In order: SLP 43, MEX-63, MEX-49, MEX-57D, MEX-70, MEX-80, MEX-80D, MEX-15D and MEX-15. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Real de Catorce to Mexcaltitán?
Closest to the road: Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (museum, mile 211, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (museum, mile 322, 1 mi from the route); Casa Museo Juan Escutia (museum, mile 452, 1 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.