Plan on about 9 h 42 min of driving for the 502-mile (808 km) trip from Real de Catorce to Nuevo Nayarit, before any stops.
| Total distance | 502 mi (808 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 42 min |
| Main roads, in order | SLP 43 → MEX-63 → MEX-49 → MEX-57D → MEX-70 → MEX-80 → MEX-80D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-70D → MEX-200D |
| 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 20.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
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 Real de Catorce to Nuevo Nayarit is like
MEX-80D (128 mi) and MEX-15D (76 mi) carry about 41% of the 502 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 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Real de Catorce to Nuevo Nayarit
| 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 | 341–406 | 65 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 406–441 | 35 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 441–459 | 18 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 459–493 | 34 | Nayarit |
| connecting roads | 493–498 | 5 | Nayarit |
| local roads | 498–502 | 4 | 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)
Stops between Real de Catorce and Nuevo Nayarit
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Teatro José Rosas Moreno (mile 211), Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (mile 211), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 400)
- Nature and outdoors: Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 469)
- Museums and history: San Luis Potosí Cathedral (mile 131), Teatro José Rosas Moreno (mile 211), Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (mile 211), Teocaltitan Archaeological Site (mile 247), Museo del Tequila y el Mariachi (mile 326), Guachimontones (mile 355), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 400)
San Luis Potosí Cathedral
Look closely at the two towers of San Luis Potosí's cathedral: one is built of mortar, the other of quarried cantera stone. The Baroque church is the seat of the archdiocese.
Teatro José Rosas Moreno
Construction of the Teatro José Rosas Moreno in Lagos de Moreno began in 1867, and the theater opened on May 5, 1907. It is named for Jalisco writer José Rosas Moreno.
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.
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 del Tequila y el Mariachi
The Museo del Tequila y el Mariachi is a space devoted to showing and sharing the culture of tequila and mariachi, both part of Mexico's heritage and cultural identity.
Guachimontones
About 40 circular buildings and two ball courts spread over 20 hectares at Guachimontones, outside Teuchitlán. INAH calls it western Mexico's first large population center, dating back to around 1000 BC.
Ixtlán del Rio
A temple built on a completely round floor plan, unusual anywhere in Mesoamerica, is the highlight at the Ixtlán del Río archaeological site, which locals call Los Toriles. An introductory gallery explains the finds.
Rincón de Guayabitos
Gentle waves are the draw at Rincón de Guayabitos, where roughly two kilometers of shoreline make this Compostela, Nayarit, beach town a favorite escape for people from Tepic and Guadalajara.
In Nuevo Nayarit itself
Costalegre
Costalegre is a string of beaches, capes and bays of many sizes along Jalisco's Pacific coast, between Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo.
More drives to Nuevo Nayarit
- Paracho to Nuevo Nayarit
- Irapuato to Nuevo Nayarit
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Nuevo Nayarit
- Pabellón de Hidalgo to Nuevo Nayarit
- San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes to Nuevo Nayarit
- Salamanca to Nuevo Nayarit
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 Nuevo Nayarit?
About 9 h 42 min of driving without stops, over 502 miles.
What is the driving distance from Real de Catorce to Nuevo Nayarit?
About 502 miles (808 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 Nuevo Nayarit?
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 Nuevo Nayarit?
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.
Which highways go from Real de Catorce to Nuevo Nayarit?
In order: SLP 43, MEX-63, MEX-49, MEX-57D, MEX-70, MEX-80, MEX-80D, MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-70D and MEX-200D. 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 Nuevo Nayarit?
Closest to the road: Teatro José Rosas Moreno (opera house, mile 211, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (museum, mile 211, 0.4 mi from the route); Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 400, 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.