By road, San Blas and Bernal are about 411 miles (661 km) apart, or roughly 7 h 20 min of driving.
| Distance by road | 411 mi (661 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 7 h 20 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-76D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-110 → MEX-90 → MEX-45D → MEX-57D → QRO 4 → QRO 100 |
| Mexican states on the route | Nayarit, Jalisco, Michoacán, Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-76D, MEX-15D, MEX-45D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.4 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.
What the drive from San Blas to Bernal is like
MEX-15D (189 mi) and MEX-45D (68 mi) carry about 63% of the 411 miles. It runs through 5 states: Nayarit, Jalisco, Michoacán, Guanajuato, Querétaro. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-76D, MEX-15D and MEX-45D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect San Blas and Bernal
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–7 | 7 | Nayarit |
| MEX-76D | 7–27 | 20 | Nayarit |
| MEX-15D | 27–144 | 117 | Nayarit, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 144–155 | 11 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 155–227 | 72 | Jalisco, Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 227–228 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-110 | 228–263 | 35 | Michoacán, Guanajuato |
| MEX-90 | 263–309 | 46 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 309–377 | 68 | Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 377–386 | 9 | Querétaro |
| connecting roads | 386–387 | 1 | Querétaro |
| QRO 4 | 387–406 | 19 | Querétaro |
| QRO 100 | 406–411 | 5 | Querétaro |
- Mile 96 of this route: Nayarit → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 223 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 254 of this route: Michoacán → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 368 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between San Blas and Bernal
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ixtlán del Rio (mile 85)
- Museums and history: Museo Amado Nervo (mile 33), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 85), Guachimontones (mile 130), Panteón de Belén (mile 159), Museo de Cera (mile 159), Plazuelas (mile 272), Irapuato Cathedral (mile 311), Celaya Cathedral (mile 347)
Museo Amado Nervo
Poet Amado Nervo was born on August 27, 1870, in this mid-19th-century house in downtown Tepic, which opened as a museum dedicated to him on April 27, 1970.
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.
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.
Panteón de Belén
A historic cemetery in Guadalajara, Panteón de Belén is known for its legends and offers night tours.
Museo de Cera
On the Plaza de la Liberación in downtown Guadalajara, the Museo de Cera has 12 rooms with more than 130 wax figures of athletes, singers, actors, politicians and religious figures. It opened in 1994.
Plazuelas
Near Pénjamo, Plazuelas flourished between AD 450 and 700. Trails lead to Casas Tapadas, a platform crowned by four pyramid bases, a ball court, and rocks carved with spirals and La Maqueta, a low-relief model of Casas Tapadas.
Irapuato Cathedral
Irapuato's cathedral, dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, dates from the 18th century and has a Baroque facade. It served as the seat of the local parish until 2004, when the new Diocese of Irapuato made it a cathedral.
Celaya Cathedral
Celaya's main Catholic church, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, occupies the space of a former chapel that was annexed to the neighboring Temple of St. Francis.
Claustro de San Felipe Neri - Palacio Conin
The Cloister of San Felipe Neri in central Querétaro was part of the Oratorian convent and stands beside the Templo de San Felipe Neri, now the city's cathedral.
More drives to Bernal
- Celaya to Bernal
- Salamanca to Bernal
- Irapuato to Bernal
- Guanajuato to Bernal
- Pénjamo to Bernal
- León to Bernal
From San Blas to other places in Mexico
- San Blas to Teúl de González Ortega
- San Blas to Temacapulín
- San Blas to Barra de Navidad
- San Blas to Comala
- San Blas to Jalpa de Cánovas
- San Blas to Boca de Pascuales
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from San Blas to Bernal?
About 7 h 20 min of driving without stops, over 411 miles.
What is the driving distance from San Blas to Bernal?
About 411 miles (661 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 San Blas to Bernal?
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 San Blas to Bernal?
The U.S. State Department rates Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from San Blas to Bernal use?
In order: MEX-76D, MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-110, MEX-90, MEX-45D, MEX-57D, QRO 4 and QRO 100. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between San Blas and Bernal?
Closest to the road: Museo Amado Nervo (biographical museum, mile 33, 2 mi from the route); Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 85, 0.5 mi from the route); Claustro de San Felipe Neri - Palacio Conin (convent, mile 375, 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.