By road, San Blas and Cuanajo are about 338 miles (544 km) apart, or roughly 6 h 4 min of driving.
| Distance by road | 338 mi (544 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 4 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-76D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MICH 39 → MEX-120 → MEX-14 |
| Mexican states on the route | Nayarit, Jalisco, Michoacán |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-76D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
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 Cuanajo is like
MEX-15D (241 mi) and MEX-15 (34 mi) carry about 81% of the 338 miles. It runs through 3 states: Nayarit, Jalisco, Michoacán. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-76D and MEX-15D. Of the 7 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect San Blas and Cuanajo
| 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 | 155–279 | 124 | Jalisco, Michoacán |
| MICH 39 | 279–291 | 12 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 291–314 | 23 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 314–315 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-120 | 315–326 | 11 | Michoacán |
| MEX-14 | 326–334 | 8 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 334–338 | 4 | Michoacán |
- Mile 96 of this route: Nayarit → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 223 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Cuanajo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 154), Tzintzuntzan (mile 320)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 154)
- Museums and history: Tepic Cathedral (mile 33), Casa Museo Juan Escutia (mile 33), National Museum of Tequila (mile 124), Guachimontones (mile 130), Casa Museo López Portillo (mile 159), Tzintzuntzan (mile 320)
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.
National Museum of Tequila
Jalisco's state government took back the National Museum of Tequila in 2026, announcing a reopening with refreshed displays. The museum, known as MUNAT, tells the story of the spirit in the town that shares its name.
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.
Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara
Zapopan's Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara is a public park in Jalisco with a busy event calendar that includes open-air film screenings, live concerts and food festivals.
Casa Museo López Portillo
Opened on May 10, 1982, this house museum in Guadalajara's historic center showcases decorative arts and promotes work by young artists from the metro area.
Tzintzuntzan
Once the political and economic capital of the Purépecha empire, governed by a hereditary line of uacúsecha, or 'eagle lords,' Tzintzuntzan preserves its yácatas, temple bases that combine rectangular and semicircular platforms around ritual plazas.
More drives to Cuanajo
- Zamora to Cuanajo
- Mazamitla to Cuanajo
- Tepatitlán to Cuanajo
- Amatitán to Cuanajo
- Tequila to Cuanajo
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Cuanajo
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 is the drive from San Blas to Cuanajo?
About 6 h 4 min of driving without stops, over 338 miles.
What is the driving distance from San Blas to Cuanajo?
About 338 miles (544 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 Cuanajo?
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 Cuanajo?
The U.S. State Department rates Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from San Blas to Cuanajo use?
In order: MEX-76D, MEX-15D, MEX-15, MICH 39, MEX-120 and MEX-14. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from San Blas to Cuanajo?
Closest to the road: Tepic Cathedral (cathedral, mile 33, 1 mi from the route); Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (park, mile 154, 0.9 mi from the route); Tzintzuntzan (archaeological site, mile 320, 0.2 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.