Plan on about 11 h 10 min of driving for the 557-mile (897 km) trip from San Blas to General Zaragoza, before any stops.
| Distance | 557 mi (897 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 11 h 10 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-76D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-80D → MEX-80 → MEX-70 → MEX-57D → SLP 32 → MEX-57 → SLP 29 → NL 3 |
| Mexican states on the route | Nayarit, Jalisco, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, Nuevo León |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-76D, MEX-15D, MEX-80D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 22.3 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 San Blas–General Zaragoza drive in a few lines
MEX-15D (137 mi) and MEX-80D (113 mi) carry about 45% of the 557 miles. It runs through 5 states: Nayarit, Jalisco, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, Nuevo León. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-76D, MEX-15D and MEX-80D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect San Blas and General Zaragoza
| 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 | 155–175 | 20 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 175–178 | 3 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 178–250 | 72 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80 | 250–283 | 33 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 283–324 | 41 | Jalisco, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-80 | 324–328 | 4 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-70 | 328–345 | 17 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 345–355 | 10 | San Luis Potosí |
| connecting roads | 355–357 | 2 | San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 32 | 357–367 | 10 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 367–379 | 12 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 379–400 | 21 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 400–475 | 75 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 475–482 | 7 | San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 29 | 482–511 | 29 | San Luis Potosí, Nuevo León |
| NL 3 | 511–516 | 5 | Nuevo León |
| local roads | 516–557 | 41 | Nuevo León |
- Mile 96 of this route: Nayarit → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 308 of this route: Jalisco → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 318 of this route: Guanajuato → San Luis Potosí (state line)
- Mile 490 of this route: San Luis Potosí → Nuevo León (state line)
Stops between San Blas and General Zaragoza
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 114), Statue of Minerva, Guadalajara (mile 157), Teatro José Rosas Moreno (mile 273)
- Museums and history: Tepic Cathedral (mile 33), Museo Amado Nervo (mile 33), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 114), Museo de las Artes Populares de Jalisco (mile 159), Teocaltitan Archaeological Site (mile 238), Teatro José Rosas Moreno (mile 273), San Luis Potosí Cathedral (mile 359), Matehuala Cathedral (mile 481)
Tepic Cathedral
The Immaculate Conception Cathedral, also known as Tepic Cathedral, stands on the main square in the center of Tepic and is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tepic.
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.
Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería
Agave landscapes and mining are the twin themes of the Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería, an interpretive museum in the municipality of Magdalena.
Statue of Minerva, Guadalajara
At a roundabout fountain in Guadalajara, a bronze statue of Minerva, Roman goddess of wisdom, stands on a large pedestal inscribed with the names of 18 notable citizens.
Museo de las Artes Populares de Jalisco
Opened on May 31, 2000, in Guadalajara's historic center, this museum researches, safeguards and promotes the crafts and folk art of Jalisco.
Teocaltitan Archaeological Site
Pyramids, sunken patios and a ball court spread over roughly nine hectares at Teocaltitán, close to Jalostotitlán in the Los Altos region.
Teatro José Rosas Moreno
Lagos de Moreno's Teatro José Rosas Moreno opened its doors on May 5, 1907, some forty years after construction began in 1867. It honors a writer from Jalisco.
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.
Matehuala Cathedral
Still open for worship, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral serves as the seat of the Catholic Diocese of Matehuala, a city in the state of San Luis Potosí.
More drives to General Zaragoza
- Jerez, Zacatecas to General Zaragoza
- Pabellón de Hidalgo to General Zaragoza
- Celaya to General Zaragoza
- Salvatierra to General Zaragoza
- Tlalpujahua to General Zaragoza
- Angangueo to General Zaragoza
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 General Zaragoza?
About 11 h 10 min of driving without stops, over 557 miles.
What is the driving distance from San Blas to General Zaragoza?
About 557 miles (897 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 General Zaragoza?
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 General Zaragoza?
The U.S. State Department rates Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Nuevo León Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from San Blas to General Zaragoza?
In order: MEX-76D, MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-80D, MEX-80, MEX-70, MEX-57D, SLP 32, MEX-57, SLP 29 and NL 3. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between San Blas and General Zaragoza?
Closest to the road: Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (museum, mile 114, 0.5 mi from the route); Statue of Minerva, Guadalajara (statue, mile 157, 0.8 mi from the route); Teatro José Rosas Moreno (opera house, mile 273, 0.3 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.