Plan on about 8 h 17 min of driving for the 486-mile (782 km) trip from San Blas to Malinalco, before any stops.
| Total distance | 486 mi (782 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 17 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-76D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-55D → MEX-55 |
| Mexican states on the route | Nayarit, Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-76D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-55D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.4 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.
How the San Blas to Malinalco drive plays out
MEX-15D (371 mi) and MEX-55D (34 mi) carry about 83% of the 486 miles. It runs through 4 states: Nayarit, Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-76D, MEX-15D and MEX-M40D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
San Blas to Malinalco: the road sequence
| 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 | 155–409 | 254 | Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 409–412 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 412–446 | 34 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 446–451 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 451–486 | 35 | State of Mexico |
- Mile 96 of this route: Nayarit → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 223 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 391 of this route: Michoacán → State of Mexico (state line)
Places worth a stop between San Blas and Malinalco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ixtlán del Rio (mile 85), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 411)
- Museums and history: Museo Amado Nervo (mile 33), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 85), Universidad de Guadalajara. Museo de las Artes (mile 158), Museo de las Artes Populares de Jalisco (mile 159), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 163), Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 370), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 411), Museo Felipe Santiago Gutiérrez (mile 450)
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
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.
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.
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.
Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque
On Independencia Street in central Tlaquepaque, Jalisco, the Museo Regional de la Cerámica is one of the city's two main ceramics museums, alongside the Pantaleón Panduro Museum.
Teatro Morelos de Maravatío
French influence shapes the neoclassical lines of the Teatro Morelos, a late-19th-century theater in Maravatío by architect Rafael Guerrero Torres. It first opened in January 1879.
Cathedral of Atlacomulco
Dedicated to Divine Providence, the cathedral in Atlacomulco is the principal Catholic church in town and the seat of the local diocese.
Museo Felipe Santiago Gutiérrez
In Toluca's historic center, a building from the late 18th and early 19th centuries holds about 225 watercolors, oils and drawings tracing the work of painter Felipe Santiago Gutiérrez. It opened in December 1992.
Teatro Morelos
In Toluca's historic center, just west of the State of Mexico's Palace of Justice, Teatro Morelos stages plays along with other shows and cultural events.
Once you reach Malinalco
Malinalco
Carved straight into the hillside above Malinalco, the Cuauhcalli is a rock-cut temple at the heart of this archaeological zone. The Mexica took the Matlatzinca town around 1476 and used it to train and consecrate elite warriors.
Desierto del Carmen National Park
Declared a national park on October 10, 1942, Desierto del Carmen is a protected area in the municipality of Tenancingo, in the State of Mexico.
More drives to Malinalco
- Valle de Bravo to Malinalco
- Zitácuaro to Malinalco
- Tlalpujahua to Malinalco
- San Juan del Río to Malinalco
- Tequisquiapan to Malinalco
- Salvatierra to Malinalco
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 Malinalco?
About 8 h 17 min of driving without stops, over 486 miles.
How far is Malinalco from San Blas by car?
About 486 miles (782 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 Malinalco?
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 Malinalco?
The U.S. State Department rates Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from San Blas to Malinalco?
In order: MEX-76D, MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-55D and MEX-55. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between San Blas and Malinalco?
Closest to the road: Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 85, 0.5 mi from the route); Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (museum, mile 163, 1 mi from the route); Cathedral of Atlacomulco (cathedral, mile 411, 0.4 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.