Plan on about 5 h 48 min of driving for the 326-mile (524 km) trip from San Blas to Pacanda, before any stops.
| Distance | 326 mi (524 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 5 h 48 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-76D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MICH 39 → MEX-120 |
| 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 13.0 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.
On the road from San Blas to Pacanda
MEX-15D (241 mi) and MEX-15 (34 mi) carry about 84% of the 326 miles. It runs through 3 states: Nayarit, Jalisco, Michoacán. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-76D and MEX-15D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
San Blas to Pacanda: 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 | 155–279 | 124 | Jalisco, Michoacán |
| MICH 39 | 279–291 | 12 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 291–314 | 23 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 314–315 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-120 | 315–319 | 4 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 319–326 | 7 | Michoacán |
- Mile 96 of this route: Nayarit → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 223 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
What to see on the way from San Blas to Pacanda
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ixtlán del Rio (mile 85), Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 154)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 154)
- Museums and history: Tepic Cathedral (mile 33), Museo Amado Nervo (mile 33), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 85), National Museum of Tequila (mile 124), Guachimontones (mile 130), Guadalajara city museum (mile 159), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 163)
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.
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.
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
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.
Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara
Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara is a public park in Zapopan, Jalisco, that hosts many events, including concerts, outdoor movie screenings and food festivals.
Guadalajara city museum
Guadalajara's city museum (Museo de la Ciudad), in the historic center, opened on February 14, 1992, and covers the city's history and many sides of its culture.
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.
In Pacanda itself
Church and ex monastery of San Francisco, Tzintzuntzan
Tzintzuntzan's Franciscan complex, begun in 1570, centers on an atrium of centuries-old olive trees, the plateresque Church of San Francisco from 1601 and a cloister with painted walls, plus a museum.
Lake Pátzcuaro
Boats leave the shore of Lake Pátzcuaro for its islands, including Janitzio, topped by a statue of José María Morelos. Purépecha fishers here are known for butterfly-shaped nets, and whitefish is the local specialty.
Ihuatzio
On the shore of Lake Pátzcuaro, Ihuatzio was one of three main Purépecha power centers. Visitors can see raised walkways and two semicircular pyramids called yácatas; excavations here also turned up Chac Mool and coyote sculptures carved from volcanic rock.
More drives to Pacanda
- Amatitán to Pacanda
- Tequila to Pacanda
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Pacanda
- Real de Asientos to Pacanda
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Pacanda
- Zacatecas to Pacanda
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 Pacanda?
About 5 h 48 min of driving without stops, over 326 miles.
How far is Pacanda from San Blas by car?
About 326 miles (524 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 Pacanda?
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 Pacanda?
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.
Which highways go from San Blas to Pacanda?
In order: MEX-76D, MEX-15D, MEX-15, MICH 39 and MEX-120. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between San Blas and Pacanda?
Closest to the road: Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 85, 0.5 mi from the route); Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (park, mile 154, 0.9 mi from the route); Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (museum, mile 163, 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.