The Wayro route from San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes to Nuevo Nayarit is 340 miles (547 km), about 6 h 3 min of driving without stops.
| Total distance | 340 mi (547 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 6 h 3 min |
| Main roads, in order | AGS 19 → MEX-45 → MEX-45D → MEX-80D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-70D → MEX-200D |
| Mexican states on the route | Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-45D, MEX-80D, MEX-90D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.6 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.
The San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes–Nuevo Nayarit drive in a few lines
MEX-80D (86 mi) and MEX-15D (77 mi) carry about 48% of the 340 miles. It runs through 3 states: Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-45D, MEX-80D and MEX-90D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes and Nuevo Nayarit
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Aguascalientes |
| AGS 19 | 1–9 | 8 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 9–12 | 3 | Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 12–17 | 5 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 17–46 | 29 | Aguascalientes, Jalisco |
| MEX-45D | 46–60 | 14 | Jalisco |
| local roads | 60–71 | 11 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 71–72 | 1 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 72–158 | 86 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 158–170 | 12 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 170–179 | 9 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 179–244 | 65 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 244–278 | 34 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 278–297 | 19 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 297–331 | 34 | Nayarit |
| connecting roads | 331–335 | 4 | Nayarit |
| local roads | 335–340 | 5 | Nayarit |
- Mile 43 of this route: Aguascalientes → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 228 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Nuevo Nayarit
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museum of Contemporary Art (mile 27), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 238)
- Nature and outdoors: Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 307)
- Museums and history: Museum of Contemporary Art (mile 27), Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos (mile 78), Teocaltitan Archaeological Site (mile 85), Museo del Tequila y el Mariachi (mile 163), Universidad de Guadalajara. Museo de las Artes (mile 164), Guachimontones (mile 193), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 238)
Museum of Contemporary Art
Aguascalientes' Museum of Contemporary Art shows works by contemporary Mexican artists in its Jesús F. Contreras gallery.
Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos
Raised between 1732 and 1769, the cathedral basilica of San Juan de los Lagos draws pilgrims from far away who come to visit the small image of the Virgin kept inside.
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.
Museo del Tequila y el Mariachi
The Museo del Tequila y el Mariachi is a space devoted to showing and sharing the culture of tequila and mariachi, both part of Mexico's heritage and cultural identity.
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.
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.
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.
Rincón de Guayabitos
Gentle waves are the draw at Rincón de Guayabitos, where roughly two kilometers of shoreline make this Compostela, Nayarit, beach town a favorite escape for people from Tepic and Guadalajara.
When you get to Nuevo Nayarit
Costalegre
Costalegre is a string of beaches, capes and bays of many sizes along Jalisco's Pacific coast, between Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo.
More drives to Nuevo Nayarit
- Paracho to Nuevo Nayarit
- Irapuato to Nuevo Nayarit
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Nuevo Nayarit
- Pabellón de Hidalgo to Nuevo Nayarit
- Salamanca to Nuevo Nayarit
- Calvillo to Nuevo Nayarit
From San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes to other places in Mexico
- San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes to Temacapulín
- San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes to San Luis Soyatlán
- San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes to Tócuaro
- San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes to Zirahuén
- San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes to Bernal
- San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes to Santa Fe de la Laguna
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes to Nuevo Nayarit?
About 6 h 3 min of driving without stops, over 340 miles.
What is the driving distance from San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes to Nuevo Nayarit?
About 340 miles (547 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 José de Gracia, Aguascalientes to Nuevo Nayarit?
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 José de Gracia, Aguascalientes to Nuevo Nayarit?
The U.S. State Department rates Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes to Nuevo Nayarit?
In order: AGS 19, MEX-45, MEX-45D, MEX-80D, MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-70D and MEX-200D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes to Nuevo Nayarit?
Closest to the road: Museum of Contemporary Art (art museum, mile 27, 0.1 mi from the route); Universidad de Guadalajara. Museo de las Artes (museum, mile 164, 2 mi from the route); Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 238, 0.5 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.