Tecomán to Real de Catorce is about 472 road miles (760 km): roughly 9 h 19 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance by road | 472 mi (760 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 19 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-110 → MEX-54 → MEX-54D → MEX-15 → MEX-15D → MEX-80D → MEX-80 → MEX-70 → MEX-57D → MEX-49 → MEX-63 → SLP 43 |
| Mexican states on the route | Colima, Jalisco, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-54D, MEX-15D, MEX-80D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.9 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.
Driving Tecomán to Real de Catorce: the shape of the trip
MEX-80D (115 mi) and MEX-54D (91 mi) carry about 44% of the 472 miles. It runs through 4 states: Colima, Jalisco, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-54D, MEX-15D and MEX-80D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Tecomán to Real de Catorce
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Colima |
| MEX-110 | 2–27 | 25 | Colima |
| MEX-54 | 27–34 | 7 | Colima |
| MEX-54D | 34–125 | 91 | Colima, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 125–142 | 17 | Jalisco |
| local roads | 142–146 | 4 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 146–162 | 16 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 162–165 | 3 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 165–238 | 73 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80 | 238–270 | 32 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 270–312 | 42 | Jalisco, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-80 | 312–315 | 3 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-70 | 315–332 | 17 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 332–347 | 15 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-49 | 347–358 | 11 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-63 | 358–432 | 74 | San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 43 | 432–465 | 33 | San Luis Potosí |
| local roads | 465–472 | 7 | San Luis Potosí |
- Mile 43 of this route: Colima → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 295 of this route: Jalisco → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 306 of this route: Guanajuato → San Luis Potosí (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Real de Catorce
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Teatro José Rosas Moreno (mile 260)
- Nature and outdoors: Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park (mile 48)
- Museums and history: Cathedral Basilica of Colima (mile 29), Museo Regional de Historia de Colima (mile 29), Ciudad Guzmán Cathedral (mile 71), El Ixtépete (mile 142), Museo de las Artes Populares de Jalisco (mile 147), Teatro José Rosas Moreno (mile 260), San Luis Potosí Cathedral (mile 341)
Cathedral Basilica of Colima
Colima Cathedral, the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, stands at a corner of the Jardín Libertad in the city center. Pope John Paul II named it a minor basilica on October 12, 1998.
Museo Regional de Historia de Colima
An early 19th-century mansion on Colima's Portal Morelos holds this regional history museum, run jointly by INAH, the University of Colima and the state. Exhibits range from Capacha and Comala pottery and shaft tombs to Philippine trade and the Revolution.
Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park
This national park in western Mexico protects the upper slopes of two volcanic peaks, Volcán de Colima and Nevado de Colima, in the states of Jalisco and Colima.
Ciudad Guzmán Cathedral
Ciudad Guzmán's St. Joseph Cathedral (Catedral de San José) is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ciudad Guzmán and the seat of its bishop.
El Ixtépete
Zapopan's El Ixtépete preserves a pyramid built around AD 650-750, during the Grillo tradition, with at least seven superimposed construction phases; the site lies within the Guadalajara metro area near the Periférico and Avenida Mariano Otero.
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.
Teatro José Rosas Moreno
Construction of the Teatro José Rosas Moreno in Lagos de Moreno began in 1867, and the theater opened on May 5, 1907. It is named for Jalisco writer José Rosas Moreno.
San Luis Potosí Cathedral
San Luis Potosí's cathedral anchors the city's historic center, which UNESCO lists as a component of the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro World Heritage Site.
When you get to Real de Catorce
High in the mountains of northern San Luis Potosí Real de Catorce is a former silver-mining town whose most prosperous era began in 1778. It joined the Pueblos Mágicos program in 2001, and its identity grew out of both its mining past and the culture of the Huichol (Wixárika) people.
- Túnel de Ogarrio: The Túnel de Ogarrio, the town's famous tunnel, is one of the landmarks SECTUR highlights for visitors to Real de Catorce. source
- Parroquia de la Purísima Concepción: The Parroquia de la Purísima Concepción is the parish church at the center of town life, and the feast of St. Francis of Assisi on October 4 is its biggest celebration. source
- Museo Parroquial Padre José Robledo: The Museo Parroquial Padre José Robledo preserves pieces of the town's religious history. source
More drives to Real de Catorce
- Comfort, TX to Real de Catorce
- San Antonio, TX to Real de Catorce
- Boerne, TX to Real de Catorce
- San Marcos, TX to Real de Catorce
- McAllen, TX to Real de Catorce
- Bandera, TX to Real de Catorce
From Tecomán to other places in Mexico
- Tecomán to Sayula
- Tecomán to Mazamitla
- Tecomán to Tequila
- Tecomán to Amatitán
- Tecomán to Pénjamo
- Tecomán to Temacapulín
Coming to Real de Catorce from the United States? Border crossings, permits and routes from U.S. cities: Driving to Real de Catorce, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tecomán to Real de Catorce?
About 9 h 19 min of driving without stops, over 472 miles.
What is the driving distance from Tecomán to Real de Catorce?
About 472 miles (760 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 Tecomán to Real de Catorce?
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 Tecomán to Real de Catorce?
The U.S. State Department rates Colima Level 4: Do Not Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Tecomán to Real de Catorce?
In order: MEX-110, MEX-54, MEX-54D, MEX-15, MEX-15D, MEX-80D, MEX-80, MEX-70, MEX-57D, MEX-49, MEX-63 and SLP 43. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Tecomán and Real de Catorce?
Closest to the road: Cathedral Basilica of Colima (cathedral, mile 29, 2 mi from the route); El Ixtépete (archaeological site, mile 142, 1 mi from the route); Teatro José Rosas Moreno (opera house, mile 260, 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.