The Wayro route from Tepatitlán to El Salto, Durango is 397 miles (639 km), about 7 h 38 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 397 mi (639 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 38 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-80 → MEX-80D → MEX-45D → MEX-45 → DGO 45 → MEX-40D |
| Mexican states on the route | Jalisco (Level 3), Aguascalientes (Level 2), Zacatecas (Level 4), Durango (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-80D, MEX-45D, MEX-40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.9 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.
What the drive from Tepatitlán to El Salto, Durango is like
MEX-45 (200 mi) and MEX-45D (69 mi) carry about 68% of the 397 miles. MEX-80D, MEX-45D, MEX-40D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-80, MEX-45 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: Jalisco, Aguascalientes, Zacatecas, Durango. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Tepatitlán to El Salto, Durango, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80 | 1–7 | 6 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 7–47 | 40 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 47–48 | 1 | Jalisco |
| local roads | 48–60 | 12 | Jalisco |
| MEX-45D | 60–73 | 13 | Jalisco |
| MEX-45 | 73–103 | 30 | Jalisco, Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 103–106 | 3 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 106–135 | 29 | Aguascalientes, Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 135–170 | 35 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 170–176 | 6 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 176–184 | 8 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 184–191 | 7 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 191–204 | 13 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 204–332 | 128 | Zacatecas, Durango |
| DGO 45 | 332–350 | 18 | Durango |
| MEX-40D | 350–395 | 45 | Durango |
| local roads | 395–397 | 2 | Durango |
- Mile 77 of this route: Jalisco → Aguascalientes (state line)
- Mile 131 of this route: Aguascalientes → Zacatecas (state line)
- Mile 282 of this route: Zacatecas → Durango (state line)
Stops between Tepatitlán and El Salto, Durango
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Teatro Aguascalientes (mile 90), José Guadalupe Posada Museum (mile 91), La Ferrería (mile 343)
- Nature and outdoors: Jardín Botánico Rey Netzahualcoyotl (mile 94), Sierra de Órganos National Park (mile 274)
- Museums and history: Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos (mile 42), Teatro Aguascalientes (mile 90), José Guadalupe Posada Museum (mile 91), Museo de la Insurgencia (mile 112), Guadalupe regional museum (mile 157), La Ferrería (mile 343)
Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos
Pilgrims come from far and wide to San Juan de los Lagos to see the small image of the Virgin kept in this cathedral basilica, built between 1732 and 1769. Inside are Gothic-style ribbed vaults and a silver-framed Way of the Cross.
Teatro Aguascalientes
Teatro Aguascalientes is the city's main opera house, a modern building by architect Abraham Zabludovsky with seating for about 1,650 people.
José Guadalupe Posada Museum
Aguascalientes is the birthplace of printmaker José Guadalupe Posada, and this museum shows the original signed printing plates he used to create his graphic images.
Jardín Botánico Rey Netzahualcoyotl
The Jardín Botánico Rey Nezahualcóyotl is a botanical garden that falls under the administration of the Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes.
Museo de la Insurgencia
Set in a 17th-century estate, the Museo de la Insurgencia opened in 1964 to tell the story of Mexico's independence movement. One hall shows farm, mining and textile tools from hacienda work; another displays everyday objects from past eras.
Guadalupe regional museum
In Guadalupe, Zacatecas, the Museo de Guadalupe fills a former college that sent missionaries to the north and holds an important collection of 17th- to 19th-century painting, including works by Cristóbal de Villalpando, Miguel Cabrera and Juan Correa.
Historic centre of Zacatecas
Founded in 1546 after a rich silver strike, Zacatecas climbs the steep sides of a narrow valley; its UNESCO-listed center holds an 18th-century Baroque cathedral, colonial convents, the Calderón Theater and the old González Market.
Sierra de Órganos National Park
Volcanic activity and erosion shaped the 20- to 60-meter rock spires of Sierra de Órganos, a national park near Sombrerete created in 2000. Western movies have been filmed here, and visitors hike marked trails, mountain bike and camp.
La Ferrería
La Ferrería is an archaeological site in Durango Municipality, set in country of mesquite and aloe.
More drives to El Salto, Durango
- San Juan de los Lagos to El Salto, Durango
- Guadalajara to El Salto, Durango
- Tequila to El Salto, Durango
- Zamora to El Salto, Durango
- Paracho to El Salto, Durango
- Uruapan to El Salto, Durango
From Tepatitlán to other places in Mexico
- Tepatitlán to Pabellón de Arteaga
- Tepatitlán to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Tepatitlán to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Tepatitlán to Calvillo
- Tepatitlán to Real de Asientos
- Tepatitlán to Jerez, Zacatecas
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tepatitlán to El Salto, Durango?
About 7 h 38 min of driving without stops, over 397 miles.
How far is El Salto, Durango from Tepatitlán by car?
About 397 miles (639 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 Tepatitlán to El Salto, Durango?
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 Tepatitlán to El Salto, Durango?
The U.S. State Department rates Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel; Durango Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Tepatitlán to El Salto, Durango use?
In order: MEX-80, MEX-80D, MEX-45D, MEX-45, DGO 45 and MEX-40D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Tepatitlán and El Salto, Durango?
Closest to the road: Teatro Aguascalientes (opera house, mile 90, 0.1 mi from the route); José Guadalupe Posada Museum (museum, mile 91, 0.1 mi from the route); La Ferrería (archaeological site, mile 343, 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 mile 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 (roughly 2 to 7 miles depending on the type, farther for World Heritage sites): at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, with no more than five of one type, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place and city 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.