Tepatitlán to Jerez, Zacatecas Road Trip: Route, Tolls & Stops

By admin, 3 October, 2026

The Wayro route from Tepatitlán to Jerez, Zacatecas is 198 miles (318 km), about 4 h 2 min of driving without stops.

U.S. State Department travel advisory: Jalisco — Level 3, Reconsider Travel; Aguascalientes — Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution; Zacatecas — Level 4, Do Not TravelAdvisory issued May 29, 2026; checked September 29, 2026. Zacatecas is the Mexican state that contains Jerez, Zacatecas. This route passes through a state at the advisory's highest level. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive.
Teocaltitan Archaeological SiteCathedral Basilica of San Juan de los LagosMuseo Nacional de la MuerteHistoric centre of AguascalientesMuseo de la InsurgenciaGuadalupe regional museumCathedral Basilica of ZacatecasManuel Felguérez MuseumTepatitlánJerez, Zacatecas
Route from Tepatitlán to Jerez, Zacatecas with the 8 stops listed below (blue dots).
Distance198 mi (318 km)
Driving time, no stops4 h 2 min
Main roads, in orderMEX-80 → MEX-80D → MEX-45D → MEX-45 → MEX-54 → MEX-23
Mexican states on the routeJalisco (Level 3), Aguascalientes (Level 2), Zacatecas (Level 4)
Toll roadsMEX-80D, MEX-45D
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 7.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below8

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 insuranceRequired 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 Jerez, Zacatecas is like

MEX-45 (70 mi) and MEX-80D (40 mi) carry about 56% of the 198 miles. MEX-80D, MEX-45D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-80, MEX-45, MEX-54, MEX-23 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Jalisco, Aguascalientes, Zacatecas. Of the 8 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.

The route from Tepatitlán to Jerez, Zacatecas, road by road

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miState
local roads0–11Jalisco
MEX-801–76Jalisco
MEX-80D7–4740Jalisco
connecting roads47–481Jalisco
local roads48–6012Jalisco
MEX-45D60–7313Jalisco
MEX-4573–10330Jalisco, Aguascalientes
local roads103–1063Aguascalientes
MEX-45106–13529Aguascalientes, Zacatecas
MEX-45D135–15520Zacatecas
connecting roads155–1561Zacatecas
MEX-45156–16711Zacatecas
MEX-54167–18215Zacatecas
MEX-23182–19816Zacatecas
  • Mile 77 of this route: Jalisco → Aguascalientes (state line)
  • Mile 131 of this route: Aguascalientes → Zacatecas (state line)

Stops between Tepatitlán and Jerez, Zacatecas

  • Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Nacional de la Muerte (mile 92), Historic centre of Aguascalientes (mile 92), Guadalupe regional museum (mile 160), Cathedral Basilica of Zacatecas (mile 163), Manuel Felguérez Museum (mile 163)
  • Museums and history: Teocaltitan Archaeological Site (mile 35), Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos (mile 42), Museo Nacional de la Muerte (mile 92), Historic centre of Aguascalientes (mile 92), Museo de la Insurgencia (mile 112), Guadalupe regional museum (mile 160), Cathedral Basilica of Zacatecas (mile 163), Manuel Felguérez Museum (mile 163)

Teocaltitan Archaeological Site

Mile 35 · Archaeological site · 2 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Near Jalostotitlán in the Los Altos region, the Teocaltitán site holds pyramids, sunken patios and a ball court spread across about nine hectares, built by a people who dominated much of the area from AD 400 to 900.

Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos

Mile 42 · Minor basilica · 2 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

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.

Museo Nacional de la Muerte

Mile 92 · Art museum · 0.1 mi from the route

Run by the Autonomous University of Aguascalientes, the Museo Nacional de la Muerte displays objects about death in Mexican culture, drawn from a collection donated by printmaker Octavio Bajonero Gil.

Historic centre of Aguascalientes

Mile 92 · Historic district · 0.2 mi from the route

The historic center of Aguascalientes is the city's zone of historic monuments, which INAH has declared part of the nation's heritage.

Museo de la Insurgencia

Mile 112 · Museum · 3 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

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

Mile 160 · Museum · 0.7 mi from the route

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.

Cathedral Basilica of Zacatecas

Mile 163 · Minor basilica · 0.4 mi from the route

Dedicated to the Virgin of the Assumption, the Cathedral of Zacatecas is the main church of the Diocese of Zacatecas.

Manuel Felguérez Museum

Mile 163 · Art museum · 0.8 mi from the route

A former seminary begun in 1870, later a barracks and then a prison until 1995, now holds Zacatecas' Museo de Arte Abstracto Manuel Felguérez, devoted to abstract art and to the work of the painter it's named after.

When you get to Jerez, Zacatecas

Jerez de García Salinas lies in a valley about 35 miles (57 km) from the city of Zacatecas, and in 2007 it became the state's first Pueblo Mágico. The town is the birthplace of poet Ramón López Velarde and is closely tied to tamborazo music, filigree jewelry and leatherwork.

  • Teatro Hinojosa: Built between 1872 and 1890, the theater keeps its hand-carved wooden seating and balconies. source
  • Casa Museo Ramón López Velarde: The poet's birthplace now displays his manuscripts and recordings of his work. source
  • Santuario de la Soledad: This neoclassical sanctuary has twin towers and an unusual lobed arch at its entrance. source

More drives to Jerez, Zacatecas

From Tepatitlán to other places in Mexico

Coming to Jerez, Zacatecas from the United States? Border crossings, permits and routes from U.S. cities: Driving to Jerez, Zacatecas, Mexico from the U.S.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from Tepatitlán to Jerez, Zacatecas?

About 4 h 2 min of driving without stops, over 198 miles.

How far is Jerez, Zacatecas from Tepatitlán by car?

About 198 miles (318 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 Jerez, Zacatecas?

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 Jerez, Zacatecas?

The U.S. State Department rates Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.

What roads does the drive from Tepatitlán to Jerez, Zacatecas use?

In order: MEX-80, MEX-80D, MEX-45D, MEX-45, MEX-54 and MEX-23. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.

What are good stops between Tepatitlán and Jerez, Zacatecas?

Closest to the road: Museo Nacional de la Muerte (art museum, mile 92, 0.1 mi from the route); Historic centre of Aguascalientes (historic district, mile 92, 0.2 mi from the route); Cathedral Basilica of Zacatecas (minor basilica, mile 163, 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.