Plan on about 3 h 35 min of driving for the 208-mile (335 km) trip from Tepatitlán to Sayulita, before any stops.
| Distance by road | 208 mi (335 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 3 h 35 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-80D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-70D → MEX-200D → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-80D, MEX-90D, MEX-15D, MEX-70D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.3 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.
The Tepatitlán–Sayulita drive in a few lines
MEX-15D (78 mi) and MEX-80D (38 mi) carry about 56% of the 208 miles. It runs through 2 states: Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-80D, MEX-90D and MEX-15D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Tepatitlán to Sayulita: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 2–40 | 38 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 40–53 | 13 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 53–62 | 9 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 62–127 | 65 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 127–161 | 34 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 161–179 | 18 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 179–194 | 15 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200 | 194–208 | 14 | Nayarit |
- Mile 110 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
Stops between Tepatitlán and Sayulita
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Statue of Minerva, Guadalajara (mile 48), Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 51), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 91), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 121)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Walt Disney (mile 44), Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 51), Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 190)
- Museums and history: Museo del Tequila y el Mariachi (mile 45), Guachimontones (mile 75), National Museum of Tequila (mile 81), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 91), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 121)
Parque Walt Disney
Despite sharing a name with Walt Disney, this recreational space in Guadalajara's Colonia Olímpica has no direct theme tied to Disney's amusement parks.
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.
Statue of Minerva, Guadalajara
At a roundabout fountain in Guadalajara, a bronze statue of Minerva, Roman goddess of wisdom, stands on a large pedestal inscribed with the names of 18 notable citizens.
Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara
Concerts, outdoor movie nights and food festivals are among the many events held at Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara, a public park in Zapopan, Jalisco.
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.
National Museum of Tequila
The National Museum of Tequila (MUNAT) in the town of Tequila tells the story of the spirit that put this corner of Jalisco on the map. The state government took it back in 2026 and announced a reopening with refreshed exhibits.
Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería
Agave landscapes and mining are the twin themes of the Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería, an interpretive museum in the municipality of Magdalena.
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.
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.
More drives to Sayulita
- San Juan de los Lagos to Sayulita
- Jalpa to Sayulita
- León to Sayulita
- Aguascalientes to Sayulita
- Paracho to Sayulita
- Irapuato to Sayulita
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
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tepatitlán to Sayulita?
About 3 h 35 min of driving without stops, over 208 miles.
What is the driving distance from Tepatitlán to Sayulita?
About 208 miles (335 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 Sayulita?
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 Sayulita?
The U.S. State Department rates Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Tepatitlán to Sayulita use?
In order: MEX-80D, MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-70D, MEX-200D and MEX-200. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Tepatitlán to Sayulita?
Closest to the road: Statue of Minerva, Guadalajara (statue, mile 48, 0.7 mi from the route); Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (museum, mile 91, 0.5 mi from the route); Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 121, 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.