Plan on about 1 h 43 min of driving for the 100-mile (161 km) trip from Tepic to Amatitán, before any stops.
| Distance by road | 100 mi (161 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 1 h 43 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15D → MEX-15 |
| Mexican states on the route | Nayarit, Jalisco |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 4.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
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 Tepic–Amatitán drive in a few lines
MEX-15D (87 mi) and MEX-15 (7 mi) carry about 94% of the 100 miles. It runs through 2 states: Nayarit, Jalisco. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-15D. Of the 3 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Tepic to Amatitán
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–5 | 5 | Nayarit |
| MEX-15D | 5–92 | 87 | Nayarit, Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 92–93 | 1 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 93–100 | 7 | Jalisco |
- Mile 62 of this route: Nayarit → Jalisco (state line)
Places worth a stop between Tepic and Amatitán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ixtlán del Rio (mile 51), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 81), National Museum of Tequila (mile 93)
- Museums and history: Ixtlán del Rio (mile 51), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 81), National Museum of Tequila (mile 93)
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.
Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería
The Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería, an interpretive museum of agave landscape and mining, is located in the municipality of Magdalena, Mexico.
National Museum of Tequila
In the town of Tequila, MUNAT, the National Museum of Tequila, covers the history of the drink behind the region's fame. Jalisco's state government reclaimed the museum in 2026 and announced it will reopen with updated exhibits.
More drives to Amatitán
- Tepatitlán to Amatitán
- San Juan de los Lagos to Amatitán
- Aguascalientes to Amatitán
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Amatitán
- Calvillo to Amatitán
- El Rosario, Sinaloa to Amatitán
From Tepic to other places in Mexico
- Tepic to Ajijic
- Tepic to Tepatitlán
- Tepic to Temacapulín
- Tepic to Nochistlán
- Tepic to San Juan de los Lagos
- Tepic to Jalpa
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tepic to Amatitán?
About 1 h 43 min of driving without stops, over 100 miles.
How far is Amatitán from Tepic by car?
About 100 miles (161 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 Tepic to Amatitán?
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 Tepic to Amatitán?
The U.S. State Department rates Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Tepic to Amatitán use?
In order: MEX-15D and MEX-15. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Tepic to Amatitán?
Closest to the road: Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 51, 0.5 mi from the route); Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (museum, mile 81, 0.5 mi from the route); National Museum of Tequila (museum, mile 93, 0.7 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.