Tepic to Apizaco is about 524 road miles (844 km): roughly 8 h 26 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Total distance | 524 mi (844 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 26 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-M40D → MEX-136 |
| Mexican states on the route | Nayarit, Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-15D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.0 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.
Driving Tepic to Apizaco: the shape of the trip
MEX-15D (358 mi) and MEX-M40D (121 mi) carry about 91% of the 524 miles. It runs through 6 states: Nayarit, Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-15D and MEX-M40D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Tepic to Apizaco: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–5 | 5 | Nayarit |
| MEX-15D | 5–110 | 105 | Nayarit, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 110–122 | 12 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 122–375 | 253 | Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico |
| MEX-M40D | 375–496 | 121 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala |
| connecting roads | 496–497 | 1 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-136 | 497–524 | 27 | Tlaxcala |
- Mile 62 of this route: Nayarit → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 190 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 357 of this route: Michoacán → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 407 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 437 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 452 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 469 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 481 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 488 of this route: Hidalgo → Tlaxcala (state line)
What to see on the way from Tepic to Apizaco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ixtlán del Rio (mile 51), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 81)
- Nature and outdoors: Rayón National Park (mile 354)
- Museums and history: Ixtlán del Rio (mile 51), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 81), Guachimontones (mile 96), Museo del Periodismo y las Artes Gráficas (mile 126), Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 336), Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl (mile 420)
- With kids: Acuario Michin Guadalajara (mile 125)
Ixtlán del Rio
A temple built on a completely round floor plan, unusual anywhere in Mesoamerica, is the highlight at the Ixtlán del Río archaeological site, which locals call Los Toriles. An introductory gallery explains the finds.
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.
Guachimontones
Near the town of Teuchitlán, Guachimontones is known for its circular structures. INAH describes it as the first large population center in western Mexico, emerging around 1000 BC, with two ball courts and about 40 circular buildings across 20 hectares.
Acuario Michin Guadalajara
Acuario Michin Guadalajara is an aquarium in the city of Guadalajara, in the Mexican state of Jalisco.
Museo del Periodismo y las Artes Gráficas
The Museo del Periodismo y las Artes Gráficas stands on Paseo Alcalde, formerly Avenida Alcalde, in the city of Guadalajara, Jalisco.
Teatro Morelos de Maravatío
Maravatío's Teatro Morelos is a late-19th-century theater in a French-influenced neoclassical style, designed by architect Rafael Guerrero Torres. It opened on January 11, 1879, with a performance by opera singer Ángela Peralta.
Rayón National Park
Butterfly reserve country begins at Rayón National Park, on the edge of Tlalpujahua, and extends south and west from there across the region.
Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl
The Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl is an archaeological museum located in Tula de Allende, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque
Running more than 48 km between Zempoala and Otumba, Padre Tembleque's 16th-century water system has been on UNESCO's list since 2015. The friar built it from 1554 to 1572.
In Apizaco itself
Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Apizaco
In the city of Apizaco, this Catholic basilica (Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Misericordia) was begun in the third decade of the 20th century and completed in 1961.
Ex Convento de Santa María de la Concepción Atlihuetzia
The ruined walls of this 16th-century Franciscan convent in Atlihuetzia rise as high as 21 meters beside the 17th-century Purísima Concepción church. The site also holds a sanctuary to Cristóbal, honored as the first Catholic child martyr in the Americas.
Museo Casa de Piedra
Apizaco's old railroad station, dating from 1916, now houses the Museo Casa de Piedra. Inside, photographs and documents trace the town's history, especially its long ties to the railroads.
More drives to Apizaco
- Mexico City to Apizaco
- Tepotzotlán to Apizaco
- Cuautla to Apizaco
- Toluca to Apizaco
- Cuernavaca to Apizaco
- Taxco to Apizaco
From Tepic to other places in Mexico
- Tepic to Amatitán
- Tepic to Ajijic
- Tepic to Tepatitlán
- Tepic to Temacapulín
- Tepic to Nochistlán
- Tepic to San Juan de los Lagos
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tepic to Apizaco?
About 8 h 26 min of driving without stops, over 524 miles.
How far is Apizaco from Tepic by car?
About 524 miles (844 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 Apizaco?
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 Apizaco?
The U.S. State Department rates Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Tepic to Apizaco?
In order: MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-M40D and MEX-136. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Tepic to Apizaco?
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); Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (opera house, mile 336, 1 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.