By road, Tepic and Bernal are about 377 miles (607 km) apart, or roughly 6 h 47 min of driving.
| Distance | 377 mi (607 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 6 h 47 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-110 → MEX-90 → MEX-45D → MEX-57D → QRO 4 → QRO 100 |
| Mexican states on the route | Nayarit, Jalisco, Michoacán, Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-15D, MEX-45D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.1 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.
On the road from Tepic to Bernal
MEX-15D (177 mi) and MEX-45D (68 mi) carry about 65% of the 377 miles. It runs through 5 states: Nayarit, Jalisco, Michoacán, Guanajuato, Querétaro. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-15D, MEX-45D and MEX-57D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Tepic and Bernal
| 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 | 122–194 | 72 | Jalisco, Michoacán |
| MEX-110 | 194–230 | 36 | Michoacán, Guanajuato |
| MEX-90 | 230–275 | 45 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 275–343 | 68 | Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 343–353 | 10 | Querétaro |
| QRO 4 | 353–373 | 20 | Querétaro |
| QRO 100 | 373–377 | 4 | Querétaro |
- Mile 62 of this route: Nayarit → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 190 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 220 of this route: Michoacán → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 334 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
What to see on the way from Tepic to Bernal
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ixtlán del Rio (mile 51), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 81), Museo de la Ciudad de Querétaro (mile 341)
- Museums and history: Ixtlán del Rio (mile 51), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 81), Museum of Paleontology of Guadalajara (mile 126), Plazuelas (mile 238), Irapuato Cathedral (mile 277), Celaya Cathedral (mile 313), Museo de la Ciudad de Querétaro (mile 341)
- 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
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.
Acuario Michin Guadalajara
Acuario Michin Guadalajara is an aquarium in the city of Guadalajara, in the Mexican state of Jalisco.
Museum of Paleontology of Guadalajara
Inside Guadalajara's Parque Agua Azul, the Museum of Paleontology opened in 2000 as one of only a few Mexican museums devoted to fossils, with exhibits developed with Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH).
Plazuelas
Near Pénjamo, Plazuelas flourished between AD 450 and 700. Trails lead to Casas Tapadas, a platform crowned by four pyramid bases, a ball court, and rocks carved with spirals and La Maqueta, a low-relief model of Casas Tapadas.
Irapuato Cathedral
Irapuato's cathedral, dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, dates from the 18th century and has a Baroque facade. It served as the seat of the local parish until 2004, when the new Diocese of Irapuato made it a cathedral.
Celaya Cathedral
Celaya's main Catholic church, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, occupies the space of a former chapel that was annexed to the neighboring Temple of St. Francis.
Museo de la Ciudad de Querétaro
Inside the 18th-century Baroque former Capuchin convent in Querétaro's historic center, the Museo de la Ciudad hosts contemporary visual art along with music, film and theater.
Templo y exconvento de San Francisco de Asís de Querétaro
Querétaro's San Francisco church once served as the city's cathedral. The convent was begun in 1589 and the church finished in 1640, and it keeps a Baroque lectern and upper-choir stalls by Francisco Eduardo Tresguerras.
More drives to Bernal
- Celaya to Bernal
- Salamanca to Bernal
- Irapuato to Bernal
- Guanajuato to Bernal
- Pénjamo to Bernal
- León to Bernal
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 does it take to drive from Tepic to Bernal?
About 6 h 47 min of driving without stops, over 377 miles.
How far is Bernal from Tepic by car?
About 377 miles (607 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 Bernal?
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 Bernal?
The U.S. State Department rates Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Tepic to Bernal?
In order: MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-110, MEX-90, MEX-45D, MEX-57D, QRO 4 and QRO 100. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Tepic to Bernal?
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); Museo de la Ciudad de Querétaro (museum, mile 341, 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.