Tepic to Ezequiel Montes Road Trip: Stops, Tolls & Drive Time

By admin, 12 October, 2026

Tepic to Ezequiel Montes is about 379 road miles (610 km): roughly 6 h 51 min at the wheel if you don't stop.

U.S. State Department travel advisory: 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 CautionAdvisory issued May 29, 2026; checked September 29, 2026. Querétaro is the Mexican state that contains Ezequiel Montes. This route passes through a state at the advisory's highest level. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive.
Ixtlán del RioMuseo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la MineríaMuseo de las Artes Populares de JaliscoParque Walt DisneyPlazuelasIrapuato CathedralCelaya CathedralMuseo Regional de QuerétaroClaustro de San Felipe Neri - Palacio ConinTepicEzequiel Montes
Route from Tepic to Ezequiel Montes with the 9 stops listed below (blue dots).
Total distance379 mi (610 km)
Drive time without stops6 h 51 min
Main roads, in orderMEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-110 → MEX-90 → MEX-45D → MEX-57D → QRO 4 → QRO 5
Mexican states on the routeNayarit, Jalisco, Michoacán, Guanajuato, Querétaro
Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap)MEX-15D, MEX-45D, MEX-57D
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 15.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below9

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.

Driving Tepic to Ezequiel Montes: the shape of the trip

MEX-15D (177 mi) and MEX-45D (68 mi) carry about 65% of the 379 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, 2 are within a mile of the road.

Which roads connect Tepic and Ezequiel Montes

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miState
local roads0–55Nayarit
MEX-15D5–110105Nayarit, Jalisco
MEX-15110–12212Jalisco
MEX-15D122–19472Jalisco, Michoacán
MEX-110194–23036Michoacán, Guanajuato
MEX-90230–27545Guanajuato
MEX-45D275–34368Guanajuato, Querétaro
MEX-57D343–35310Querétaro
QRO 4353–37320Querétaro
QRO 5373–3796Querétaro
  • 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)

Stops between Tepic and Ezequiel Montes

  • 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: Parque Walt Disney (mile 127)
  • Museums and history: Ixtlán del Rio (mile 51), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 81), Museo de las Artes Populares de Jalisco (mile 126), Plazuelas (mile 238), Irapuato Cathedral (mile 277), Celaya Cathedral (mile 313), Museo Regional de Querétaro (mile 341)

Ixtlán del Rio

Mile 51 · Archaeological site · 0.5 mi from the route

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

Mile 81 · Museum · 0.5 mi from the route

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.

Museo de las Artes Populares de Jalisco

Mile 126 · Museum · 2 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Opened on May 31, 2000, in Guadalajara's historic center, this museum researches, safeguards and promotes the crafts and folk art of Jalisco.

Parque Walt Disney

Mile 127 · Park · 1 mi from the route

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.

Plazuelas

Mile 238 · Archaeological site · 2 mi from the route

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

Mile 277 · Cathedral · 2 mi from the route

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

Mile 313 · Cathedral · 2 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Where a former chapel once stood, annexed to the neighboring Temple of St. Francis, Celaya's main Catholic church now rises: the Immaculate Conception Cathedral.

Museo Regional de Querétaro

Mile 341 · Museum · 1 mi from the route

The state's regional museum occupies the former Great Convent of San Francisco in central Santiago de Querétaro, a building dating from the 1540s and 1550s.

Claustro de San Felipe Neri - Palacio Conin

Mile 341 · Convent · 1 mi from the route

The Cloister of San Felipe Neri in central Querétaro was part of the Oratorian convent and stands beside the Templo de San Felipe Neri, now the city's cathedral.

More drives to Ezequiel Montes

From Tepic to other places in Mexico

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from Tepic to Ezequiel Montes?

About 6 h 51 min of driving without stops, over 379 miles.

What is the driving distance from Tepic to Ezequiel Montes?

About 379 miles (610 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 Ezequiel Montes?

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 Ezequiel Montes?

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 Ezequiel Montes?

In order: MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-110, MEX-90, MEX-45D, MEX-57D, QRO 4 and QRO 5. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.

Where can you stop on the way from Tepic to Ezequiel Montes?

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); Claustro de San Felipe Neri - Palacio Conin (convent, 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.