The Wayro route from Tepic to Guanajuato is 295 miles (475 km), about 5 h 0 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 295 mi (475 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 0 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-80D → MEX-80 → MEX-45D → MEX-45 → MEX-110D → MEX-110 |
| Mexican states on the route | Nayarit, Jalisco, Guanajuato |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-15D, MEX-80D, MEX-45D, MEX-110D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
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–Guanajuato drive in a few lines
MEX-15D (125 mi) and MEX-80D (73 mi) carry about 67% of the 295 miles. It runs through 3 states: Nayarit, Jalisco, Guanajuato. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-15D, MEX-80D and MEX-45D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Tepic to Guanajuato: 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 | 122–142 | 20 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 142–144 | 2 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 144–217 | 73 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80 | 217–231 | 14 | Jalisco |
| MEX-45D | 231–268 | 37 | Jalisco, Guanajuato |
| MEX-45 | 268–281 | 13 | Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 281–282 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-110D | 282–291 | 9 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-110 | 291–295 | 4 | Guanajuato |
- Mile 62 of this route: Nayarit → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 249 of this route: Jalisco → Guanajuato (state line)
What to see on the way from Tepic to Guanajuato
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ixtlán del Rio (mile 51), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 81), Statue of Minerva, Guadalajara (mile 124)
- 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), National Museum of Tequila (mile 89), Museum of Paleontology of Guadalajara (mile 126), Teocaltitan Archaeological Site (mile 204), Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos (mile 211)
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.
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.
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.
Museum of Paleontology of Guadalajara
Fossils are the focus at Guadalajara's Museum of Paleontology, which opened in 2000 inside Parque Agua Azul with exhibits developed alongside INAH, Mexico's national anthropology and history institute.
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.
Teocaltitan Archaeological Site
Near Jalostotitlán in the Los Altos region, the Teocaltitán site holds pyramids, sunken patios and a ball court spread across about nine hectares, built by a people who dominated much of the area from AD 400 to 900.
Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos
Pilgrims come from far and wide to San Juan de los Lagos to see the small image of the Virgin kept in this cathedral basilica, built between 1732 and 1769. Inside are Gothic-style ribbed vaults and a silver-framed Way of the Cross.
Arriving in Guanajuato
Tucked into a narrow mountain valley in central Mexico, Guanajuato grew into the world's leading silver-extraction center in the 18th century. Its Baroque churches, tunnels and underground streets earned the Historic Town of Guanajuato and Adjacent Mines a place on UNESCO's World Heritage list in 1988.
- Alhóndiga de Granaditas: Built from 1797 to 1809 as a granary and stormed by Miguel Hidalgo's insurgents in 1810, it has housed the Regional Museum of Guanajuato since 1958. source
- Underground streets: Drive or walk the subterranean roadways that run beneath the city, one of the features UNESCO singles out in its listing. source
- Historic mines: The old silver mines on the edge of town are part of the World Heritage property along with the historic center. source
Presa de la Olla
Presa de la Olla is a dam and hydraulic work built in the 18th century in the city of Guanajuato, Mexico.
Alfredo Dugès Museum
Named for French naturalist Alfredo Dugès, who settled in Guanajuato, this natural history museum is in the city of Guanajuato.
More drives to Guanajuato
- McAllen, TX to Guanajuato
- Brownsville, TX to Guanajuato
- Laredo, TX to Guanajuato
- South Padre Island, TX to Guanajuato
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Guanajuato
- Fresnillo to Guanajuato
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
Coming to Guanajuato from the United States? Border crossings, permits and routes from U.S. cities: Driving to Guanajuato, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tepic to Guanajuato?
About 5 h 0 min of driving without stops, over 295 miles.
How far is Guanajuato from Tepic by car?
About 295 miles (475 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 Guanajuato?
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 Guanajuato?
The U.S. State Department rates Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Tepic to Guanajuato?
In order: MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-80D, MEX-80, MEX-45D, MEX-45, MEX-110D and MEX-110. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Tepic to Guanajuato?
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); Statue of Minerva, Guadalajara (statue, mile 124, 0.8 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.