Plan on about 10 h 20 min of driving for the 536-mile (863 km) trip from Tepic to Hidalgo del Parral, before any stops.
| Total distance | 536 mi (863 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 10 h 20 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15D → MEX-40D → MEX-45 |
| Mexican states on the route | Nayarit, Sinaloa, Durango, Chihuahua |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-15D, MEX-40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 2 |
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–Hidalgo del Parral drive in a few lines
MEX-45 (247 mi) and MEX-15D (147 mi) carry about 74% of the 536 miles. It runs through 4 states: Nayarit, Sinaloa, Durango, Chihuahua. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-15D and MEX-40D. None of the 2 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Roads you'll take from Tepic to Hidalgo del Parral
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Nayarit |
| MEX-15D | 3–150 | 147 | Nayarit, Sinaloa |
| MEX-40D | 150–286 | 136 | Sinaloa, Durango |
| connecting roads | 286–287 | 1 | Durango |
| MEX-45 | 287–534 | 247 | Durango, Chihuahua |
| local roads | 534–536 | 2 | Chihuahua |
- Mile 82 of this route: Nayarit → Sinaloa (state line)
- Mile 193 of this route: Sinaloa → Durango (state line)
- Mile 505 of this route: Durango → Chihuahua (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Tepic and Hidalgo del Parral
- Nature and outdoors: Agua Grande Lagoon (mile 107)
- Museums and history: Ganot-Peschard Museum of Archeology (mile 285)
Agua Grande Lagoon
Agua Grande is a large coastal lagoon in the Mexican state of Sinaloa that drains into the Pacific Ocean through the Teacapán Estuary.
Ganot-Peschard Museum of Archeology
In downtown Durango, this archaeology museum works to preserve the Indigenous history of northern Mexico.
When you get to Hidalgo del Parral
Hidalgo del Parral is a silver-mining city in southern Chihuahua, on the road between Chihuahua city and Durango, that grew up around the La Prieta mine. It is also where Pancho Villa was killed in an ambush on July 20, 1923, and the city marks that history each July with the Jornadas Villistas festival.
- Museo Francisco Villa: The museum occupies the building where Villa's assassins hid before the 1923 ambush. source
- Mina La Prieta: The mine that gave rise to the city worked for 345 years, producing silver, copper, zinc and gold. source
- Palacio Alvarado: Built between 1898 and 1904 by architect Luis E. Rouvier for mine owner Pedro Alvarado, the mansion now serves as a cultural center. source
More drives to Hidalgo del Parral
- Alpine, TX to Hidalgo del Parral
- Marfa, TX to Hidalgo del Parral
- Marathon, TX to Hidalgo del Parral
- Del Rio, TX to Hidalgo del Parral
- Las Cruces, NM to Hidalgo del Parral
- Silver City, NM to Hidalgo del Parral
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 Hidalgo del Parral from the United States? Border crossings, permits and routes from U.S. cities: Driving to Hidalgo del Parral, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tepic to Hidalgo del Parral?
About 10 h 20 min of driving without stops, over 536 miles.
How far is Hidalgo del Parral from Tepic by car?
About 536 miles (863 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 Hidalgo del Parral?
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 Hidalgo del Parral?
The U.S. State Department rates Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Sinaloa Level 4: Do Not Travel; Durango Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Chihuahua Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Tepic to Hidalgo del Parral use?
In order: MEX-15D, MEX-40D and MEX-45. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Tepic to Hidalgo del Parral?
Closest to the road: Agua Grande Lagoon (lagoon, mile 107, 5 mi from the route); Ganot-Peschard Museum of Archeology (museum, mile 285, 3 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.