Plan on about 8 h 7 min of driving for the 490-mile (789 km) trip from Tepic to Huasca de Ocampo, before any stops.
| Distance | 490 mi (789 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 7 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-M40D → MEX-85 → MEX-105 |
| Mexican states on the route | Nayarit, Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-15D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.6 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.
The Tepic–Huasca de Ocampo drive in a few lines
MEX-15D (358 mi) and MEX-M40D (80 mi) carry about 89% of the 490 miles. It runs through 5 states: Nayarit, Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico, Hidalgo. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-15D and MEX-M40D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Tepic to Huasca de Ocampo, road by road
| 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 | 375–455 | 80 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 455–467 | 12 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 467–475 | 8 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 475–485 | 10 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 485–490 | 5 | Hidalgo |
- 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)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Tepic and Huasca de Ocampo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ixtlán del Rio (mile 51), Centro Interactivo Mundo Futbol (mile 469), Parque Ecológico Cubitos (mile 472)
- Nature and outdoors: Rayón National Park (mile 354), Parque Ecológico Cubitos (mile 472)
- Museums and history: Ixtlán del Rio (mile 51), Guachimontones (mile 96), Teatro Degollado (mile 126), Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl (mile 420), Centro Interactivo Mundo Futbol (mile 469), Museo de Mineralogía de la UAEH (mile 475)
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.
Guachimontones
Western Mexico's first large population center, according to INAH, took shape near Teuchitlán around 1000 BC. Guachimontones stands out for its round architecture, with roughly 40 circular structures across the site.
Teatro Degollado
On Guadalajara's central plaza, along Belén Street between Hidalgo and Morelos avenues, the neoclassical Teatro Degollado is known for its varied performances and artistic design.
Convento de Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro
Better known as El Perpetuo Socorro, this Guadalajara church is home to a Passionist convent that has housed the order's postulants since 2020.
Rayón National Park
On the outskirts of Tlalpujahua, Parque Nacional Rayón is the gateway to the area's well-known butterfly reserves, which spread out to the south and west of the park.
Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl
The Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl is an archaeological museum located in Tula de Allende, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
Centro Interactivo Mundo Futbol
Centro Interactivo Mundo Fútbol is an interactive museum devoted to soccer, located in the city of Pachuca de Soto in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
Parque Ecológico Cubitos
Between Pachuca de Soto and Mineral de la Reforma, Parque Ecológico Cubitos is a 90-hectare protected natural area whose public section has a botanical garden, an arboretum, a herpetarium, a farm, a maze, a zip line and a bike path.
Museo de Mineralogía de la UAEH
Inside the central building of the state university in downtown Pachuca, the UAEH Mineralogy Museum displays minerals and rocks and is one of the longest-running museums of its kind in Mexico.
Once you reach Huasca de Ocampo
Basaltic Prisms of Santa María Regla
Basalt columns more than 40 meters tall line a ravine near Huasca de Ocampo, formed when lava cooled quickly on contact with water. Alexander von Humboldt described the Basaltic Prisms (Prismas Basálticos) after his visit in 1803.
More drives to Huasca de Ocampo
- Actopan to Huasca de Ocampo
- Otumba to Huasca de Ocampo
- Tepotzotlán to Huasca de Ocampo
- Mexico City to Huasca de Ocampo
- Jilotepec to Huasca de Ocampo
- Zimapán to Huasca de Ocampo
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 Huasca de Ocampo?
About 8 h 7 min of driving without stops, over 490 miles.
How far is Huasca de Ocampo from Tepic by car?
About 490 miles (789 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 Huasca de Ocampo?
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 Huasca de Ocampo?
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 (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Tepic to Huasca de Ocampo?
In order: MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-M40D, MEX-85 and MEX-105. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Tepic to Huasca de Ocampo?
Closest to the road: Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 51, 0.5 mi from the route); Centro Interactivo Mundo Futbol (museum, mile 469, 0.4 mi from the route); Parque Ecológico Cubitos (park, mile 472, 0.7 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.