By road, Tepic and Jalpa are about 220 miles (354 km) apart, or roughly 4 h 38 min of driving.
| Distance by road | 220 mi (354 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 38 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-54 |
| Mexican states on the route | Nayarit, Jalisco, Zacatecas |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
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.
How the Tepic to Jalpa drive plays out
MEX-15D (105 mi) and MEX-54 (89 mi) carry about 88% of the 220 miles. It runs through 3 states: Nayarit, Jalisco, Zacatecas. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-15D. Of the 7 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Tepic to Jalpa: 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 | 110–119 | 9 | Jalisco |
| local roads | 119–130 | 11 | Jalisco |
| MEX-54 | 130–219 | 89 | Jalisco, Zacatecas |
| local roads | 219–220 | 1 | Zacatecas |
- Mile 62 of this route: Nayarit → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 170 of this route: Jalisco → Zacatecas (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Jalpa
- 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 Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 119)
- Museums and history: Ixtlán del Rio (mile 51), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 81), National Museum of Tequila (mile 89), Guachimontones (mile 96), Basilica of Our Lady of Zapopan (mile 124), Museo Etnográfico Huichol Wixxarika (mile 124)
Ixtlán del Rio
Between roughly 300 BC and AD 600, people made their home at Los Toriles in Ixtlán del Río. Today visitors come for its circular temple, a rare design in Mesoamerica.
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.
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.
Guachimontones
Near the town of Teuchitlán, Guachimontones is known for its circular structures. INAH describes it as the first large population center in western Mexico, emerging around 1000 BC, with two ball courts and about 40 circular buildings across 20 hectares.
Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara
Zapopan's Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara is a public park in Jalisco with a busy event calendar that includes open-air film screenings, live concerts and food festivals.
Basilica of Our Lady of Zapopan
The Basilica of Our Lady of Zapopan is a 17th-century Franciscan sanctuary in downtown Zapopan. It keeps a wooden image of the Virgin that came from Spain to New Galicia in the 16th century.
Museo Etnográfico Huichol Wixxarika
The Museo de Arte Huichol Wixárika is a public museum where visitors can see a permanent exhibition of Huichol art.
Once you reach Jalpa
Museo Comunitario Profr. Arturo Reyes Viramontes
The Museo Comunitario Profr. Arturo Reyes Viramontes is a community museum in the municipality of Jalpa, in the Mexican state of Zacatecas, named for teacher Arturo Reyes Viramontes.
More drives to Jalpa
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
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Tepic to Jalpa?
About 4 h 38 min of driving without stops, over 220 miles.
How far is Jalpa from Tepic by car?
About 220 miles (354 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 Jalpa?
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 Jalpa?
The U.S. State Department rates Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Tepic to Jalpa?
In order: MEX-15D, MEX-15 and MEX-54. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Tepic to Jalpa?
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); Basilica of Our Lady of Zapopan (church, mile 124, 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.