By road, Tepic and Nochistlán are about 211 miles (339 km) apart, or roughly 4 h 23 min of driving.
| Distance by road | 211 mi (339 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 23 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-54 → JAL 201 → JAL 205 |
| Mexican states on the route | Nayarit, Jalisco, Zacatecas |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.4 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 Nochistlán drive plays out
MEX-15D (105 mi) and JAL 201 (37 mi) carry about 67% of the 211 miles. It runs through 3 states: Nayarit, Jalisco, Zacatecas. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-15D. Of the 7 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Tepic to Nochistlán
| 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 | 130–150 | 20 | Jalisco |
| JAL 201 | 150–187 | 37 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 187–190 | 3 | Jalisco |
| JAL 205 | 190–206 | 16 | Jalisco, Zacatecas |
| local roads | 206–211 | 5 | Zacatecas |
- Mile 62 of this route: Nayarit → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 203 of this route: Jalisco → Zacatecas (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Tepic and Nochistlán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ixtlán del Rio (mile 51), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 81), Museo de Ciencias Ambientales (mile 125)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 119), Museo de Ciencias Ambientales (mile 125)
- 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 de Ciencias Ambientales (mile 125)
Ixtlán del Rio
Known locally as Los Toriles, the Ixtlán del Río site is famous for a temple with a fully circular floor plan, rare in Mesoamerica. People lived here from about 300 BC to AD 600, and 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
Jalisco's state government took back the National Museum of Tequila in 2026, announcing a reopening with refreshed displays. The museum, known as MUNAT, tells the story of the spirit in the town that shares its name.
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 de Ciencias Ambientales
Part of the University of Guadalajara, Zapopan's Museo de Ciencias Ambientales uses interactive exhibits on biodiversity, ecology, climate change and waste to teach about the environment.
More drives to Nochistlán
- Tequila to Nochistlán
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Nochistlán
- Zacatecas to Nochistlán
- Fresnillo to Nochistlán
- Durango to Nochistlán
- Mexico City to Nochistlán
From Tepic to other places in Mexico
- Tepic to Amatitán
- Tepic to Ajijic
- Tepic to Tepatitlán
- Tepic to Temacapulín
- Tepic to San Juan de los Lagos
- Tepic to Jalpa
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tepic to Nochistlán?
About 4 h 23 min of driving without stops, over 211 miles.
What is the driving distance from Tepic to Nochistlán?
About 211 miles (339 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 Nochistlán?
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 Nochistlán?
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.
What roads does the drive from Tepic to Nochistlán use?
In order: MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-54, JAL 201 and JAL 205. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Tepic to Nochistlán?
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); Museo de Ciencias Ambientales (natural history museum, mile 125, 0.3 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.