The Wayro route from Tepic to Salamanca is 290 miles (466 km), about 5 h 16 min of driving without stops.
| Distance by road | 290 mi (466 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 5 h 16 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-110 → MEX-90 → MEX-45D → MEX-45 |
| Mexican states on the route | Nayarit, Jalisco, Michoacán, Guanajuato |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-15D, MEX-45D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.6 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.
How the Tepic to Salamanca drive plays out
MEX-15D (177 mi) and MEX-90 (45 mi) carry about 77% of the 290 miles. It runs through 4 states: Nayarit, Jalisco, Michoacán, Guanajuato. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-15D and MEX-45D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Tepic to Salamanca
| 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 | 122–194 | 72 | Jalisco, Michoacán |
| MEX-110 | 194–230 | 36 | Michoacán, Guanajuato |
| MEX-90 | 230–275 | 45 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 275–280 | 5 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45 | 280–286 | 6 | Guanajuato |
| local roads | 286–290 | 4 | Guanajuato |
- Mile 62 of this route: Nayarit → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 190 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 220 of this route: Michoacán → Guanajuato (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Tepic and Salamanca
- 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), Plazuelas (mile 238), Irapuato Cathedral (mile 277)
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
In the municipality of Magdalena, Mexico, an interpretive museum focuses on two subjects: the agave landscape and mining.
National Museum of Tequila
In the town of Tequila, MUNAT, the National Museum of Tequila, covers the history of the drink behind the region's fame. Jalisco's state government reclaimed the museum in 2026 and announced it will reopen with updated 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
Inside Guadalajara's Parque Agua Azul, the Museum of Paleontology opened in 2000 as one of only a few Mexican museums devoted to fossils, with exhibits developed with Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH).
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.
Plazuelas
Near Pénjamo, Plazuelas flourished between AD 450 and 700. Trails lead to Casas Tapadas, a platform crowned by four pyramid bases, a ball court, and rocks carved with spirals and La Maqueta, a low-relief model of Casas Tapadas.
Irapuato Cathedral
Irapuato's cathedral, dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, dates from the 18th century and has a Baroque facade. It served as the seat of the local parish until 2004, when the new Diocese of Irapuato made it a cathedral.
More drives to Salamanca
- Mazatlán to Salamanca
- Cuernavaca to Salamanca
- Mexico City to Salamanca
- Puebla to Salamanca
- Xalapa to Salamanca
- San Luis Potosí to Salamanca
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 is the drive from Tepic to Salamanca?
About 5 h 16 min of driving without stops, over 290 miles.
What is the driving distance from Tepic to Salamanca?
About 290 miles (466 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 Salamanca?
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 Salamanca?
The U.S. State Department rates Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Tepic to Salamanca?
In order: MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-110, MEX-90, MEX-45D and MEX-45. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Tepic and Salamanca?
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.