Tepic to Salvatierra is about 331 road miles (532 km): roughly 5 h 33 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance | 331 mi (532 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 5 h 33 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-43D → MEX-52 |
| Mexican states on the route | Nayarit, Jalisco, Michoacán, Guanajuato |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-15D, MEX-43D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.2 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.
Driving Tepic to Salvatierra: the shape of the trip
MEX-15D (271 mi) and MEX-43D (19 mi) carry about 88% of the 331 miles. It runs through 4 states: Nayarit, Jalisco, Michoacán, Guanajuato. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-15D and MEX-43D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Tepic to Salvatierra
| 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 | 122–288 | 166 | Jalisco, Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 288–290 | 2 | Michoacán |
| MEX-43D | 290–309 | 19 | Michoacán, Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 309–311 | 2 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-52 | 311–329 | 18 | Guanajuato |
| local roads | 329–331 | 2 | Guanajuato |
- Mile 62 of this route: Nayarit → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 190 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 304 of this route: Michoacán → Guanajuato (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Tepic and Salvatierra
- 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), Guachimontones (mile 96), Basílica de San Felipe Neri (mile 126), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 129)
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
In the municipality of Magdalena, Mexico, an interpretive museum focuses on two subjects: the agave landscape and mining.
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
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.
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.
Basílica de San Felipe Neri
Guadalajara's Basilica of San Felipe Neri is a Catholic church built in baroque style between 1752 and 1802 by master builder Pedro José Ciprés.
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.
Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque
Ceramics lovers in central Tlaquepaque, Jalisco, can find the Museo Regional de la Cerámica on Independencia Street. Along with the Pantaleón Panduro Museum, it is one of the city's two principal pottery museums.
More drives to Salvatierra
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Salvatierra
- Zacatecas to Salvatierra
- Jerez, Zacatecas to Salvatierra
- Durango to Salvatierra
- Mazatlán to Salvatierra
- San Juan del Río to Salvatierra
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 Salvatierra?
About 5 h 33 min of driving without stops, over 331 miles.
What is the driving distance from Tepic to Salvatierra?
About 331 miles (532 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 Salvatierra?
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 Salvatierra?
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.
What roads does the drive from Tepic to Salvatierra use?
In order: MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-43D and MEX-52. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Tepic and Salvatierra?
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.