By road, Tepic and Taxco are about 496 miles (798 km) apart, or roughly 8 h 23 min of driving.
| Distance by road | 496 mi (798 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 23 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-55D → MEX-55 → MEX-95 → MEX-92D |
| Mexican states on the route | Nayarit, Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico, Guerrero |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-55D, MEX-92D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.8 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.
The Tepic–Taxco drive in a few lines
MEX-15D (358 mi) and MEX-55D (58 mi) carry about 84% of the 496 miles. It runs through 5 states: Nayarit, Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico, Guerrero. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-15D, MEX-M40D and MEX-55D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Tepic to Taxco: 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 | 110–122 | 12 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 122–375 | 253 | Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 375–378 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 378–412 | 34 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 412–418 | 6 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 418–430 | 12 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 430–431 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 431–455 | 24 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 455–459 | 4 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 459–467 | 8 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 467–483 | 16 | State of Mexico, Guerrero |
| MEX-95 | 483–487 | 4 | Guerrero |
| connecting roads | 487–489 | 2 | Guerrero |
| MEX-92D | 489–494 | 5 | Guerrero |
| local roads | 494–496 | 2 | Guerrero |
- 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 469 of this route: State of Mexico → Guerrero (state line)
- Mile 472 of this route: Guerrero → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 481 of this route: State of Mexico → Guerrero (state line)
What to see on the way from Tepic to Taxco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ixtlán del Rio (mile 51), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 377), Parque de la Ciencia Fundadores (mile 416), Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park (mile 479)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Estatal Sierra Morelos (mile 413), Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park (mile 479)
- Museums and history: Ixtlán del Rio (mile 51), Guachimontones (mile 96), Universidad de Guadalajara. Museo de las Artes (mile 125), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 377), Parque de la Ciencia Fundadores (mile 416)
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.
Universidad de Guadalajara. Museo de las Artes
The University of Guadalajara's Museo de las Artes, known as MUSA, opened on October 10, 1994, and was expanded in 2013.
Exconvento del Carmen
Built in the 17th century for the Discalced Carmelites, the Ex Convento del Carmen in Guadalajara is now a cultural venue with a long religious history.
Cathedral of Atlacomulco
The seat of the Diocese of Atlacomulco is the Catedral de la Divina Providencia, which serves as the main Catholic church in town and takes its dedication from Divine Providence.
Parque Estatal Sierra Morelos
This Toluca park, one of the State of Mexico's protected natural areas, is home to more than 500 species of plants and animals. Families come for the axolotl center, bat house, small farm and jogging track.
Parque de la Ciencia Fundadores
Opened in 2021 in downtown Toluca on the site of the former Plaza Ángel María Garibay, this science park adds green space, children's play areas and a planetarium with a 360-degree screen.
Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park
Protected as a national park since 1936, this area near Taxco centers on the Cacahuamilpa caverns, where a guided route of about 4 km passes chambers up to 80 meters high, decorated with flowstone and floor-to-ceiling columns.
Once you reach Taxco
Church of Santa Prisca de Taxco
Silver baron José de la Borda paid for Santa Prisca with the bonanza from his San Ignacio mine in Taxco, and the church was dedicated in 1759, the same year his nearby house on the plaza was finished.
William Spratling Museum
Taxco's archaeological museum grew from the collection of William Spratling, the American who revived the town's silver craft in the 1930s. It shows pre-Hispanic pieces, including Olmec and Mezcala-style works, plus a gallery on silversmithing.
Museo de Arte Virreinal de Taxco
Housed in the historic Casa Humboldt in Taxco, the Museo de Arte Virreinal shows colonial sacred art recovered from the Santa Prisca parish church, along with permanent exhibitions on Alexander von Humboldt and the town's history.
More drives to Taxco
- Morelia to Taxco
- Celaya to Taxco
- San Miguel de Allende to Taxco
- Pátzcuaro to Taxco
- Irapuato to Taxco
- Salamanca to Taxco
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 Taxco?
About 8 h 23 min of driving without stops, over 496 miles.
How far is Taxco from Tepic by car?
About 496 miles (798 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 Taxco?
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 Taxco?
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; Guerrero Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Tepic to Taxco?
In order: MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-55D, MEX-55, MEX-95 and MEX-92D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Tepic and Taxco?
Closest to the road: Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 51, 0.5 mi from the route); Cathedral of Atlacomulco (cathedral, mile 377, 0.4 mi from the route); Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park (national park, mile 479, 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.