By road, Tepic and Tepotzotlán are about 440 miles (708 km) apart, or roughly 7 h 4 min of driving.
| Distance | 440 mi (708 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 4 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-M40D → MEX-57D |
| Mexican states on the route | Nayarit, Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
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 Tepotzotlán drive plays out
MEX-15D (358 mi) and MEX-M40D (33 mi) carry about 89% of the 440 miles. It runs through 5 states: Nayarit, Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico, Hidalgo. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-15D, MEX-M40D and MEX-57D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Tepic to Tepotzotlán
| 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 |
| MEX-M40D | 375–408 | 33 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| connecting roads | 408–409 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-57D | 409–438 | 29 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| local roads | 438–440 | 2 | State of Mexico |
- 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 407 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 428 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Tepotzotlán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 81), Templo y exconvento de San Francisco (mile 421)
- Nature and outdoors: Rayón National Park (mile 354)
- Museums and history: 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), Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 336)
- With kids: Acuario Michin Guadalajara (mile 125)
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
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.
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.
Acuario Michin Guadalajara
Acuario Michin Guadalajara is an aquarium in the city of Guadalajara, in the Mexican state of Jalisco.
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.
Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque
On Independencia Street in central Tlaquepaque, Jalisco, the Museo Regional de la Cerámica is one of the city's two main ceramics museums, alongside the Pantaleón Panduro Museum.
Teatro Morelos de Maravatío
Opera singer Ángela Peralta performed at the opening of Maravatío's Teatro Morelos on January 11, 1879. Architect Rafael Guerrero Torres designed the building in a neoclassical style with French influence.
Rayón National Park
Butterfly reserve country begins at Rayón National Park, on the edge of Tlalpujahua, and extends south and west from there across the region.
Templo y exconvento de San Francisco
The Templo y Exconvento de San Francisco is a church and former convent located in the city of Tepeji del Río, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
When you get to Tepotzotlán
Museo Nacional del Virreinato
Housed in the former Jesuit college of San Francisco Javier in Tepotzotlán, begun in 1606, this national museum covers three centuries of colonial art. Its Baroque church, built 1670-1682, keeps altarpieces designed by Miguel Cabrera and Higinio de Chávez.
Cuautitlán Cathedral
Cuautitlán's St. Bonaventure Cathedral (Catedral de San Buenaventura) is a Catholic church that forms part of the convent of the same name in this State of Mexico municipality.
Parque Espejo de los Lirios
Espejo de los Lirios is a lake park in Cuautitlán Izcalli, opened as a park in 1973 and declared a protected natural area in 2009 along with the city's Central Park.
More drives to Tepotzotlán
- Mexico City to Tepotzotlán
- Toluca to Tepotzotlán
- Cuernavaca to Tepotzotlán
- Cuautla to Tepotzotlán
- Celaya to Tepotzotlán
- San Miguel de Allende to Tepotzotlán
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 Tepotzotlán?
About 7 h 4 min of driving without stops, over 440 miles.
What is the driving distance from Tepic to Tepotzotlán?
About 440 miles (708 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 Tepotzotlán?
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 Tepotzotlán?
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; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Tepic to Tepotzotlán use?
In order: MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-M40D and MEX-57D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Tepic to Tepotzotlán?
Closest to the road: Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (museum, mile 81, 0.5 mi from the route); Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (museum, mile 129, 1 mi from the route); Templo y exconvento de San Francisco (convent, mile 421, 0.6 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.