Tepic to Tepoztlán is about 478 road miles (769 km): roughly 8 h 27 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance by road | 478 mi (769 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 27 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-55D → MEX-55 → EM 44 → MEX-200 → MEX-95D → MEX-160D |
| Mexican states on the route | Nayarit, Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico, Morelos |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-55D, MEX-95D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.1 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 Tepoztlán: the shape of the trip
MEX-15D (358 mi) and MEX-55D (34 mi) carry about 82% of the 478 miles. It runs through 5 states: Nayarit, Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico, Morelos. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-15D, MEX-M40D and MEX-55D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Tepic to Tepoztlán: 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 | 418–423 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 423–424 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| EM 44 | 424–432 | 8 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 432–435 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 435–440 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-200 | 440–444 | 4 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 444–459 | 15 | State of Mexico, Morelos |
| connecting roads | 459–466 | 7 | Morelos |
| MEX-95D | 466–472 | 6 | Morelos |
| MEX-160D | 472–476 | 4 | Morelos |
| local roads | 476–478 | 2 | Morelos |
- 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 454 of this route: State of Mexico → Morelos (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Tepic and Tepoztlán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ixtlán del Rio (mile 51), Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (mile 453)
- Nature and outdoors: Rayón National Park (mile 354), Museo de Ciencias Naturales del Estado de México (mile 418), La Marquesa National Park (mile 432), Cumbres del Ajusco National Park (mile 451), Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (mile 453)
- Museums and history: Ixtlán del Rio (mile 51), Guachimontones (mile 96), Casa Museo López Portillo (mile 126), Museo de Ciencias Naturales del Estado de México (mile 418)
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.
Casa Museo López Portillo
Opened on May 10, 1982, this house museum in Guadalajara's historic center showcases decorative arts and promotes work by young artists from the metro area.
Rayón National Park
On the outskirts of Tlalpujahua, Parque Nacional Rayón is the gateway to the area's well-known butterfly reserves, which spread out to the south and west of the park.
Museo de Ciencias Naturales del Estado de México
Set in the Parque de los Matlatzincas on Cerro del Calvario, the Natural Sciences Museum of the State of Mexico explores biology, geology and the preservation of natural resources.
La Marquesa National Park
Set in high-altitude conifer forest along the Mexico City–Toluca highway, La Marquesa National Park offers roadside eateries, horse and ATV rentals, mountain biking and camping, and marks the site of the 1810 Battle of Monte de las Cruces.
Cumbres del Ajusco National Park
Pine and oak forests climb toward alpine meadows in Cumbres del Ajusco National Park, on Mexico City's southern edge. It draws hikers, climbers and cyclists, and it gets occasional snow, a rarity for the region.
Lagunas de Zempoala National Park
Seven lagoons, three of them permanent, sit among pine, oak and fir forest above 3,000 meters in this park, decreed in 1936 on the Morelos–State of Mexico line. Hiking, horseback riding, camping and rowboats are popular here.
Arriving in Tepoztlán
Tepoztlán Ex Convento Museum
Tepoztlán's Dominican monastery, built between 1555 and 1580, keeps original 16th-century murals in its cloister. Upstairs, the museum covers local daily life, faith, festivals and dances, and the complex is part of a UNESCO World Heritage listing.
El Tepozteco National Park
Eroded volcanic hills of the Sierra de Tepoztlán fill this national park, about half of which lies in Mexico City's Milpa Alta borough. A short, steep climb leads to the Tepozteco archaeological zone; wear good shoes, since the rocks get slippery.
El Tepozteco
High on a hill above Tepoztlán, El Tepozteco holds the remains of a shrine to Ometochtli-Tepoztécatl, god of pulque, fertility and the harvest, along with terraced platforms built from around AD 1200.
More drives to Tepoztlán
- Mexico City to Tepoztlán
- Metepec to Tepoztlán
- Toluca to Tepoztlán
- Atlixco to Tepoztlán
- Taxco to Tepoztlán
- Tepotzotlán to Tepoztlán
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 Tepoztlán?
About 8 h 27 min of driving without stops, over 478 miles.
How far is Tepoztlán from Tepic by car?
About 478 miles (769 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 Tepoztlán?
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 Tepoztlán?
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; Morelos Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Tepic to Tepoztlán use?
In order: MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-55D, MEX-55, EM 44, MEX-200, MEX-95D and MEX-160D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Tepic to Tepoztlán?
Closest to the road: Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 51, 0.5 mi from the route); Museo de Ciencias Naturales del Estado de México (museum, mile 418, 1 mi from the route); Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (national park, mile 453, 0.2 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.