Tepic to Tlalpujahua Road Trip: Route, Tolls & Stops

By admin, 12 October, 2026

The Wayro route from Tepic to Tlalpujahua is 361 miles (581 km), about 5 h 53 min of driving without stops.

U.S. State Department travel advisory: Nayarit — Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution; Jalisco — Level 3, Reconsider Travel; Michoacán — Level 4, Do Not TravelAdvisory issued May 29, 2026; checked September 29, 2026. Michoacán is the Mexican state that contains Tlalpujahua. This route passes through a state at the advisory's highest level. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive.
Ixtlán del RioMuseo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la MineríaNational Museum of TequilaGuachimontonesParque Metropolitano de GuadalajaraConvento de Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo SocorroMuseo de CeraMuseo Regional de la Ceramica, TlaquepaqueTeatro Morelos de MaravatíoTepicTlalpujahua
Route from Tepic to Tlalpujahua with the 9 stops listed below (blue dots).
Total distance361 mi (581 km)
Driving time, no stops5 h 53 min
Main roads, in orderMEX-15D → MEX-15
Mexican states on the routeNayarit, Jalisco, Michoacán
Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap)MEX-15D
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 14.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below9

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 insuranceRequired 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.

On the road from Tepic to Tlalpujahua

MEX-15D (337 mi) and MEX-15 (12 mi) carry about 97% of the 361 miles. It runs through 3 states: Nayarit, Jalisco, Michoacán. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-15D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.

Tepic to Tlalpujahua: the road sequence

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miState
local roads0–55Nayarit
MEX-15D5–110105Nayarit, Jalisco
MEX-15110–12212Jalisco
MEX-15D122–354232Jalisco, Michoacán
local roads354–3617Michoacán
  • Mile 62 of this route: Nayarit → Jalisco (state line)
  • Mile 190 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)

Stops between Tepic and Tlalpujahua

  • Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ixtlán del Rio (mile 51), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 81), Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 121)
  • Nature and outdoors: Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 121)
  • 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), Museo de Cera (mile 126), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 129), Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 336)

Ixtlán del Rio

Mile 51 · Archaeological site · 0.5 mi from the route

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

Mile 81 · Museum · 0.5 mi from the route

Agave landscapes and mining are the twin themes of the Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería, an interpretive museum in the municipality of Magdalena.

National Museum of Tequila

Mile 89 · Museum · 3 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

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

Mile 96 · Archaeological site · 9 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

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.

Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara

Mile 121 · Park · 0.9 mi from the route

Concerts, outdoor movie nights and food festivals are among the many events held at Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara, a public park in Zapopan, Jalisco.

Convento de Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro

Mile 126 · Convent · 1 mi from the route

Better known as El Perpetuo Socorro, this Guadalajara church is home to a Passionist convent that has housed the order's postulants since 2020.

Museo de Cera

Mile 126 · Wax museum · 2 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

On the Plaza de la Liberación in downtown Guadalajara, the Museo de Cera has 12 rooms with more than 130 wax figures of athletes, singers, actors, politicians and religious figures. It opened in 1994.

Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque

Mile 129 · Museum · 1 mi from the route

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.

Teatro Morelos de Maravatío

Mile 336 · Opera house · 1 mi from the route

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.

In Tlalpujahua itself

Museo del Ferrocarril del Oro

Museum · in Tlalpujahua

The Museo del Ferrocarril is in El Oro de Hidalgo, State of Mexico, a town seen as an important part of Mexico's mining and railroad history and named a Pueblo Mágico in 2011.

Rayón National Park

National park · in Tlalpujahua

Butterfly reserve country begins at Rayón National Park, on the edge of Tlalpujahua, and extends south and west from there across the region.

More drives to Tlalpujahua

From Tepic to other places in Mexico

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from Tepic to Tlalpujahua?

About 5 h 53 min of driving without stops, over 361 miles.

How far is Tlalpujahua from Tepic by car?

About 361 miles (581 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 Tlalpujahua?

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 Tlalpujahua?

The U.S. State Department rates Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.

Which highways go from Tepic to Tlalpujahua?

In order: MEX-15D and MEX-15. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.

What are good stops between Tepic and Tlalpujahua?

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); Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (park, mile 121, 0.9 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.