Plan on about 9 h 16 min of driving for the 554-mile (892 km) trip from Tlaxco to San Francisco, before any stops.
| Total distance | 554 mi (892 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 9 h 16 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-70D → MEX-200D → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-70D, MEX-200D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 22.2 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.
What the drive from Tlaxco to San Francisco is like
MEX-15D (322 mi) and MEX-M40D (111 mi) carry about 78% of the 554 miles. It runs through 6 states: Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-M40D, MEX-15D and MEX-70D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Tlaxco to San Francisco
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–34 | 34 | Tlaxcala, Hidalgo |
| MEX-M40D | 34–145 | 111 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 145–402 | 257 | State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 402–411 | 9 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 411–476 | 65 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 476–510 | 34 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 510–529 | 19 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 529–544 | 15 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200 | 544–554 | 10 | Nayarit |
- Mile 14 of this route: Tlaxcala → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 41 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 53 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 70 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 85 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 114 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 163 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 332 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 459 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
Places worth a stop between Tlaxco and San Francisco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo del Ferrocarril de Apan (mile 25), Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 400), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 440)
- Nature and outdoors: Rayón National Park (mile 167), Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 400), Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 539)
- Museums and history: Museo del Ferrocarril de Apan (mile 25), Tula (mile 101), Guadalajara Cathedral (mile 395), Guachimontones (mile 424), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 440)
- With kids: Acuario Michin Guadalajara (mile 396)
Museo del Ferrocarril de Apan
Set in Apan's old train station on the former Mexico City–Veracruz line, this railroad museum preserves the town's history.
Tula
The Toltecs once ruled from Tula, now an archaeological zone. Its Coatepantli wall is carved with snakes devouring skeletons, and the famous Atlantes stand atop the main pyramid.
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.
Guadalajara Cathedral
In the Centro of Guadalajara, the Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady is the seat of the Archdiocese of Guadalajara and a minor basilica.
Acuario Michin Guadalajara
Acuario Michin Guadalajara is an aquarium in the city of Guadalajara, in the Mexican state of Jalisco.
Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara
Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara is a public park in Zapopan, Jalisco, that hosts many events, including concerts, outdoor movie screenings and food festivals.
Guachimontones
About 40 circular buildings and two ball courts spread over 20 hectares at Guachimontones, outside Teuchitlán. INAH calls it western Mexico's first large population center, dating back to around 1000 BC.
Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería
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.
Rincón de Guayabitos
Rincón de Guayabitos is a beach town in Compostela, Nayarit, with about two kilometers of shore known for gentle waves, a popular getaway from Tepic and Guadalajara.
More drives to San Francisco
- La Manzanilla to San Francisco
- Barra de Navidad to San Francisco
- Tecomán to San Francisco
- San Juan de los Lagos to San Francisco
- Pénjamo to San Francisco
- León to San Francisco
From Tlaxco to other places in Mexico
- Tlaxco to Chipilo
- Tlaxco to Otumba
- Tlaxco to Omitlán
- Tlaxco to Atlatlahucan
- Tlaxco to Jilotepec
- Tlaxco to Zimapán
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tlaxco to San Francisco?
About 9 h 16 min of driving without stops, over 554 miles.
How far is San Francisco from Tlaxco by car?
About 554 miles (892 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 Tlaxco to San Francisco?
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 Tlaxco to San Francisco?
The U.S. State Department rates Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Tlaxco to San Francisco use?
In order: MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-70D, MEX-200D and MEX-200. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Tlaxco to San Francisco?
Closest to the road: Museo del Ferrocarril de Apan (museum, mile 25, 0.1 mi from the route); Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (park, mile 400, 0.9 mi from the route); Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (museum, mile 440, 0.5 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.