Plan on about 7 h 16 min of driving for the 452-mile (727 km) trip from Toluca to San Blas, before any stops.
| Total distance | 452 mi (727 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 16 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-55 → MEX-55D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → NAY 12 |
| Mexican states on the route | State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-55D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.1 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.
On the road from Toluca to San Blas
MEX-15D (392 mi) and MEX-55D (29 mi) carry about 93% of the 452 miles. It runs through 4 states: State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-55D and MEX-15D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Toluca and San Blas
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 1–10 | 9 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 10–39 | 29 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 39–42 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 42–43 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 43–299 | 256 | State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 299–308 | 9 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 308–444 | 136 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| NAY 12 | 444–449 | 5 | Nayarit |
| local roads | 449–452 | 3 | Nayarit |
- Mile 61 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 229 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 357 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Toluca and San Blas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 40), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 367)
- Nature and outdoors: Rayón National Park (mile 64)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 40), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 288), Museum of Paleontology of Guadalajara (mile 291), Guachimontones (mile 322), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 367), Tepic Cathedral (mile 418), Museo Amado Nervo (mile 418)
Cathedral of Atlacomulco
Atlacomulco's cathedral, the Catedral de la Divina Providencia, is the seat of the Diocese of Atlacomulco and is dedicated to Divine Providence, making it the town's principal Catholic church.
Rayón National Park
Just outside Tlalpujahua, Rayón National Park (Parque Nacional Rayón) marks the start of the area's famous butterfly reserve country, which stretches south and west from here.
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.
Museum of Paleontology of Guadalajara
Fossils are the focus at Guadalajara's Museum of Paleontology, which opened in 2000 inside Parque Agua Azul with exhibits developed alongside INAH, Mexico's national anthropology and history institute.
Convento de Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro
Better known as El Perpetuo Socorro, this Guadalajara church is home to a Passionist convent that has housed the order's postulants since 2020.
Guachimontones
Near the town of Teuchitlán, Guachimontones is known for its circular structures. INAH describes it as the first large population center in western Mexico, emerging around 1000 BC, with two ball courts and about 40 circular buildings across 20 hectares.
Ixtlán del Rio
Between roughly 300 BC and AD 600, people made their home at Los Toriles in Ixtlán del Río. Today visitors come for its circular temple, a rare design in Mesoamerica.
Tepic Cathedral
Serving the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tepic, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, also called Tepic Cathedral, stands on the main square in the heart of the city.
Museo Amado Nervo
Poet Amado Nervo was born on August 27, 1870, in this mid-19th-century house in downtown Tepic, which opened as a museum dedicated to him on April 27, 1970.
More drives to San Blas
- Guadalajara to San Blas
- Tepatitlán to San Blas
- San Juan de los Lagos to San Blas
- Zamora to San Blas
- Colima to San Blas
- Lagos de Moreno to San Blas
From Toluca to other places in Mexico
- Toluca to Salvatierra
- Toluca to Celaya
- Toluca to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Toluca to Tócuaro
- Toluca to Pénjamo
- Toluca to Cotija
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Toluca to San Blas?
About 7 h 16 min of driving without stops, over 452 miles.
What is the driving distance from Toluca to San Blas?
About 452 miles (727 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 Toluca to San Blas?
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 Toluca to San Blas?
The U.S. State Department rates 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.
Which highways go from Toluca to San Blas?
In order: MEX-55, MEX-55D, MEX-15D, MEX-15 and NAY 12. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Toluca and San Blas?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Atlacomulco (cathedral, mile 40, 0.2 mi from the route); Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (museum, mile 288, 1 mi from the route); Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 367, 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.