Tonatico to Nuevo Nayarit is about 510 road miles (821 km): roughly 8 h 28 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance by road | 510 mi (821 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 28 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-55D → MEX-55 → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-70D → MEX-200D |
| Mexican states on the route | State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-55D, MEX-15D, MEX-70D, MEX-200D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.4 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 Tonatico to Nuevo Nayarit
MEX-15D (320 mi) and MEX-55D (53 mi) carry about 73% of the 510 miles. It runs through 4 states: State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-55D, MEX-15D and MEX-70D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Tonatico to Nuevo Nayarit
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 4–28 | 24 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 28–30 | 2 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 30–41 | 11 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 41–52 | 11 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 52–81 | 29 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 81–84 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 84–85 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 85–341 | 256 | State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 341–350 | 9 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 350–414 | 64 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 414–449 | 35 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 449–467 | 18 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 467–501 | 34 | Nayarit |
| connecting roads | 501–506 | 5 | Nayarit |
| local roads | 506–510 | 4 | Nayarit |
- Mile 103 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 270 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 398 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
Stops between Tonatico and Nuevo Nayarit
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): José María Morelos y Pavón University History Museum (mile 42), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 82), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 408)
- Nature and outdoors: Nevado de Toluca National Park (mile 24), Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 478)
- Museums and history: José María Morelos y Pavón University History Museum (mile 42), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 82), Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 123), Museo de las Artes Populares de Jalisco (mile 334), Guachimontones (mile 364), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 408)
Nevado de Toluca National Park
The Nevado de Toluca volcano was declared a flora and fauna protection area in 2013, a protected zone spanning ten municipalities of the State of Mexico, including Toluca, Zinacantepec and Temascaltepec.
Teatro Morelos
In Toluca's historic center, just west of the State of Mexico's Palace of Justice, Teatro Morelos stages plays along with other shows and cultural events.
José María Morelos y Pavón University History Museum
The Museo de Historia Universitaria José María Morelos y Pavón is a history museum located in the city of Toluca de Lerdo.
Cathedral of Atlacomulco
The seat of the Diocese of Atlacomulco is the Catedral de la Divina Providencia, which serves as the main Catholic church in town and takes its dedication from Divine Providence.
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.
Museo de las Artes Populares de Jalisco
Opened on May 31, 2000, in Guadalajara's historic center, this museum researches, safeguards and promotes the crafts and folk art of Jalisco.
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.
Ixtlán del Rio
Known locally as Los Toriles, the Ixtlán del Río site is famous for a temple with a fully circular floor plan, rare in Mesoamerica. People lived here from about 300 BC to AD 600, and an introductory gallery explains the finds.
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.
Once you reach Nuevo Nayarit
Costalegre
Costalegre is a string of beaches, capes and bays of many sizes along Jalisco's Pacific coast, between Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo.
More drives to Nuevo Nayarit
- Paracho to Nuevo Nayarit
- Irapuato to Nuevo Nayarit
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Nuevo Nayarit
- Pabellón de Hidalgo to Nuevo Nayarit
- San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes to Nuevo Nayarit
- Salamanca to Nuevo Nayarit
From Tonatico to other places in Mexico
- Tonatico to El Oro
- Tonatico to Bernal
- Tonatico to Mineral de Pozos
- Tonatico to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Tonatico to Cuanajo
- Tonatico to Tócuaro
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tonatico to Nuevo Nayarit?
About 8 h 28 min of driving without stops, over 510 miles.
How far is Nuevo Nayarit from Tonatico by car?
About 510 miles (821 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 Tonatico to Nuevo Nayarit?
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 Tonatico to Nuevo Nayarit?
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 Tonatico to Nuevo Nayarit?
In order: MEX-55D, MEX-55, MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-70D and MEX-200D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Tonatico to Nuevo Nayarit?
Closest to the road: José María Morelos y Pavón University History Museum (history museum, mile 42, 0.9 mi from the route); Cathedral of Atlacomulco (cathedral, mile 82, 0.1 mi from the route); Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 408, 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.