The Wayro route from Tonatico to Sayulita is 496 miles (799 km), about 8 h 12 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 496 mi (799 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 12 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-55D → MEX-55 → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-70D → MEX-200D → MEX-200 |
| 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 19.9 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 Tonatico to Sayulita is like
MEX-15D (320 mi) and MEX-55D (53 mi) carry about 75% of the 496 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 Sayulita
| 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 | 467–482 | 15 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200 | 482–495 | 13 | Nayarit |
| local roads | 495–496 | 1 | 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 Sayulita
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cosmovitral (mile 43), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 82), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 408)
- Nature and outdoors: Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 478)
- Museums and history: Toluca Cathedral (mile 42), Cosmovitral (mile 43), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 82), Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 123), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 330), Museo Regional de Guadalajara (mile 334), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 408)
Toluca Cathedral
Begun in 1867 and finished only in 1978, Toluca's Cathedral of Saint Joseph has a neoclassical facade and a bronze statue of the saint on its dome. It also preserves the 18th-century baroque front of the former San Elzeario church.
Cosmovitral
Toluca's Cosmovitral wraps a botanical garden of more than 500 plant species in a huge stained-glass work designed by artist Leopoldo Flores. Light filtering through the colored glass sets the mood as you walk the garden paths.
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.
Teatro Morelos de Maravatío
French influence shapes the neoclassical lines of the Teatro Morelos, a late-19th-century theater in Maravatío by architect Rafael Guerrero Torres. It first opened in January 1879.
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.
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.
Museo Regional de Guadalajara
Facing the Rotonda de los Jaliscienses Ilustres in downtown Guadalajara, the Museo Regional de Guadalajara fills a full city block bounded by Hidalgo, Pino Suárez, Liceo and Independencia streets.
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.
Rincón de Guayabitos
Gentle waves are the draw at Rincón de Guayabitos, where roughly two kilometers of shoreline make this Compostela, Nayarit, beach town a favorite escape for people from Tepic and Guadalajara.
More drives to Sayulita
- Tepatitlán to Sayulita
- San Juan de los Lagos to Sayulita
- Jalpa to Sayulita
- León to Sayulita
- Aguascalientes to Sayulita
- Paracho to Sayulita
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 Sayulita?
About 8 h 12 min of driving without stops, over 496 miles.
What is the driving distance from Tonatico to Sayulita?
About 496 miles (799 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 Sayulita?
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 Sayulita?
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 Sayulita?
In order: MEX-55D, MEX-55, MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-70D, MEX-200D and MEX-200. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Tonatico and Sayulita?
Closest to the road: Cosmovitral (museum, mile 43, 0.8 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.