The Wayro route from Tzintzuntzan to Nombre de Dios is 438 miles (705 km), about 8 h 4 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 438 mi (705 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 4 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-120 → MEX-15 → MEX-37D → MEX-15D → MEX-43D → MEX-45D → MEX-45 |
| Mexican states on the route | Michoacán (Level 4), Guanajuato (Level 3), Jalisco (Level 3), Aguascalientes (Level 2), Zacatecas (Level 4), Durango (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-43D, MEX-45D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
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 Tzintzuntzan to Nombre de Dios is like
MEX-45 (173 mi) and MEX-45D (163 mi) carry about 77% of the 438 miles. MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-43D, MEX-45D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-120, MEX-15, MEX-45 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 6 states: Michoacán, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Aguascalientes, Zacatecas, Durango. Of the 7 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Tzintzuntzan to Nombre de Dios, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-120 | 0–5 | 5 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 5–19 | 14 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 19–40 | 21 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 40–43 | 3 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 43–45 | 2 | Michoacán |
| MEX-43D | 45–96 | 51 | Michoacán, Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 96–204 | 108 | Guanajuato, Jalisco |
| MEX-45 | 204–234 | 30 | Jalisco, Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 234–237 | 3 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 237–265 | 28 | Aguascalientes, Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 265–300 | 35 | Zacatecas |
| connecting roads | 300–301 | 1 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 301–307 | 6 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 307–314 | 7 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 314–322 | 8 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 322–335 | 13 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 335–436 | 101 | Zacatecas, Durango |
| local roads | 436–438 | 2 | Durango |
- Mile 60 of this route: Michoacán → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 160 of this route: Guanajuato → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 208 of this route: Jalisco → Aguascalientes (state line)
- Mile 261 of this route: Aguascalientes → Zacatecas (state line)
- Mile 413 of this route: Zacatecas → Durango (state line)
Stops between Tzintzuntzan and Nombre de Dios
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Espacio, Aguascalientes (mile 223), Sierra de Órganos National Park (mile 405)
- Nature and outdoors: La Pona (mile 223), Sierra de Órganos National Park (mile 405)
- Museums and history: Museo Espacio, Aguascalientes (mile 223), Museo de la Insurgencia (mile 243), Guadalupe regional museum (mile 288)
Historic Centre of Morelia
Morelia's old core, founded in the 16th century as Valladolid, keeps more than 200 historic buildings in the region's pink stone around its cathedral and checkerboard streets. UNESCO added it to the World Heritage List in 1991.
Museo Espacio, Aguascalientes
Inside the Tres Centurias complex at Aguascalientes' old train station, Museo Espacio is a contemporary art museum, so a visit pairs current work with a look at the city's railroad buildings.
La Pona
Inside the city of Aguascalientes, La Pona protects a native mesquite woodland as an ecological conservation zone, with a quiet forest area for walks and a separate section with sports and recreation spaces.
Museo de la Insurgencia
Set in a 17th-century estate, the Museo de la Insurgencia opened in 1964 to tell the story of Mexico's independence movement. One hall shows farm, mining and textile tools from hacienda work; another displays everyday objects from past eras.
Guadalupe regional museum
In Guadalupe, Zacatecas, the Museo de Guadalupe fills a former college that sent missionaries to the north and holds an important collection of 17th- to 19th-century painting, including works by Cristóbal de Villalpando, Miguel Cabrera and Juan Correa.
Historic centre of Zacatecas
Founded in 1546 after a rich silver strike, Zacatecas climbs the steep sides of a narrow valley; its UNESCO-listed center holds an 18th-century Baroque cathedral, colonial convents, the Calderón Theater and the old González Market.
Sierra de Órganos National Park
Volcanic activity and erosion shaped the 20- to 60-meter rock spires of Sierra de Órganos, a national park near Sombrerete created in 2000. Western movies have been filmed here, and visitors hike marked trails, mountain bike and camp.
More drives to Nombre de Dios
- Cosalá to Nombre de Dios
- Aguascalientes to Nombre de Dios
- San Juan de los Lagos to Nombre de Dios
- Tepatitlán to Nombre de Dios
- Amatitán to Nombre de Dios
- Ajijic to Nombre de Dios
From Tzintzuntzan to other places in Mexico
- Tzintzuntzan to Amatitán
- Tzintzuntzan to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Tzintzuntzan to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Tzintzuntzan to Real de Asientos
- Tzintzuntzan to San Ignacio, Sinaloa
- Tzintzuntzan to Mineral de Pozos
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tzintzuntzan to Nombre de Dios?
About 8 h 4 min of driving without stops, over 438 miles.
How far is Nombre de Dios from Tzintzuntzan by car?
About 438 miles (705 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 Tzintzuntzan to Nombre de Dios?
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 Tzintzuntzan to Nombre de Dios?
The U.S. State Department rates Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel; Durango Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Tzintzuntzan to Nombre de Dios use?
In order: MEX-120, MEX-15, MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-43D, MEX-45D and MEX-45. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Tzintzuntzan and Nombre de Dios?
Closest to the road: Museo Espacio, Aguascalientes (art museum, mile 223, 0.8 mi from the route); La Pona (park, mile 223, 2 mi from the route); Sierra de Órganos National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 405, 1 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 mile 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 (roughly 2 to 7 miles depending on the type, farther for World Heritage sites): at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, with no more than five of one type, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place and city 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.