The Wayro route from Tzintzuntzan to San Blas is 321 miles (516 km), about 5 h 33 min of driving without stops.
| Distance by road | 321 mi (516 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 5 h 33 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-120 → MEX-15 → MICH 39 → MEX-15D → NAY 12 |
| Mexican states on the route | Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.8 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.
Driving Tzintzuntzan to San Blas: the shape of the trip
MEX-15D (263 mi) and MEX-15 (32 mi) carry about 92% of the 321 miles. It runs through 3 states: Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-15D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Tzintzuntzan to San Blas, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-120 | 0–5 | 5 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 5–6 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 6–29 | 23 | Michoacán |
| MICH 39 | 29–35 | 6 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 35–40 | 5 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 40–41 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 41–168 | 127 | Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 168–177 | 9 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 177–313 | 136 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| NAY 12 | 313–318 | 5 | Nayarit |
| local roads | 318–321 | 3 | Nayarit |
- Mile 98 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 226 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
What to see on the way from Tzintzuntzan to San Blas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 167), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 235)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 167)
- Museums and history: Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 157), Museo del Periodismo y las Artes Gráficas (mile 161), Guachimontones (mile 191), National Museum of Tequila (mile 197), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 235), Tepic Cathedral (mile 287), Museo Regional de Nayarit (mile 287)
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.
Museo del Periodismo y las Artes Gráficas
The Museo del Periodismo y las Artes Gráficas stands on Paseo Alcalde, formerly Avenida Alcalde, in the city of Guadalajara, Jalisco.
Exconvento del Carmen
Built in the 17th century for the Discalced Carmelites, the Ex Convento del Carmen in Guadalajara is now a cultural venue with a long religious history.
Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara
Zapopan's Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara is a public park in Jalisco with a busy event calendar that includes open-air film screenings, live concerts and food festivals.
Guachimontones
Western Mexico's first large population center, according to INAH, took shape near Teuchitlán around 1000 BC. Guachimontones stands out for its round architecture, with roughly 40 circular structures across the site.
National Museum of Tequila
In the town of Tequila, MUNAT, the National Museum of Tequila, covers the history of the drink behind the region's fame. Jalisco's state government reclaimed the museum in 2026 and announced it will reopen with updated exhibits.
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.
Tepic Cathedral
The Immaculate Conception Cathedral, also known as Tepic Cathedral, stands on the main square in the center of Tepic and is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tepic.
Museo Regional de Nayarit
In the city of Tepic, the Museo Regional de Nayarit focuses on the different cultural traditions of pre-Hispanic Nayarit.
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 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 Nombre de Dios
- Tzintzuntzan to San Ignacio, Sinaloa
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Tzintzuntzan to San Blas?
About 5 h 33 min of driving without stops, over 321 miles.
How far is San Blas from Tzintzuntzan by car?
About 321 miles (516 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 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 Tzintzuntzan to San Blas?
The U.S. State Department rates 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 Tzintzuntzan to San Blas?
In order: MEX-120, MEX-15, MICH 39, MEX-15D and NAY 12. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Tzintzuntzan and San Blas?
Closest to the road: Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (museum, mile 157, 1 mi from the route); Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (park, mile 167, 0.9 mi from the route); Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 235, 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.