The Wayro route from Tzintzuntzan to San Ignacio, Sinaloa is 513 miles (826 km), about 9 h 34 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 513 mi (826 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 34 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-120 → MEX-15 → MICH 39 → MEX-15D → SIN 407 |
| Mexican states on the route | Michoacán (Level 4), Jalisco (Level 3), Nayarit (Level 2), Sinaloa (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.5 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 Tzintzuntzan to San Ignacio, Sinaloa is like
MEX-15D (404 mi) and MEX-15 (71 mi) carry about 93% of the 513 miles. MEX-15D is a toll highway (cuota); MEX-120, MEX-15 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit, Sinaloa. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Tzintzuntzan to San Ignacio, Sinaloa, 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 | 177–454 | 277 | Jalisco, Nayarit, Sinaloa |
| MEX-15 | 454–493 | 39 | Sinaloa |
| SIN 407 | 493–513 | 20 | Sinaloa |
- Mile 98 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 226 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
- Mile 368 of this route: Nayarit → Sinaloa (state line)
Stops between Tzintzuntzan and San Ignacio, Sinaloa
- 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), Agua Grande Lagoon (mile 393)
- Museums and history: Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 157), Teatro Degollado (mile 161), Universidad de Guadalajara. Museo de las Artes (mile 162), Guachimontones (mile 191), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 235), Tepic Cathedral (mile 287), Casa Museo Juan Escutia (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.
Teatro Degollado
On Guadalajara's central plaza, along Belén Street between Hidalgo and Morelos avenues, the neoclassical Teatro Degollado is known for its varied performances and artistic design.
Universidad de Guadalajara. Museo de las Artes
The University of Guadalajara's Museo de las Artes, known as MUSA, opened on October 10, 1994, and was expanded in 2013.
Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara
Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara is a public park in Zapopan, Jalisco, that hosts many events, including concerts, outdoor movie screenings and food festivals.
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
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.
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.
Casa Museo Juan Escutia
In central Tepic, Casa Museo Juan Escutia honors Juan Escutia, one of the fighters who died defending Chapultepec Castle during the U.S. invasion of Mexico.
Agua Grande Lagoon
Agua Grande is a large coastal lagoon in the Mexican state of Sinaloa that drains into the Pacific Ocean through the Teacapán Estuary.
More drives to San Ignacio, Sinaloa
- Calvillo to San Ignacio, Sinaloa
- Aguascalientes to San Ignacio, Sinaloa
- San Juan de los Lagos to San Ignacio, Sinaloa
- Tepatitlán to San Ignacio, Sinaloa
- Amatitán to San Ignacio, Sinaloa
- Mazamitla to San Ignacio, Sinaloa
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 Mineral de Pozos
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tzintzuntzan to San Ignacio, Sinaloa?
About 9 h 34 min of driving without stops, over 513 miles.
How far is San Ignacio, Sinaloa from Tzintzuntzan by car?
About 513 miles (826 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 Ignacio, Sinaloa?
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 Ignacio, Sinaloa?
The U.S. State Department rates Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Sinaloa Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Tzintzuntzan to San Ignacio, Sinaloa use?
In order: MEX-120, MEX-15, MICH 39, MEX-15D and SIN 407. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Tzintzuntzan and San Ignacio, Sinaloa?
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 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.