Zirahuén to San Francisco is about 322 road miles (519 km): roughly 6 h 6 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance | 322 mi (519 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 6 h 6 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-37 → MEX-15 → MEX-15D → MEX-70D → MEX-200D → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-15D, MEX-70D, MEX-200D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.9 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.
The Zirahuén–San Francisco drive in a few lines
MEX-15D (155 mi) and MEX-15 (32 mi) carry about 58% of the 322 miles. It runs through 3 states: Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-15D, MEX-70D and MEX-200D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Zirahuén to San Francisco
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–25 | 25 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 25–26 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37 | 26–42 | 16 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 42–65 | 23 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 65–80 | 15 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 80–170 | 90 | Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 170–179 | 9 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 179–244 | 65 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 244–278 | 34 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 278–296 | 18 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 296–311 | 15 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200 | 311–322 | 11 | Nayarit |
- Mile 100 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 227 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
Where to stop on the way to San Francisco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Lago de Camécuaro National Park (mile 57), Diocesan Sanctuary of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 65), Statue of Minerva, Guadalajara (mile 165), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 238)
- Nature and outdoors: Lago de Camécuaro National Park (mile 57), Parque Walt Disney (mile 162), Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 307)
- Museums and history: Diocesan Sanctuary of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 65), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 160), Museo Regional de Guadalajara (mile 163), Guachimontones (mile 193), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 238)
Lago de Camécuaro National Park
Fed by countless springs, clear Lake Camécuaro near Tangancícuaro, about 13 km from Zamora, is ringed by old ahuehuete (sabino) trees. The national park is a popular spot for swimming, rowboats and picnics in their shade.
Diocesan Sanctuary of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Rising over Zamora, Michoacán, the Diocesan Sanctuary of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a Gothic Revival Catholic cathedral whose towers reach 107.5 meters, making it the tallest church building in Mexico.
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.
Parque Walt Disney
Despite sharing a name with Walt Disney, this recreational space in Guadalajara's Colonia Olímpica has no direct theme tied to Disney's amusement parks.
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.
Statue of Minerva, Guadalajara
At a roundabout fountain in Guadalajara, a bronze statue of Minerva, Roman goddess of wisdom, stands on a large pedestal inscribed with the names of 18 notable citizens.
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
Between roughly 300 BC and AD 600, people made their home at Los Toriles in Ixtlán del Río. Today visitors come for its circular temple, a rare design in Mesoamerica.
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.
More drives to San Francisco
- La Manzanilla to San Francisco
- Barra de Navidad to San Francisco
- Tecomán to San Francisco
- San Juan de los Lagos to San Francisco
- Pénjamo to San Francisco
- León to San Francisco
From Zirahuén to other places in Mexico
- Zirahuén to Mineral de Pozos
- Zirahuén to Omitlán
- Zirahuén to Huasca de Ocampo
- Zirahuén to Aquismón
- Zirahuén to Chacala
- Zirahuén to Mismaloya
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Zirahuén to San Francisco?
About 6 h 6 min of driving without stops, over 322 miles.
How far is San Francisco from Zirahuén by car?
About 322 miles (519 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 Zirahuén to San Francisco?
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 Zirahuén to San Francisco?
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.
What roads does the drive from Zirahuén to San Francisco use?
In order: MEX-37, MEX-15, MEX-15D, MEX-70D, MEX-200D and MEX-200. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Zirahuén to San Francisco?
Closest to the road: Lago de Camécuaro National Park (national park, mile 57, 0.5 mi from the route); Diocesan Sanctuary of Our Lady of Guadalupe (cathedral, mile 65, 0.2 mi from the route); Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 238, 0.5 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.