Plan on about 7 h 21 min of driving for the 404-mile (650 km) trip from Bernal to Chacala, before any stops.
| Distance | 404 mi (650 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 21 min |
| Main roads, in order | QRO 100 → QRO 4 → MEX-57D → MEX-45D → MEX-90 → MEX-90D → MEX-110 → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-70D → MEX-200D → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | Querétaro, Guanajuato, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-57D, MEX-45D, MEX-90D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.2 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 Bernal to Chacala is like
MEX-15D (140 mi) and MEX-45D (65 mi) carry about 51% of the 404 miles. It runs through 5 states: Querétaro, Guanajuato, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-57D, MEX-45D and MEX-90D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Bernal to Chacala, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| QRO 100 | 0–4 | 4 | Querétaro |
| QRO 4 | 4–24 | 20 | Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 24–36 | 12 | Querétaro |
| MEX-45D | 36–101 | 65 | Querétaro, Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 101–102 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-90 | 102–147 | 45 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-90D | 147–160 | 13 | Guanajuato, Michoacán |
| MEX-110 | 160–182 | 22 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 182–183 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 183–258 | 75 | Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 258–267 | 9 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 267–332 | 65 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 332–366 | 34 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 366–385 | 19 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 385–390 | 5 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200 | 390–398 | 8 | Nayarit |
| local roads | 398–404 | 6 | Nayarit |
- Mile 43 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 159 of this route: Guanajuato → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 188 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 315 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Chacala
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ixtlán del Rio (mile 326)
- Nature and outdoors: Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 390)
- Museums and history: Museo Regional de Querétaro (mile 35), Celaya Cathedral (mile 63), Irapuato Cathedral (mile 99), Plazuelas (mile 139), Museo del Tequila y el Mariachi (mile 251), Guachimontones (mile 280), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 326)
Museo Regional de Querétaro
The state's regional museum occupies the former Great Convent of San Francisco in central Santiago de Querétaro, a building dating from the 1540s and 1550s.
Templo de Santa Clara de Asís
Founded in the 17th century, the church and convent of Santa Clara de Asís stands in Querétaro's historic center and was a major convent for women in New Spain.
Celaya Cathedral
The space now taken by the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, the main Catholic church in Celaya, was once a chapel annexed to the Temple of St. Francis next door.
Irapuato Cathedral
Irapuato's cathedral, dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, dates from the 18th century and has a Baroque facade. It served as the seat of the local parish until 2004, when the new Diocese of Irapuato made it a cathedral.
Plazuelas
Near Pénjamo, Plazuelas flourished between AD 450 and 700. Trails lead to Casas Tapadas, a platform crowned by four pyramid bases, a ball court, and rocks carved with spirals and La Maqueta, a low-relief model of Casas Tapadas.
Museo del Tequila y el Mariachi
The Museo del Tequila y el Mariachi is a space devoted to showing and sharing the culture of tequila and mariachi, both part of Mexico's heritage and cultural identity.
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.
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
Visitors from Guadalajara and Tepic often head to this Nayarit beach town in the municipality of Compostela. Its shore runs about two kilometers, and the waves tend to be calm.
More drives to Chacala
- Tequila to Chacala
- Amatitán to Chacala
- El Rosario, Sinaloa to Chacala
- Tepatitlán to Chacala
- Mazatlán to Chacala
- Nochistlán to Chacala
From Bernal to other places in Mexico
- Bernal to Ihuatzio
- Bernal to Tócuaro
- Bernal to Pacanda
- Bernal to Zirahuén
- Bernal to Temacapulín
- Bernal to San Luis Soyatlán
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Bernal to Chacala?
About 7 h 21 min of driving without stops, over 404 miles.
What is the driving distance from Bernal to Chacala?
About 404 miles (650 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 Bernal to Chacala?
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 Bernal to Chacala?
The U.S. State Department rates Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; 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 Bernal to Chacala use?
In order: QRO 100, QRO 4, MEX-57D, MEX-45D, MEX-90, MEX-90D, MEX-110, 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 Bernal and Chacala?
Closest to the road: Museo Regional de Querétaro (museum, mile 35, 1 mi from the route); Templo de Santa Clara de Asís (convent, mile 35, 1 mi from the route); Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 326, 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.