Calpulalpan to Chacala is about 518 road miles (834 km): roughly 8 h 24 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Total distance | 518 mi (834 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 24 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-70D → MEX-200D → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-70D, MEX-200D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.7 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 Calpulalpan to Chacala is like
MEX-15D (321 mi) and MEX-M40D (112 mi) carry about 84% of the 518 miles. It runs through 6 states: Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-M40D, MEX-15D and MEX-70D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Calpulalpan to Chacala
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-M40D | 4–116 | 112 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 116–372 | 256 | State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 372–382 | 10 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 382–447 | 65 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 447–481 | 34 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 481–499 | 18 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 499–504 | 5 | Nayarit |
| connecting roads | 504–505 | 1 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200 | 505–513 | 8 | Nayarit |
| local roads | 513–518 | 5 | Nayarit |
- Mile 4 of this route: Tlaxcala → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 11 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 24 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 40 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 55 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 85 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 134 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 302 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 430 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
Stops between Calpulalpan and Chacala
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 371), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 410)
- Nature and outdoors: Tula National Park (mile 71), Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 371), Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 505)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 117), Museum of Paleontology of Guadalajara (mile 365), Guachimontones (mile 395), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 410)
Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque
Built by Franciscan friar Francisco de Tembleque between 1554 and 1572, this 16th-century water system runs more than 48 km between Zempoala and Otumba. Its tallest arcade at Tepeyahualco reaches almost 40 meters, and UNESCO listed it in 2015.
Tula National Park
This park protects the ruins of Tula, ancient capital of the Toltecs. Walk up to the main pyramid to stand beside the Atlantes, basalt warrior figures more than four meters tall, and look for the Coatepantli wall's reliefs of snakes devouring skeletons.
Cathedral of Atlacomulco
The seat of the Diocese of Atlacomulco is the Catedral de la Divina Providencia, which serves as the main Catholic church in town and takes its dedication from Divine Providence.
Museum of Paleontology of Guadalajara
Only a few museums in Mexico are devoted to fossils, and one of them sits in Guadalajara's Parque Agua Azul, where it has welcomed visitors since 2000.
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
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.
Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería
The Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería, an interpretive museum of agave landscape and mining, is located in the municipality of Magdalena, Mexico.
Rincón de Guayabitos
Gentle waves are the draw at Rincón de Guayabitos, where roughly two kilometers of shoreline make this Compostela, Nayarit, beach town a favorite escape for people from Tepic and Guadalajara.
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 Calpulalpan to other places in Mexico
- Calpulalpan to Omitlán
- Calpulalpan to Huasca de Ocampo
- Calpulalpan to Actopan
- Calpulalpan to Atlatlahucan
- Calpulalpan to Metepec
- Calpulalpan to Jilotepec
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Calpulalpan to Chacala?
About 8 h 24 min of driving without stops, over 518 miles.
What is the driving distance from Calpulalpan to Chacala?
About 518 miles (834 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 Calpulalpan 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 Calpulalpan to Chacala?
The U.S. State Department rates Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; 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 Calpulalpan to Chacala?
In order: MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-15, 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 Calpulalpan to Chacala?
Closest to the road: Tula National Park (national park, mile 71, 1 mi from the route); Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (park, mile 371, 0.9 mi from the route); Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (museum, mile 410, 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.