Chacala to Barra de Potosí is about 479 road miles (771 km): roughly 8 h 47 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance | 479 mi (771 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 47 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-200 → MEX-70D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-37 → MEX-14D → MEX-37D |
| Mexican states on the route | Nayarit, Jalisco, Michoacán, Guerrero |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-200D, MEX-70D, MEX-15D, MEX-14D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
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 Chacala to Barra de Potosí: the shape of the trip
MEX-15D (153 mi) and MEX-37D (116 mi) carry about 56% of the 479 miles. It runs through 4 states: Nayarit, Jalisco, Michoacán, Guerrero. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-200D, MEX-70D and MEX-15D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Chacala to Barra de Potosí, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–6 | 6 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200 | 6–9 | 3 | Nayarit |
| connecting roads | 9–10 | 1 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 10–62 | 52 | Nayarit |
| MEX-15D | 62–128 | 66 | Nayarit, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 128–140 | 12 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 140–227 | 87 | Jalisco, Michoacán |
| local roads | 227–242 | 15 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 242–251 | 9 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 251–280 | 29 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37 | 280–300 | 20 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 300–303 | 3 | Michoacán |
| MEX-14D | 303–307 | 4 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 307–423 | 116 | Michoacán, Guerrero |
| connecting roads | 423–424 | 1 | Guerrero |
| MEX-200 | 424–473 | 49 | Guerrero |
| local roads | 473–479 | 6 | Guerrero |
- Mile 80 of this route: Nayarit → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 208 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 405 of this route: Michoacán → Guerrero (state line)
Stops between Chacala and Barra de Potosí
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 99), Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 139), Diocesan Sanctuary of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 242), Lago de Camécuaro National Park (mile 250), Barranca del Cupatitzio National Park (mile 298)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 139), Lago de Camécuaro National Park (mile 250), Barranca del Cupatitzio National Park (mile 298)
- Museums and history: Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 99), Guachimontones (mile 114), Museo de las Artes Populares de Jalisco (mile 144), Diocesan Sanctuary of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 242)
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.
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.
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.
Convento de Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro
Better known as El Perpetuo Socorro, this Guadalajara church is home to a Passionist convent that has housed the order's postulants since 2020.
Museo de las Artes Populares de Jalisco
Opened on May 31, 2000, in Guadalajara's historic center, this museum researches, safeguards and promotes the crafts and folk art of Jalisco.
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.
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.
Barranca del Cupatitzio National Park
In Michoacán, Barranca del Cupatitzio National Park follows the headwaters of the Cupatitzio River, which bubbles up from an underground spring and carves a small ravine as it starts to flow.
More drives to Barra de Potosí
- Malinalco to Barra de Potosí
- Tonatico to Barra de Potosí
- Sayula to Barra de Potosí
- Mexico City to Barra de Potosí
- Tapalpa to Barra de Potosí
- Amatitán to Barra de Potosí
From Chacala to other places in Mexico
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Chacala to Barra de Potosí?
About 8 h 47 min of driving without stops, over 479 miles.
What is the driving distance from Chacala to Barra de Potosí?
About 479 miles (771 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 Chacala to Barra de Potosí?
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 Chacala to Barra de Potosí?
The U.S. State Department rates Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; Guerrero Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Chacala to Barra de Potosí use?
In order: MEX-200, MEX-70D, MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-37, MEX-14D and MEX-37D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Chacala to Barra de Potosí?
Closest to the road: Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (museum, mile 99, 0.5 mi from the route); Diocesan Sanctuary of Our Lady of Guadalupe (cathedral, mile 242, 0.3 mi from the route); Lago de Camécuaro National Park (national park, mile 250, 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.