Plan on about 9 h 44 min of driving for the 535-mile (861 km) trip from Ciudad Valles to Chacala, before any stops.
| Distance by road | 535 mi (861 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 44 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-70 → MEX-70D → SLP 75D → MEX-57D → MEX-57 → MEX-80 → MEX-80D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-200D → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-70D, MEX-57D, MEX-80D, MEX-90D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.4 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 Ciudad Valles to Chacala is like
MEX-80D (128 mi) and MEX-15D (76 mi) carry about 38% of the 535 miles. It runs through 4 states: San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-70D, MEX-57D and MEX-80D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Ciudad Valles to Chacala
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-70 | 2–7 | 5 | San Luis Potosí |
| connecting roads | 7–8 | 1 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-70D | 8–52 | 44 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-70 | 52–73 | 21 | San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 75D | 73–138 | 65 | San Luis Potosí |
| connecting roads | 138–140 | 2 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 140–161 | 21 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 161–176 | 15 | San Luis Potosí |
| local roads | 176–186 | 10 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 186–196 | 10 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-70 | 196–213 | 17 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-80 | 213–216 | 3 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-80D | 216–258 | 42 | San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Jalisco |
| MEX-80 | 258–291 | 33 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 291–377 | 86 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 377–388 | 11 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 388–398 | 10 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 398–463 | 65 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 463–497 | 34 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 497–515 | 18 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 515–521 | 6 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200 | 521–529 | 8 | Nayarit |
| local roads | 529–535 | 6 | Nayarit |
- Mile 223 of this route: San Luis Potosí → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 234 of this route: Guanajuato → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 447 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
Places worth a stop between Ciudad Valles and Chacala
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (mile 267), Teatro José Rosas Moreno (mile 268)
- Nature and outdoors: Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 521)
- Museums and history: Museo del Ferrocarril Jesús García Corona (mile 178), Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (mile 267), Teatro José Rosas Moreno (mile 268), Teocaltitan Archaeological Site (mile 303), Museo de Cera (mile 382), National Museum of Tequila (mile 418)
Museo del Ferrocarril Jesús García Corona
Opened on August 12, 2009, in San Luis Potosí's Barrio del Montecillo, this railroad museum focuses on the steam locomotive, its parts and history, and its role in 20th-century Mexico.
Teatro de la Paz
Built between 1889 and 1894 and opened on December 4, 1894, San Luis Potosí's Teatro de la Paz is a historic monument listed by INAH.
Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera
Lagos de Moreno, in the state of Jalisco, is home to the Museo Casa Agustín Rivera Altos de Jalisco, a local museum in town.
Teatro José Rosas Moreno
Construction of the Teatro José Rosas Moreno in Lagos de Moreno began in 1867, and the theater opened on May 5, 1907. It is named for Jalisco writer José Rosas Moreno.
Teocaltitan Archaeological Site
Pyramids, sunken patios and a ball court spread over roughly nine hectares at Teocaltitán, close to Jalostotitlán in the Los Altos region.
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 Cera
On the Plaza de la Liberación in downtown Guadalajara, the Museo de Cera has 12 rooms with more than 130 wax figures of athletes, singers, actors, politicians and religious figures. It opened in 1994.
National Museum of Tequila
In the town of Tequila, MUNAT, the National Museum of Tequila, covers the history of the drink behind the region's fame. Jalisco's state government reclaimed the museum in 2026 and announced it will reopen with updated exhibits.
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 Chacala
- Tequila to Chacala
- Amatitán to Chacala
- El Rosario, Sinaloa to Chacala
- Tepatitlán to Chacala
- Mazatlán to Chacala
- Nochistlán to Chacala
From Ciudad Valles to other places in Mexico
- Ciudad Valles to Tecolutla
- Ciudad Valles to Pedro Escobedo
- Ciudad Valles to Otumba
- Ciudad Valles to Cuetzalan
- Ciudad Valles to Tlaxcala
- Ciudad Valles to Chiautempan
Continue Your Adventure
- Ciudad Valles to San Luis Soyatlán Road Trip: Stops & Tolls
- Ciudad Valles to Jalpa Road Trip: Stops, Tolls & Drive Time
- Ciudad Valles to Atlixco Road Trip: Stops, Tolls & Drive Time
- Ciudad Valles to Tepatitlán Road Trip: Route, Stops & Safety
- Ciudad Valles to Pabellón de Arteaga Road Trip: Route & Stops
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Ciudad Valles to Chacala?
About 9 h 44 min of driving without stops, over 535 miles.
How far is Chacala from Ciudad Valles by car?
About 535 miles (861 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 Ciudad Valles 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 Ciudad Valles to Chacala?
The U.S. State Department rates San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider 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 Ciudad Valles to Chacala?
In order: MEX-70, MEX-70D, SLP 75D, MEX-57D, MEX-57, MEX-80, MEX-80D, MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-200D and MEX-200. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Ciudad Valles and Chacala?
Closest to the road: Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (museum, mile 267, 0.4 mi from the route); Teatro José Rosas Moreno (opera house, mile 268, 0.3 mi from the route); Convento de Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro (convent, mile 382, 1 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.