Plan on about 6 h 8 min of driving for the 334-mile (537 km) trip from Cuanajo to Chacala, before any stops.
| Distance | 334 mi (537 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 8 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-14 → MEX-120 → MEX-15 → MICH 39 → 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 13.3 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.
How the Cuanajo to Chacala drive plays out
MEX-15D (193 mi) and MEX-15 (31 mi) carry about 67% of the 334 miles. It runs through 3 states: Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-15D, MEX-70D and MEX-200D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Cuanajo to Chacala
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Michoacán |
| MEX-14 | 4–13 | 9 | Michoacán |
| MEX-120 | 13–24 | 11 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 24–25 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 25–48 | 23 | Michoacán |
| MICH 39 | 48–55 | 7 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 55–60 | 5 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 60–61 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 61–188 | 127 | Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 188–196 | 8 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 196–262 | 66 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 262–296 | 34 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 296–314 | 18 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 314–319 | 5 | Nayarit |
| connecting roads | 319–320 | 1 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200 | 320–328 | 8 | Nayarit |
| local roads | 328–334 | 6 | Nayarit |
- Mile 117 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 245 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
Stops between Cuanajo and Chacala
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Tzintzuntzan (mile 19), Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 186), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 255)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 186), Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 320)
- Museums and history: Tzintzuntzan (mile 19), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 177), Panteón de Belén (mile 181), Museo Regional de Guadalajara (mile 181), Guachimontones (mile 210), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 255)
Tzintzuntzan
Once the political and economic capital of the Purépecha empire, governed by a hereditary line of uacúsecha, or 'eagle lords,' Tzintzuntzan preserves its yácatas, temple bases that combine rectangular and semicircular platforms around ritual plazas.
Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque
Ceramics lovers in central Tlaquepaque, Jalisco, can find the Museo Regional de la Cerámica on Independencia Street. Along with the Pantaleón Panduro Museum, it is one of the city's two principal pottery museums.
Panteón de Belén
A historic cemetery in Guadalajara, Panteón de Belén is known for its legends and offers night tours.
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.
Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara
Concerts, outdoor movie nights and food festivals are among the many events held at Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara, a public park in Zapopan, Jalisco.
Guachimontones
About 40 circular buildings and two ball courts spread over 20 hectares at Guachimontones, outside Teuchitlán. INAH calls it western Mexico's first large population center, dating back to around 1000 BC.
Ixtlán del Rio
A temple built on a completely round floor plan, unusual anywhere in Mesoamerica, is the highlight at the Ixtlán del Río archaeological site, which locals call Los Toriles. An introductory gallery explains the finds.
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 Cuanajo to other places in Mexico
- Cuanajo to Temacapulín
- Cuanajo to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Cuanajo to Real de Asientos
- Cuanajo to San Ignacio, Sinaloa
- Cuanajo to Mineral de Pozos
- Cuanajo to Bernal
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Cuanajo to Chacala?
About 6 h 8 min of driving without stops, over 334 miles.
What is the driving distance from Cuanajo to Chacala?
About 334 miles (537 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 Cuanajo 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 Cuanajo to Chacala?
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.
Which highways go from Cuanajo to Chacala?
In order: MEX-14, MEX-120, MEX-15, MICH 39, 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 Cuanajo to Chacala?
Closest to the road: Tzintzuntzan (archaeological site, mile 19, 0.3 mi from the route); Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (park, mile 186, 0.9 mi from the route); Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 255, 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.