The Wayro route from General Zaragoza to Chacala is 552 miles (889 km), about 11 h 15 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 552 mi (889 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 11 h 15 min |
| Main roads, in order | NL 3 → SLP 29 → MEX-57D → MEX-57 → MEX-70 → MEX-80 → MEX-80D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-70D → MEX-200D → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-57D, MEX-80D, MEX-90D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 22.1 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.
How the General Zaragoza to Chacala drive plays out
MEX-80D (129 mi) and MEX-57 (91 mi) carry about 40% of the 552 miles. It runs through 5 states: Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-57D, MEX-80D and MEX-90D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
General Zaragoza to Chacala: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–42 | 42 | Nuevo León |
| NL 3 | 42–47 | 5 | Nuevo León |
| SLP 29 | 47–76 | 29 | Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 76–82 | 6 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 82–158 | 76 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 158–178 | 20 | San Luis Potosí |
| connecting roads | 178–179 | 1 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 179–194 | 15 | San Luis Potosí |
| local roads | 194–204 | 10 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 204–214 | 10 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-70 | 214–231 | 17 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-80 | 231–234 | 3 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-80D | 234–276 | 42 | San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Jalisco |
| MEX-80 | 276–308 | 32 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 308–395 | 87 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 395–406 | 11 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 406–416 | 10 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 416–480 | 64 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 480–514 | 34 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 514–533 | 19 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 533–538 | 5 | Nayarit |
| connecting roads | 538–539 | 1 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200 | 539–547 | 8 | Nayarit |
| local roads | 547–552 | 5 | Nayarit |
- Mile 68 of this route: Nuevo León → San Luis Potosí (state line)
- Mile 241 of this route: San Luis Potosí → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 252 of this route: Guanajuato → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 464 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
Places worth a stop between General Zaragoza and Chacala
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (mile 285)
- Nature and outdoors: Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 539)
- Museums and history: Matehuala Cathedral (mile 77), Museo Regional Potosino (mile 197), Museo Laberinto de las Ciencias y las Artes (mile 198), Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (mile 285), Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos (mile 314), Basílica de San Felipe Neri (mile 400), National Museum of Tequila (mile 434)
Matehuala Cathedral
Matehuala's Immaculate Conception Cathedral is the seat of the Diocese of Matehuala; it is open for worship though still under construction.
Museo Regional Potosino
Opened on November 20, 1952, the Museo Regional Potosino occupies part of the former Convent of San Francisco, built in 1586, in San Luis Potosí.
Museo Laberinto de las Ciencias y las Artes
Built in Parque Tangamanga I and opened on September 4, 2008, the Museo Laberinto de las Ciencias y las Artes is an interactive museum in San Luis Potosí.
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.
Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos
Raised between 1732 and 1769, the cathedral basilica of San Juan de los Lagos draws pilgrims from far away who come to visit the small image of the Virgin kept inside.
Basílica de San Felipe Neri
Guadalajara's Basilica of San Felipe Neri is a Catholic church built in baroque style between 1752 and 1802 by master builder Pedro José Ciprés.
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.
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 General Zaragoza to other places in Mexico
- General Zaragoza to Temacapulín
- General Zaragoza to Omitlán
- General Zaragoza to Huasca de Ocampo
- General Zaragoza to Ixcateopan
- General Zaragoza to Boca de Pascuales
- General Zaragoza to Lo de Marcos
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from General Zaragoza to Chacala?
About 11 h 15 min of driving without stops, over 552 miles.
What is the driving distance from General Zaragoza to Chacala?
About 552 miles (889 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 General Zaragoza 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 General Zaragoza to Chacala?
The U.S. State Department rates Nuevo León Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; 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.
What roads does the drive from General Zaragoza to Chacala use?
In order: NL 3, SLP 29, MEX-57D, MEX-57, MEX-70, MEX-80, MEX-80D, 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 General Zaragoza to Chacala?
Closest to the road: Museo Regional Potosino (archaeological museum, mile 197, 1 mi from the route); Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (museum, mile 285, 0.4 mi from the route); Convento de Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro (convent, mile 400, 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.