Guadalupe, Zacatecas, Mexico to Chacala is about 357 road miles (574 km): roughly 6 h 23 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance by road | 357 mi (574 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 6 h 23 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-45D → MEX-45 → MEX-80D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-70D → MEX-200D → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-45D, MEX-80D, MEX-90D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.3 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 Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Chacala drive plays out
MEX-80D (87 mi) and MEX-15D (78 mi) carry about 46% of the 357 miles. It runs through 4 states: Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-45D, MEX-80D and MEX-90D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Chacala: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 4–25 | 21 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 25–53 | 28 | Zacatecas, Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 53–57 | 4 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 57–87 | 30 | Aguascalientes, Jalisco |
| MEX-45D | 87–100 | 13 | Jalisco |
| local roads | 100–112 | 12 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 112–199 | 87 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 199–211 | 12 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 211–219 | 8 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 219–285 | 66 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 285–319 | 34 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 319–337 | 18 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 337–342 | 5 | Nayarit |
| connecting roads | 342–343 | 1 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200 | 343–351 | 8 | Nayarit |
| local roads | 351–357 | 6 | Nayarit |
- Mile 30 of this route: Zacatecas → Aguascalientes (state line)
- Mile 83 of this route: Aguascalientes → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 268 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
Places worth a stop between Guadalupe, Zacatecas and Chacala
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Aguascalientes Museum (mile 68), Aguascalientes Cathedral (mile 68), Statue of Minerva, Guadalajara (mile 206), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 278)
- Nature and outdoors: Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 342)
- Museums and history: Aguascalientes Museum (mile 68), Aguascalientes Cathedral (mile 68), Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos (mile 119), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 201), Museo del Periodismo y las Artes Gráficas (mile 204), Guachimontones (mile 234), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 278)
Aguascalientes Museum
Located in the state capital, the Aguascalientes Museum is the city's art museum, set in the city of Aguascalientes, Mexico.
Aguascalientes Cathedral
The cathedral of Aguascalientes stands on the Plaza de la Patria in the city's historic center.
Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos
Pilgrims come from far and wide to San Juan de los Lagos to see the small image of the Virgin kept in this cathedral basilica, built between 1732 and 1769. Inside are Gothic-style ribbed vaults and a silver-framed Way of the Cross.
Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque
On Independencia Street in central Tlaquepaque, Jalisco, the Museo Regional de la Cerámica is one of the city's two main ceramics museums, alongside the Pantaleón Panduro Museum.
Museo del Periodismo y las Artes Gráficas
The Museo del Periodismo y las Artes Gráficas stands on Paseo Alcalde, formerly Avenida Alcalde, in the city of Guadalajara, Jalisco.
Statue of Minerva, Guadalajara
At a roundabout fountain in Guadalajara, a bronze statue of Minerva, Roman goddess of wisdom, stands on a large pedestal inscribed with the names of 18 notable citizens.
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.
Ixtlán del Rio
Known locally as Los Toriles, the Ixtlán del Río site is famous for a temple with a fully circular floor plan, rare in Mesoamerica. People lived here from about 300 BC to AD 600, and an introductory gallery explains the finds.
Rincón de Guayabitos
Visitors from Guadalajara and Tepic often head to this Nayarit beach town in the municipality of Compostela. Its shore runs about two kilometers, and the waves tend to be calm.
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 Guadalupe, Zacatecas to other places in Mexico
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to San Juan de los Lagos
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Temacapulín
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Tepatitlán
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Amatitán
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Ajijic
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Tequila
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Guadalupe, Zacatecas, Mexico to Chacala?
About 6 h 23 min of driving without stops, over 357 miles.
What is the driving distance from Guadalupe, Zacatecas, Mexico to Chacala?
About 357 miles (574 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 Guadalupe, Zacatecas 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 Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Chacala?
The U.S. State Department rates Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel; Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; 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 Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Chacala use?
In order: MEX-45D, MEX-45, 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 Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Chacala?
Closest to the road: Aguascalientes Museum (art museum, mile 68, 0.4 mi from the route); Aguascalientes Cathedral (cathedral, mile 68, 0.2 mi from the route); Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 278, 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.