Plan on about 5 h 34 min of driving for the 322-mile (518 km) trip from Guanajuato to Chacala, before any stops.
| Distance by road | 322 mi (518 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 5 h 34 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-110D → MEX-45 → MEX-45D → MEX-80 → MEX-80D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-70D → MEX-200D → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | Guanajuato, Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-110D, MEX-45D, MEX-80D, MEX-90D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.9 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.
What the drive from Guanajuato to Chacala is like
MEX-80D (85 mi) and MEX-15D (78 mi) carry about 51% of the 322 miles. It runs through 3 states: Guanajuato, Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-110D, MEX-45D and MEX-80D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Guanajuato to Chacala: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-110D | 4–12 | 8 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45 | 12–25 | 13 | Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 25–26 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 26–63 | 37 | Guanajuato, Jalisco |
| MEX-80 | 63–78 | 15 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 78–163 | 85 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 163–176 | 13 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 176–185 | 9 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 185–250 | 65 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 250–284 | 34 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 284–303 | 19 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 303–308 | 5 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200 | 308–316 | 8 | Nayarit |
| local roads | 316–322 | 6 | Nayarit |
- Mile 46 of this route: Guanajuato → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 233 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
Stops between Guanajuato and Chacala
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 174), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 244)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 174), Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 308)
- Museums and history: Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos (mile 83), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 165), Universidad de Guadalajara. Museo de las Artes (mile 170), Guachimontones (mile 198), National Museum of Tequila (mile 204), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 244)
Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos
Gothic-style ribbed vaults rise over the interior of San Juan de los Lagos' cathedral basilica, built from 1732 to 1769, where you'll also find a silver-framed Way of the Cross.
Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque
Tlaquepaque has two main ceramics museums, and this is one of them: the Museo Regional de la Cerámica, on Independencia Street in the center of town. The other is the Pantaleón Panduro Museum.
Universidad de Guadalajara. Museo de las Artes
The University of Guadalajara's Museo de las Artes, known as MUSA, opened on October 10, 1994, and was expanded in 2013.
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
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.
National Museum of Tequila
Jalisco's state government took back the National Museum of Tequila in 2026, announcing a reopening with refreshed displays. The museum, known as MUNAT, tells the story of the spirit in the town that shares its name.
Ixtlán del Rio
Between roughly 300 BC and AD 600, people made their home at Los Toriles in Ixtlán del Río. Today visitors come for its circular temple, a rare design in Mesoamerica.
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 Guanajuato to other places in Mexico
- Guanajuato to Amatitán
- Guanajuato to Tequila
- Guanajuato to Jerez, Zacatecas
- Guanajuato to Sombrerete
- Guanajuato to El Rosario, Sinaloa
- Guanajuato to San Ignacio, Sinaloa
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Guanajuato to Chacala?
About 5 h 34 min of driving without stops, over 322 miles.
What is the driving distance from Guanajuato to Chacala?
About 322 miles (518 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 Guanajuato 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 Guanajuato to Chacala?
The U.S. State Department rates 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 Guanajuato to Chacala use?
In order: MEX-110D, MEX-45, MEX-45D, 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 Guanajuato to Chacala?
Closest to the road: Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (museum, mile 165, 1 mi from the route); Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (park, mile 174, 0.9 mi from the route); Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 244, 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.