Plan on about 8 h 41 min of driving for the 516-mile (831 km) trip from Huasca de Ocampo to Chacala, before any stops.
| Distance by road | 516 mi (831 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 41 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-105 → MEX-85 → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-70D → MEX-200D → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-70D, MEX-200D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.7 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.
On the road from Huasca de Ocampo to Chacala
MEX-15D (321 mi) and MEX-M40D (79 mi) carry about 78% of the 516 miles. It runs through 5 states: Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-M40D, MEX-15D and MEX-70D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Huasca de Ocampo to Chacala
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–6 | 6 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 6–15 | 9 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 15–22 | 7 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 22–33 | 11 | Hidalgo |
| connecting roads | 33–34 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-M40D | 34–113 | 79 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 113–114 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 114–370 | 256 | State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 370–379 | 9 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 379–444 | 65 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 444–478 | 34 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 478–497 | 19 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 497–502 | 5 | Nayarit |
| connecting roads | 502–503 | 1 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200 | 503–511 | 8 | Nayarit |
| local roads | 511–516 | 5 | Nayarit |
- Mile 39 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 53 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 83 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 132 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 300 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 428 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Chacala
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ex monastery of Saint Francis of Assisi, Pachuca de Soto, Hidalgo (mile 16), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 408)
- Nature and outdoors: El Chico National Park (mile 11), Parque Ecológico Cubitos (mile 17), Rayón National Park (mile 135), Agua Azul (mile 363), Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 503)
- Museums and history: Universidad de Guadalajara. Museo de las Artes (mile 364), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 408)
El Chico National Park
In Hidalgo, El Chico National Park is known for towering cliffs such as Las Ventanas and Peña del Cuervo, popular with climbers, and forest wildlife including gray foxes, ringtails, armadillos, hawks, falcons and woodpeckers.
Ex monastery of Saint Francis of Assisi, Pachuca de Soto, Hidalgo
The Templo y exconvento de San Francisco in Pachuca de Soto is mainly Baroque, with touches of Churrigueresque and Neoclassical style. Construction began in 1596 under Fray Francisco de Torantos, who chose the style of its facade and windows.
Parque Ecológico Cubitos
Between Pachuca de Soto and Mineral de la Reforma, Parque Ecológico Cubitos is a 90-hectare protected natural area whose public section has a botanical garden, an arboretum, a herpetarium, a farm, a maze, a zip line and a bike path.
Atlantean figures
Crowning the main pyramid at the Tula archaeological zone, these basalt sculptures of Toltec warriors stand more than four meters tall in what was once the Toltec capital; the nearby Wall of Snakes shows carved serpents devouring skeletons.
Rayón National Park
Just outside Tlalpujahua, Rayón National Park (Parque Nacional Rayón) marks the start of the area's famous butterfly reserve country, which stretches south and west from here.
Agua Azul
Parque Agua Azul is an urban park on Calzada Independencia in Guadalajara's historic center, a green stop close to downtown.
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.
Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería
In the municipality of Magdalena, Mexico, an interpretive museum focuses on two subjects: the agave landscape and mining.
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 Huasca de Ocampo to other places in Mexico
- Huasca de Ocampo to Pacanda
- Huasca de Ocampo to Temacapulín
- Huasca de Ocampo to Boca de Pascuales
- Huasca de Ocampo to Barra de Potosí
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Huasca de Ocampo to Chacala?
About 8 h 41 min of driving without stops, over 516 miles.
How far is Chacala from Huasca de Ocampo by car?
About 516 miles (831 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 Huasca de Ocampo 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 Huasca de Ocampo to Chacala?
The U.S. State Department rates Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; 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.
What roads does the drive from Huasca de Ocampo to Chacala use?
In order: MEX-105, MEX-85, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-70D, MEX-200D and MEX-200. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Huasca de Ocampo and Chacala?
Closest to the road: Ex monastery of Saint Francis of Assisi, Pachuca de Soto, Hidalgo (convent, mile 16, 0.4 mi from the route); Atlantean figures (sculptures, mile 69, 1 mi from the route); Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (museum, mile 408, 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.