Plan on about 5 h 50 min of driving for the 321-mile (517 km) trip from Ihuatzio to Chacala, before any stops.
| Total distance | 321 mi (517 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 50 min |
| Main roads, in order | 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 12.9 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 Ihuatzio to Chacala
MEX-15D (191 mi) and MEX-15 (33 mi) carry about 70% of the 321 miles. It runs through 3 states: Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-15D, MEX-70D and MEX-200D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Ihuatzio and Chacala
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Michoacán |
| MEX-120 | 3–12 | 9 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 12–13 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 13–36 | 23 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 36–37 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MICH 39 | 37–43 | 6 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 43–47 | 4 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 47–48 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 48–175 | 127 | Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 175–185 | 10 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 185–249 | 64 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 249–283 | 34 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 283–302 | 19 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 302–307 | 5 | Nayarit |
| connecting roads | 307–308 | 1 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200 | 308–316 | 8 | Nayarit |
| local roads | 316–321 | 5 | Nayarit |
- Mile 105 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 233 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Ihuatzio and Chacala
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 174), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 214), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 243)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 174), Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 308)
- Museums and history: Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 165), Museo de las Artes Populares de Jalisco (mile 168), Basílica de San Felipe Neri (mile 169), Guachimontones (mile 198), National Museum of Tequila (mile 204), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 214), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 243)
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.
Museo de las Artes Populares de Jalisco
Opened on May 31, 2000, in Guadalajara's historic center, this museum researches, safeguards and promotes the crafts and folk art of Jalisco.
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.
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
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.
National Museum of Tequila
The National Museum of Tequila (MUNAT) in the town of Tequila tells the story of the spirit that put this corner of Jalisco on the map. The state government took it back in 2026 and announced a reopening with refreshed exhibits.
Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería
The Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería, an interpretive museum of agave landscape and mining, is located in the municipality of Magdalena, Mexico.
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
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 Ihuatzio to other places in Mexico
- Ihuatzio to Mineral de Pozos
- Ihuatzio to Omitlán
- Ihuatzio to Huasca de Ocampo
- Ihuatzio to Metztitlán
- Ihuatzio to Pinal de Amoles
- Ihuatzio to Ixcateopan
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Ihuatzio to Chacala?
About 5 h 50 min of driving without stops, over 321 miles.
What is the driving distance from Ihuatzio to Chacala?
About 321 miles (517 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 Ihuatzio 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 Ihuatzio 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 Ihuatzio to Chacala?
In order: 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.
What are good stops between Ihuatzio and Chacala?
Closest to the road: Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (park, mile 174, 0.9 mi from the route); Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (museum, mile 214, 0.6 mi from the route); Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 243, 0.6 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.