The Wayro route from Irapuato to Chacala is 304 miles (490 km), about 5 h 31 min of driving without stops.
| Distance by road | 304 mi (490 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 5 h 31 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-90 → MEX-90D → MEX-110 → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-70D → MEX-200D → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | Guanajuato, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-90D, MEX-15D, MEX-70D, MEX-200D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.2 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 Irapuato to Chacala
MEX-15D (140 mi) and MEX-90 (45 mi) carry about 61% of the 304 miles. It runs through 4 states: Guanajuato, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-90D, MEX-15D and MEX-70D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Irapuato to Chacala: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-90 | 2–47 | 45 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-90D | 47–61 | 14 | Guanajuato, Michoacán |
| MEX-110 | 61–83 | 22 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 83–158 | 75 | Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 158–167 | 9 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 167–232 | 65 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 232–267 | 35 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 267–285 | 18 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 285–290 | 5 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200 | 290–299 | 9 | Nayarit |
| local roads | 299–304 | 5 | Nayarit |
- Mile 59 of this route: Guanajuato → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 88 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 216 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Chacala
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Statue of Minerva, Guadalajara (mile 153), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 196), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 226)
- Nature and outdoors: Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 290)
- Museums and history: Plazuelas (mile 39), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 147), Guachimontones (mile 181), National Museum of Tequila (mile 186), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 196), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 226)
Plazuelas
Near Pénjamo, Plazuelas flourished between AD 450 and 700. Trails lead to Casas Tapadas, a platform crowned by four pyramid bases, a ball court, and rocks carved with spirals and La Maqueta, a low-relief model of Casas Tapadas.
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.
Exconvento del Carmen
Built in the 17th century for the Discalced Carmelites, the Ex Convento del Carmen in Guadalajara is now a cultural venue with a long religious history.
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
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
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
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
Gentle waves are the draw at Rincón de Guayabitos, where roughly two kilometers of shoreline make this Compostela, Nayarit, beach town a favorite escape for people 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 Irapuato to other places in Mexico
- Irapuato to Paracho
- Irapuato to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Irapuato to Amatitán
- Irapuato to Tequila
- Irapuato to Jerez, Zacatecas
- Irapuato to Sombrerete
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Irapuato to Chacala?
About 5 h 31 min of driving without stops, over 304 miles.
How far is Chacala from Irapuato by car?
About 304 miles (490 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 Irapuato 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 Irapuato to Chacala?
The U.S. State Department rates Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; 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 Irapuato to Chacala use?
In order: MEX-90, MEX-90D, MEX-110, 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 Irapuato and Chacala?
Closest to the road: Statue of Minerva, Guadalajara (statue, mile 153, 0.8 mi from the route); Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (museum, mile 196, 0.6 mi from the route); Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 226, 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.