La Peñita de Jaltemba to General Zaragoza is about 541 road miles (870 km): roughly 10 h 49 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance by road | 541 mi (870 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 10 h 49 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-200D → MEX-70D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-80D → MEX-80 → MEX-70 → MEX-57D → SLP 32 → MEX-57 → SLP 29 → NL 3 |
| Mexican states on the route | Nayarit, Jalisco, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, Nuevo León |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-200D, MEX-70D, MEX-15D, MEX-80D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.6 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 La Peñita de Jaltemba to General Zaragoza
MEX-80D (114 mi) and MEX-57 (88 mi) carry about 37% of the 541 miles. It runs through 5 states: Nayarit, Jalisco, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, Nuevo León. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-200D, MEX-70D and MEX-15D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from La Peñita de Jaltemba to General Zaragoza, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 4–9 | 5 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 9–61 | 52 | Nayarit |
| MEX-15D | 61–127 | 66 | Nayarit, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 127–138 | 11 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 138–158 | 20 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 158–161 | 3 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 161–233 | 72 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80 | 233–266 | 33 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 266–308 | 42 | Jalisco, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-80 | 308–311 | 3 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-70 | 311–328 | 17 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 328–337 | 9 | San Luis Potosí |
| connecting roads | 337–341 | 4 | San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 32 | 341–350 | 9 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 350–362 | 12 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 362–383 | 21 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 383–459 | 76 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 459–464 | 5 | San Luis Potosí |
| connecting roads | 464–465 | 1 | San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 29 | 465–493 | 28 | San Luis Potosí, Nuevo León |
| NL 3 | 493–499 | 6 | Nuevo León |
| local roads | 499–541 | 42 | Nuevo León |
- Mile 78 of this route: Nayarit → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 291 of this route: Jalisco → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 301 of this route: Guanajuato → San Luis Potosí (state line)
- Mile 473 of this route: San Luis Potosí → Nuevo León (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between La Peñita de Jaltemba and General Zaragoza
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (mile 257)
- Museums and history: National Museum of Tequila (mile 107), Guachimontones (mile 112), Panteón de Belén (mile 142), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 146), Teocaltitan Archaeological Site (mile 221), Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (mile 257), San Luis Potosí Cathedral (mile 342), Matehuala Cathedral (mile 464)
- With kids: Acuario Michin Guadalajara (mile 141)
National Museum of Tequila
In the town of Tequila, MUNAT, the National Museum of Tequila, covers the history of the drink behind the region's fame. Jalisco's state government reclaimed the museum in 2026 and announced it will reopen with updated exhibits.
Guachimontones
About 40 circular buildings and two ball courts spread over 20 hectares at Guachimontones, outside Teuchitlán. INAH calls it western Mexico's first large population center, dating back to around 1000 BC.
Acuario Michin Guadalajara
Acuario Michin Guadalajara is an aquarium in the city of Guadalajara, in the Mexican state of Jalisco.
Panteón de Belén
A historic cemetery in Guadalajara, Panteón de Belén is known for its legends and offers night tours.
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.
Teocaltitan Archaeological Site
Near Jalostotitlán in the Los Altos region, the Teocaltitán site holds pyramids, sunken patios and a ball court spread across about nine hectares, built by a people who dominated much of the area from AD 400 to 900.
Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera
The Museo Casa Agustín Rivera Altos de Jalisco is a museum you'll find in the town of Lagos de Moreno, in the state of Jalisco.
San Luis Potosí Cathedral
A parish church from 1609 once stood where San Luis Potosí's cathedral rose between 1701 and 1728. Today the Baroque building serves as the seat of the archdiocese.
Matehuala Cathedral
Matehuala's Immaculate Conception Cathedral is the seat of the Diocese of Matehuala; it is open for worship though still under construction.
More drives to General Zaragoza
- Jerez, Zacatecas to General Zaragoza
- Pabellón de Hidalgo to General Zaragoza
- Celaya to General Zaragoza
- Salvatierra to General Zaragoza
- Tlalpujahua to General Zaragoza
- Angangueo to General Zaragoza
From La Peñita de Jaltemba to other places in Mexico
- La Peñita de Jaltemba to Temacapulín
- La Peñita de Jaltemba to Jalpa de Cánovas
- La Peñita de Jaltemba to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- La Peñita de Jaltemba to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- La Peñita de Jaltemba to Tócuaro
- La Peñita de Jaltemba to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from La Peñita de Jaltemba to General Zaragoza?
About 10 h 49 min of driving without stops, over 541 miles.
How far is General Zaragoza from La Peñita de Jaltemba by car?
About 541 miles (870 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 La Peñita de Jaltemba to General Zaragoza?
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 La Peñita de Jaltemba to General Zaragoza?
The U.S. State Department rates Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Nuevo León Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from La Peñita de Jaltemba to General Zaragoza?
In order: MEX-200D, MEX-70D, MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-80D, MEX-80, MEX-70, MEX-57D, SLP 32, MEX-57, SLP 29 and NL 3. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from La Peñita de Jaltemba to General Zaragoza?
Closest to the road: Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (museum, mile 146, 1 mi from the route); Teocaltitan Archaeological Site (archaeological site, mile 221, 2 mi from the route); Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (museum, mile 257, 0.4 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.