Plan on about 5 h 14 min of driving for the 301-mile (484 km) trip from La Peñita de Jaltemba to Pabellón de Hidalgo, before any stops.
| Total distance | 301 mi (484 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 5 h 14 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-200D → MEX-70D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-80D → MEX-45D → MEX-45 → AGS 20 |
| Mexican states on the route | Nayarit, Jalisco, Aguascalientes |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-200D, MEX-70D, MEX-15D, MEX-80D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.0 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.
How the La Peñita de Jaltemba to Pabellón de Hidalgo drive plays out
MEX-15D (86 mi) and MEX-80D (72 mi) carry about 52% of the 301 miles. It runs through 3 states: Nayarit, Jalisco, Aguascalientes. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-200D, MEX-70D and MEX-15D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: La Peñita de Jaltemba to Pabellón de Hidalgo
| 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 |
| connecting roads | 233–234 | 1 | Jalisco |
| local roads | 234–246 | 12 | Jalisco |
| MEX-45D | 246–260 | 14 | Jalisco |
| MEX-45 | 260–289 | 29 | Jalisco, Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 289–293 | 4 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 293–298 | 5 | Aguascalientes |
| AGS 20 | 298–301 | 3 | Aguascalientes |
- Mile 78 of this route: Nayarit → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 263 of this route: Jalisco → Aguascalientes (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ixtlán del Rio (mile 67), Museo Regional de Aguascalientes (mile 278), Museo Espacio, Aguascalientes (mile 279)
- Museums and history: Ixtlán del Rio (mile 67), National Museum of Tequila (mile 107), Guachimontones (mile 112), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 146), Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos (mile 228), Museo Regional de Aguascalientes (mile 278), Museo Espacio, Aguascalientes (mile 279)
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.
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.
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.
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.
Diana Theatre
The Diana Theatre, or Teatro Diana, is an indoor theater in Guadalajara, in the state of Jalisco, with seating for 2,345 people.
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.
Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos
Raised between 1732 and 1769, the cathedral basilica of San Juan de los Lagos draws pilgrims from far away who come to visit the small image of the Virgin kept inside.
Museo Regional de Aguascalientes
An early 20th-century building by self-taught architect Refugio Reyes holds this INAH museum of Aguascalientes history, with fossils, archaeological finds, colonial paintings by Juan Correa and more than 300 devotional ex-voto paintings.
Museo Espacio, Aguascalientes
Inside the Tres Centurias complex at Aguascalientes' old train station, Museo Espacio is a contemporary art museum, so a visit pairs current work with a look at the city's railroad buildings.
In Pabellón de Hidalgo itself
Museo de la Insurgencia
A 17th-century estate has housed the Museo de la Insurgencia since 1964. Beyond the story of Mexico's fight for independence, its halls show hacienda work tools and everyday objects from earlier times.
More drives to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Jerez, Zacatecas to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Nombre de Dios to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- El Salto, Durango to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- El Rosario, Sinaloa to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Tepatitlán to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Guadalajara to Pabellón de Hidalgo
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 Tócuaro
- La Peñita de Jaltemba to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- La Peñita de Jaltemba to Zirahuén
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from La Peñita de Jaltemba to Pabellón de Hidalgo?
About 5 h 14 min of driving without stops, over 301 miles.
What is the driving distance from La Peñita de Jaltemba to Pabellón de Hidalgo?
About 301 miles (484 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 Pabellón de Hidalgo?
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 Pabellón de Hidalgo?
The U.S. State Department rates Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from La Peñita de Jaltemba to Pabellón de Hidalgo use?
In order: MEX-200D, MEX-70D, MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-80D, MEX-45D, MEX-45 and AGS 20. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between La Peñita de Jaltemba and Pabellón de Hidalgo?
Closest to the road: Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 67, 0.6 mi from the route); Museo Regional de Aguascalientes (history museum, mile 278, 0.2 mi from the route); Museo Espacio, Aguascalientes (art museum, mile 279, 0.7 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.