By road, La Peñita de Jaltemba and San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes are about 305 miles (491 km) apart, or roughly 5 h 22 min of driving.
| Distance by road | 305 mi (491 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 5 h 22 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-200D → MEX-70D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-80D → MEX-45D → MEX-45 → AGS 19 |
| 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 12.2 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.
How the La Peñita de Jaltemba to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes drive plays out
MEX-15D (86 mi) and MEX-80D (72 mi) carry about 52% of the 305 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.
Which roads connect La Peñita de Jaltemba and San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
| 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 | 293–296 | 3 | Aguascalientes |
| AGS 19 | 296–304 | 8 | Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 304–305 | 1 | Aguascalientes |
- Mile 78 of this route: Nayarit → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 263 of this route: Jalisco → Aguascalientes (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between La Peñita de Jaltemba and San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ixtlán del Rio (mile 67), Aguascalientes Cathedral (mile 278), Museo Nacional de la Muerte (mile 278)
- Museums and history: Ixtlán del Rio (mile 67), National Museum of Tequila (mile 107), Guachimontones (mile 112), Museo del Tequila y el Mariachi (mile 142), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 146), Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos (mile 228), Aguascalientes Cathedral (mile 278), Museo Nacional de la Muerte (mile 278)
- With kids: Acuario Michin Guadalajara (mile 141)
Ixtlán del Rio
A temple built on a completely round floor plan, unusual anywhere in Mesoamerica, is the highlight at the Ixtlán del Río archaeological site, which locals call Los Toriles. An introductory gallery explains the finds.
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
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.
Acuario Michin Guadalajara
Acuario Michin Guadalajara is an aquarium in the city of Guadalajara, in the Mexican state of Jalisco.
Museo del Tequila y el Mariachi
The Museo del Tequila y el Mariachi is a space devoted to showing and sharing the culture of tequila and mariachi, both part of Mexico's heritage and cultural identity.
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.
Aguascalientes Cathedral
The cathedral of Aguascalientes stands on the Plaza de la Patria in the city's historic center.
Museo Nacional de la Muerte
Run by the Autonomous University of Aguascalientes, the Museo Nacional de la Muerte displays objects about death in Mexican culture, drawn from a collection donated by printmaker Octavio Bajonero Gil.
When you get to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
Santuario del Cristo Roto, San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
A 28-meter broken Christ, the Cristo Roto, stands on an island in the Presidente Calles dam at San José de Gracia, reachable only by boat. Sculptors Erasmo Aguilar and Miguel Romo Santino made it to recall what the town lost when the dam was built.
More drives to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Jerez, Zacatecas to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- El Rosario, Sinaloa to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Tepatitlán to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Amatitán to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Ajijic to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Tequila to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
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 Zirahuén
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from La Peñita de Jaltemba to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
About 5 h 22 min of driving without stops, over 305 miles.
What is the driving distance from La Peñita de Jaltemba to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
About 305 miles (491 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 San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
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 San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
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 San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes use?
In order: MEX-200D, MEX-70D, MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-80D, MEX-45D, MEX-45 and AGS 19. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between La Peñita de Jaltemba and San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
Closest to the road: Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 67, 0.6 mi from the route); Aguascalientes Cathedral (cathedral, mile 278, 0.2 mi from the route); Museo Nacional de la Muerte (art museum, mile 278, 0.2 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.