By road, La Peñita de Jaltemba and Santa Fe de la Laguna are about 296 miles (476 km) apart, or roughly 5 h 2 min of driving.
| Distance by road | 296 mi (476 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 2 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-200D → MEX-70D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MICH 39 |
| Mexican states on the route | Nayarit, Jalisco, Michoacán |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-200D, MEX-70D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
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 Santa Fe de la Laguna drive plays out
MEX-15D (190 mi) and MEX-70D (52 mi) carry about 82% of the 296 miles. It runs through 3 states: Nayarit, Jalisco, Michoacán. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-200D, MEX-70D and MEX-15D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
La Peñita de Jaltemba to Santa Fe de la Laguna: the road sequence
| 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 | 138–262 | 124 | Jalisco, Michoacán |
| MICH 39 | 262–274 | 12 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 274–296 | 22 | Michoacán |
- Mile 78 of this route: Nayarit → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 206 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
Places worth a stop between La Peñita de Jaltemba and Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ixtlán del Rio (mile 67), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 97), Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 137)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 137)
- Museums and history: Ixtlán del Rio (mile 67), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 97), National Museum of Tequila (mile 107), Guachimontones (mile 112), Guadalajara Cathedral (mile 142), Museo Regional de Guadalajara (mile 142), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 146)
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.
Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería
Agave landscapes and mining are the twin themes of the Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería, an interpretive museum in the municipality of Magdalena.
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
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.
Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara
Zapopan's Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara is a public park in Jalisco with a busy event calendar that includes open-air film screenings, live concerts and food festivals.
Guadalajara Cathedral
In the Centro of Guadalajara, the Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady is the seat of the Archdiocese of Guadalajara and a minor basilica.
Museo Regional de Guadalajara
Facing the Rotonda de los Jaliscienses Ilustres in downtown Guadalajara, the Museo Regional de Guadalajara fills a full city block bounded by Hidalgo, Pino Suárez, Liceo and Independencia streets.
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.
Arriving in Santa Fe de la Laguna
Church and ex monastery of San Francisco, Tzintzuntzan
Tzintzuntzan's Franciscan complex, begun in 1570, centers on an atrium of centuries-old olive trees, the plateresque Church of San Francisco from 1601 and a cloister with painted walls, plus a museum.
Tzintzuntzan
Once the political and economic capital of the Purépecha empire, governed by a hereditary line of uacúsecha, or 'eagle lords,' Tzintzuntzan preserves its yácatas, temple bases that combine rectangular and semicircular platforms around ritual plazas.
More drives to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Pedro Escobedo to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Amatitán to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Cadereyta to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Tequila to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Zimapán to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes to Santa Fe de la Laguna
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 Pabellón de Hidalgo
- 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 Santa Fe de la Laguna?
About 5 h 2 min of driving without stops, over 296 miles.
How far is Santa Fe de la Laguna from La Peñita de Jaltemba by car?
About 296 miles (476 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 Santa Fe de la Laguna?
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 Santa Fe de la Laguna?
The U.S. State Department rates Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from La Peñita de Jaltemba to Santa Fe de la Laguna?
In order: MEX-200D, MEX-70D, MEX-15D, MEX-15 and MICH 39. 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 Santa Fe de la Laguna?
Closest to the road: Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 67, 0.6 mi from the route); Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (museum, mile 97, 0.6 mi from the route); Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (park, mile 137, 0.9 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.