The Wayro route from La Peñita de Jaltemba to Zirahuén is 306 miles (492 km), about 5 h 40 min of driving without stops.
| Distance by road | 306 mi (492 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 40 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-200D → MEX-70D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-37 |
| 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 12.2 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.
The La Peñita de Jaltemba–Zirahuén drive in a few lines
MEX-15D (165 mi) and MEX-70D (52 mi) carry about 71% of the 306 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.
Road-by-road breakdown: La Peñita de Jaltemba to Zirahuén
| 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 | 138–237 | 99 | Jalisco, Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 237–238 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37 | 238–280 | 42 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 280–306 | 26 | Michoacán |
- Mile 78 of this route: Nayarit → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 206 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between La Peñita de Jaltemba and Zirahuén
- 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), Lago de Camécuaro National Park (mile 249)
- 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), Museo del Periodismo y las Artes Gráficas (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
In the municipality of Magdalena, Mexico, an interpretive museum focuses on two subjects: the agave landscape and mining.
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
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.
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.
Museo del Periodismo y las Artes Gráficas
The Museo del Periodismo y las Artes Gráficas stands on Paseo Alcalde, formerly Avenida Alcalde, in the city of Guadalajara, Jalisco.
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.
Lago de Camécuaro National Park
Fed by countless springs, clear Lake Camécuaro near Tangancícuaro, about 13 km from Zamora, is ringed by old ahuehuete (sabino) trees. The national park is a popular spot for swimming, rowboats and picnics in their shade.
In Zirahuén itself
Lake Zirahuén
Small and deep, Lake Zirahuén is a mountain lake in the Santa Clara del Cobre municipality of Michoacán, with a sandy bottom partly covered in mud and no outlet to the sea.
More drives to Zirahuén
- Amatitán to Zirahuén
- Tequila to Zirahuén
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Zirahuén
- Pabellón de Hidalgo to Zirahuén
- San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes to Zirahuén
- Calvillo to Zirahuén
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
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from La Peñita de Jaltemba to Zirahuén?
About 5 h 40 min of driving without stops, over 306 miles.
What is the driving distance from La Peñita de Jaltemba to Zirahuén?
About 306 miles (492 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 Zirahuén?
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 Zirahuén?
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.
What roads does the drive from La Peñita de Jaltemba to Zirahuén use?
In order: MEX-200D, MEX-70D, MEX-15D, MEX-15 and MEX-37. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between La Peñita de Jaltemba and Zirahuén?
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.