Plan on about 4 h 15 min of driving for the 257-mile (413 km) trip from Lagos de Moreno to La Peñita de Jaltemba, before any stops.
| Distance | 257 mi (413 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 15 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-80 → MEX-80D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-70D → MEX-200D |
| Mexican states on the route | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-80D, MEX-90D, MEX-15D, MEX-70D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.3 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.
What the drive from Lagos de Moreno to La Peñita de Jaltemba is like
MEX-80D (85 mi) and MEX-15D (78 mi) carry about 63% of the 257 miles. It runs through 2 states: Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-80D, MEX-90D and MEX-15D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Lagos de Moreno to La Peñita de Jaltemba
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80 | 1–24 | 23 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 24–109 | 85 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 109–121 | 12 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 121–130 | 9 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 130–196 | 66 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 196–230 | 34 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 230–248 | 18 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 248–257 | 9 | Nayarit |
- Mile 179 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
Where to stop on the way to La Peñita de Jaltemba
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 120), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 190)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 120)
- Museums and history: Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos (mile 29), Teocaltitan Archaeological Site (mile 36), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 111), Guadalajara city museum (mile 115), Guachimontones (mile 144), National Museum of Tequila (mile 150), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 190)
Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos
Pilgrims come from far and wide to San Juan de los Lagos to see the small image of the Virgin kept in this cathedral basilica, built between 1732 and 1769. Inside are Gothic-style ribbed vaults and a silver-framed Way of the Cross.
Teocaltitan Archaeological Site
Pyramids, sunken patios and a ball court spread over roughly nine hectares at Teocaltitán, close to Jalostotitlán in the Los Altos region.
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.
Guadalajara city museum
Guadalajara's city museum (Museo de la Ciudad), in the historic center, opened on February 14, 1992, and covers the city's history and many sides of its culture.
Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara
Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara is a public park in Zapopan, Jalisco, that hosts many events, including concerts, outdoor movie screenings and food festivals.
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.
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.
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.
Once you reach La Peñita de Jaltemba
Rincón de Guayabitos
Visitors from Guadalajara and Tepic often head to this Nayarit beach town in the municipality of Compostela. Its shore runs about two kilometers, and the waves tend to be calm.
More drives to La Peñita de Jaltemba
- Tepatitlán to La Peñita de Jaltemba
- San Juan de los Lagos to La Peñita de Jaltemba
- Zamora to La Peñita de Jaltemba
- Pénjamo to La Peñita de Jaltemba
- León to La Peñita de Jaltemba
- Aguascalientes to La Peñita de Jaltemba
From Lagos de Moreno to other places in Mexico
- Lagos de Moreno to Real de Asientos
- Lagos de Moreno to Amatitán
- Lagos de Moreno to Tequila
- Lagos de Moreno to San Luis Soyatlán
- Lagos de Moreno to Bernal
- Lagos de Moreno to Ezequiel Montes
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Lagos de Moreno to La Peñita de Jaltemba?
About 4 h 15 min of driving without stops, over 257 miles.
What is the driving distance from Lagos de Moreno to La Peñita de Jaltemba?
About 257 miles (413 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 Lagos de Moreno to La Peñita de Jaltemba?
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 Lagos de Moreno to La Peñita de Jaltemba?
The U.S. State Department rates Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Lagos de Moreno to La Peñita de Jaltemba use?
In order: MEX-80, MEX-80D, MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-70D and MEX-200D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Lagos de Moreno and La Peñita de Jaltemba?
Closest to the road: Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (museum, mile 111, 1 mi from the route); Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (park, mile 120, 0.9 mi from the route); Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 190, 0.5 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.