Plan on about 4 h 39 min of driving for the 278-mile (448 km) trip from León to La Peñita de Jaltemba, before any stops.
| Distance | 278 mi (448 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 4 h 39 min |
| Main roads, in order | GTO 37 → MEX-45D → MEX-80 → MEX-80D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-70D → MEX-200D |
| Mexican states on the route | Guanajuato, Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-45D, MEX-80D, MEX-90D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.1 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.
On the road from León to La Peñita de Jaltemba
MEX-80D (87 mi) and MEX-15D (77 mi) carry about 59% of the 278 miles. It runs through 3 states: Guanajuato, Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-45D, MEX-80D and MEX-90D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
León to La Peñita de Jaltemba: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Guanajuato |
| GTO 37 | 2–6 | 4 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 6–31 | 25 | Guanajuato, Jalisco |
| MEX-80 | 31–45 | 14 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 45–132 | 87 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 132–144 | 12 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 144–152 | 8 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 152–217 | 65 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 217–252 | 35 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 252–270 | 18 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 270–278 | 8 | Nayarit |
- Mile 14 of this route: Guanajuato → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 201 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
What to see on the way from León to La Peñita de Jaltemba
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 142), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 211)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 142)
- Museums and history: Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos (mile 51), Teocaltitan Archaeological Site (mile 58), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 133), Museum of Paleontology of Guadalajara (mile 136), Museo del Tequila y el Mariachi (mile 137), Guachimontones (mile 166), National Museum of Tequila (mile 173), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 211)
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
Near Jalostotitlán in the Los Altos region, the Teocaltitán site holds pyramids, sunken patios and a ball court spread across about nine hectares, built by a people who dominated much of the area from AD 400 to 900.
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.
Museum of Paleontology of Guadalajara
Inside Guadalajara's Parque Agua Azul, the Museum of Paleontology opened in 2000 as one of only a few Mexican museums devoted to fossils, with exhibits developed with Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH).
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.
Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara
Concerts, outdoor movie nights and food festivals are among the many events held at Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara, a public park in Zapopan, Jalisco.
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.
National Museum of Tequila
The National Museum of Tequila (MUNAT) in the town of Tequila tells the story of the spirit that put this corner of Jalisco on the map. The state government took it back in 2026 and announced a reopening with refreshed exhibits.
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.
Arriving in 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
- Lagos de Moreno to La Peñita de Jaltemba
- Pénjamo to La Peñita de Jaltemba
- Aguascalientes to La Peñita de Jaltemba
From León to other places in Mexico
- León to Pabellón de Arteaga
- León to Real de Asientos
- León to Zacatecas
- León to Amatitán
- León to Tequila
- León to Jerez, Zacatecas
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from León to La Peñita de Jaltemba?
About 4 h 39 min of driving without stops, over 278 miles.
What is the driving distance from León to La Peñita de Jaltemba?
About 278 miles (448 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 León 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 León to La Peñita de Jaltemba?
The U.S. State Department rates Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; 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 León to La Peñita de Jaltemba use?
In order: GTO 37, MEX-45D, 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 León and La Peñita de Jaltemba?
Closest to the road: Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (museum, mile 133, 1 mi from the route); Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (park, mile 142, 0.9 mi from the route); Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 211, 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.