By road, Oaxtepec and Chacala are about 518 miles (833 km) apart, or roughly 9 h 10 min of driving.
| Distance | 518 mi (833 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 10 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-160D → MEX-95D → MEX-106 → MEX-200 → EM 44 → MEX-55 → MEX-55D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-70D → MEX-200D |
| Mexican states on the route | Morelos, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-160D, MEX-95D, MEX-55D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.7 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.
Driving Oaxtepec to Chacala: the shape of the trip
MEX-15D (322 mi) and MEX-55D (29 mi) carry about 68% of the 518 miles. It runs through 5 states: Morelos, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-160D, MEX-95D and MEX-55D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Oaxtepec to Chacala
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Morelos |
| MEX-160D | 1–17 | 16 | Morelos |
| MEX-95D | 17–28 | 11 | Morelos |
| connecting roads | 28–29 | 1 | Morelos |
| MEX-106 | 29–47 | 18 | Morelos, State of Mexico |
| MEX-200 | 47–51 | 4 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 51–55 | 4 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 55–58 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| EM 44 | 58–66 | 8 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 66–72 | 6 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 72–83 | 11 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 83–112 | 29 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 112–115 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 115–116 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 116–372 | 256 | State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 372–380 | 8 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 380–446 | 66 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 446–480 | 34 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 480–498 | 18 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 498–503 | 5 | Nayarit |
| connecting roads | 503–504 | 1 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200 | 504–512 | 8 | Nayarit |
| local roads | 512–518 | 6 | Nayarit |
- Mile 37 of this route: Morelos → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 134 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 301 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 429 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Chacala
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (mile 38), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 409)
- Nature and outdoors: Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (mile 38), Cumbres del Ajusco National Park (mile 39), La Marquesa National Park (mile 58), Rayón National Park (mile 136), Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 504)
- Museums and history: Guadalajara Cathedral (mile 365), Museo Regional de Guadalajara (mile 365), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 409)
Lagunas de Zempoala National Park
Seven lagoons, three of them permanent, sit among pine, oak and fir forest above 3,000 meters in this park, decreed in 1936 on the Morelos–State of Mexico line. Hiking, horseback riding, camping and rowboats are popular here.
Cumbres del Ajusco National Park
Pine and oak forests climb toward alpine meadows in Cumbres del Ajusco National Park, on Mexico City's southern edge. It draws hikers, climbers and cyclists, and it gets occasional snow, a rarity for the region.
La Marquesa National Park
Set in high-altitude conifer forest along the Mexico City–Toluca highway, La Marquesa National Park offers roadside eateries, horse and ATV rentals, mountain biking and camping, and marks the site of the 1810 Battle of Monte de las Cruces.
Ciénegas del Lerma
These marshes in the Toluca Valley are three lakes left from a wetland of about 27,000 hectares in the late 19th century. A Ramsar site since 2004, they hold dozens of endemic and threatened species and are a key stop for migratory species.
Rayón National Park
On the outskirts of Tlalpujahua, Parque Nacional Rayón is the gateway to the area's well-known butterfly reserves, which spread out to the south and west of the park.
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 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.
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 Chacala
- Tequila to Chacala
- Amatitán to Chacala
- El Rosario, Sinaloa to Chacala
- Tepatitlán to Chacala
- Mazatlán to Chacala
- Nochistlán to Chacala
From Oaxtepec to other places in Mexico
- Oaxtepec to Tonatico
- Oaxtepec to Omitlán
- Oaxtepec to El Oro
- Oaxtepec to Huasca de Ocampo
- Oaxtepec to Tetela de Ocampo
- Oaxtepec to Metztitlán
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Oaxtepec to Chacala?
About 9 h 10 min of driving without stops, over 518 miles.
How far is Chacala from Oaxtepec by car?
About 518 miles (833 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 Oaxtepec to Chacala?
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 Oaxtepec to Chacala?
The U.S. State Department rates Morelos Level 3: Reconsider Travel; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Oaxtepec to Chacala?
In order: MEX-160D, MEX-95D, MEX-106, MEX-200, EM 44, MEX-55, MEX-55D, 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 Oaxtepec and Chacala?
Closest to the road: Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (national park, mile 38, 0.4 mi from the route); Ciénegas del Lerma (flora and fauna protection area, mile 60, 2 mi from the route); Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (museum, mile 409, 0.6 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.