Plan on about 6 h 50 min of driving for the 387-mile (623 km) trip from Pedro Escobedo to Chacala, before any stops.
| Total distance | 387 mi (623 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 6 h 50 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-57D → MEX-45D → MEX-90 → MEX-90D → MEX-110 → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-70D → MEX-200D → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | Querétaro, Guanajuato, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-57D, MEX-45D, MEX-90D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.5 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.
How the Pedro Escobedo to Chacala drive plays out
MEX-15D (140 mi) and MEX-45D (65 mi) carry about 53% of the 387 miles. It runs through 5 states: Querétaro, Guanajuato, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-57D, MEX-45D and MEX-90D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Pedro Escobedo and Chacala
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 1–19 | 18 | Querétaro |
| MEX-45D | 19–84 | 65 | Querétaro, Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 84–85 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-90 | 85–130 | 45 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-90D | 130–144 | 14 | Guanajuato, Michoacán |
| MEX-110 | 144–165 | 21 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 165–240 | 75 | Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 240–250 | 10 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 250–315 | 65 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 315–349 | 34 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 349–367 | 18 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 367–373 | 6 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200 | 373–382 | 9 | Nayarit |
| local roads | 382–387 | 5 | Nayarit |
- Mile 26 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 142 of this route: Guanajuato → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 170 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 298 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Pedro Escobedo and Chacala
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo de la Ciudad de Querétaro (mile 19), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 308)
- Nature and outdoors: Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 373)
- Museums and history: Museo de la Ciudad de Querétaro (mile 19), Irapuato Cathedral (mile 83), Plazuelas (mile 122), Teatro Degollado (mile 234), Museo de las Artes Populares de Jalisco (mile 234), Guachimontones (mile 263), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 308)
Museo de la Ciudad de Querétaro
Inside the 18th-century Baroque former Capuchin convent in Querétaro's historic center, the Museo de la Ciudad hosts contemporary visual art along with music, film and theater.
Claustro de San Felipe Neri - Palacio Conin
The Cloister of San Felipe Neri in central Querétaro was part of the Oratorian convent and stands beside the Templo de San Felipe Neri, now the city's cathedral.
Irapuato Cathedral
Irapuato's cathedral, dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, dates from the 18th century and has a Baroque facade. It served as the seat of the local parish until 2004, when the new Diocese of Irapuato made it a cathedral.
Plazuelas
Near Pénjamo, Plazuelas flourished between AD 450 and 700. Trails lead to Casas Tapadas, a platform crowned by four pyramid bases, a ball court, and rocks carved with spirals and La Maqueta, a low-relief model of Casas Tapadas.
Teatro Degollado
On Guadalajara's central plaza, along Belén Street between Hidalgo and Morelos avenues, the neoclassical Teatro Degollado is known for its varied performances and artistic design.
Museo de las Artes Populares de Jalisco
Opened on May 31, 2000, in Guadalajara's historic center, this museum researches, safeguards and promotes the crafts and folk art of 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.
Ixtlán del Rio
Known locally as Los Toriles, the Ixtlán del Río site is famous for a temple with a fully circular floor plan, rare in Mesoamerica. People lived here from about 300 BC to AD 600, and an introductory gallery explains the finds.
Rincón de Guayabitos
Rincón de Guayabitos is a beach town in Compostela, Nayarit, with about two kilometers of shore known for gentle waves, a popular getaway from Tepic and Guadalajara.
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 Pedro Escobedo to other places in Mexico
- Pedro Escobedo to Ihuatzio
- Pedro Escobedo to Cuanajo
- Pedro Escobedo to Tócuaro
- Pedro Escobedo to Zirahuén
- Pedro Escobedo to Pinos
- Pedro Escobedo to Temacapulín
Continue Your Adventure
- Pedro Escobedo to Chipilo Road Trip: Route, Stops & Safety
- Pedro Escobedo to Cuetzalan Road Trip: Route, Tolls & Stops
- Pedro Escobedo to Tlaltizapán Road Trip: Route, Stops & Safety
- Pedro Escobedo to Mazamitla Road Trip: Route, Stops & Safety
- Pedro Escobedo to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes Road Trip
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Pedro Escobedo to Chacala?
About 6 h 50 min of driving without stops, over 387 miles.
How far is Chacala from Pedro Escobedo by car?
About 387 miles (623 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 Pedro Escobedo 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 Pedro Escobedo to Chacala?
The U.S. State Department rates Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; 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 Pedro Escobedo to Chacala?
In order: MEX-57D, MEX-45D, MEX-90, MEX-90D, MEX-110, MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-70D, MEX-200D and MEX-200. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Pedro Escobedo and Chacala?
Closest to the road: Museo de la Ciudad de Querétaro (museum, mile 19, 1 mi from the route); Claustro de San Felipe Neri - Palacio Conin (convent, mile 19, 1 mi from the route); Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 308, 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.