By road, Pinos and Chacala are about 347 miles (558 km) apart, or roughly 6 h 21 min of driving.
| Total distance | 347 mi (558 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 6 h 21 min |
| Main roads, in order | ZAC 144 → MEX-51 → MEX-80D → MEX-80 → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-70D → MEX-200D → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | Zacatecas, Jalisco, Guanajuato, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-80D, MEX-90D, MEX-15D, MEX-70D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.9 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.
The Pinos–Chacala drive in a few lines
MEX-80D (114 mi) and MEX-15D (79 mi) carry about 56% of the 347 miles. It runs through 4 states: Zacatecas, Jalisco, Guanajuato, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-80D, MEX-90D and MEX-15D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Pinos to Chacala
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Zacatecas |
| ZAC 144 | 1–29 | 28 | Zacatecas |
| connecting roads | 29–32 | 3 | Jalisco |
| MEX-51 | 32–41 | 9 | Jalisco, Guanajuato |
| MEX-80D | 41–70 | 29 | Guanajuato, Jalisco |
| MEX-80 | 70–103 | 33 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 103–188 | 85 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 188–201 | 13 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 201–209 | 8 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 209–275 | 66 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 275–309 | 34 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 309–327 | 18 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 327–332 | 5 | Nayarit |
| connecting roads | 332–333 | 1 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200 | 333–341 | 8 | Nayarit |
| local roads | 341–347 | 6 | Nayarit |
- Mile 29 of this route: Zacatecas → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 37 of this route: Jalisco → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 45 of this route: Guanajuato → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 258 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
Places worth a stop between Pinos and Chacala
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (mile 79), Teatro José Rosas Moreno (mile 80), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 268)
- Nature and outdoors: Agua Azul (mile 193), Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 333)
- Museums and history: Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (mile 79), Teatro José Rosas Moreno (mile 80), Teocaltitan Archaeological Site (mile 116), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 190), Museo de las Artes Populares de Jalisco (mile 194), Guachimontones (mile 224), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 268)
Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera
The Museo Casa Agustín Rivera Altos de Jalisco is a museum you'll find in the town of Lagos de Moreno, in the state of Jalisco.
Teatro José Rosas Moreno
Construction of the Teatro José Rosas Moreno in Lagos de Moreno began in 1867, and the theater opened on May 5, 1907. It is named for Jalisco writer José Rosas Moreno.
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
On Independencia Street in central Tlaquepaque, Jalisco, the Museo Regional de la Cerámica is one of the city's two main ceramics museums, alongside the Pantaleón Panduro Museum.
Agua Azul
Parque Agua Azul is an urban park on Calzada Independencia in Guadalajara's historic center, a green stop close to downtown.
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
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.
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
Gentle waves are the draw at Rincón de Guayabitos, where roughly two kilometers of shoreline make this Compostela, Nayarit, beach town a favorite escape for people 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 Pinos to other places in Mexico
- Pinos to Temacapulín
- Pinos to San Luis Soyatlán
- Pinos to Tócuaro
- Pinos to Bernal
- Pinos to Omitlán
- Pinos to Huasca de Ocampo
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Pinos to Chacala?
About 6 h 21 min of driving without stops, over 347 miles.
What is the driving distance from Pinos to Chacala?
About 347 miles (558 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 Pinos 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 Pinos to Chacala?
The U.S. State Department rates Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Guanajuato 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 Pinos to Chacala?
In order: ZAC 144, MEX-51, MEX-80D, MEX-80, MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-70D, MEX-200D and MEX-200. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Pinos to Chacala?
Closest to the road: Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (museum, mile 79, 0.4 mi from the route); Teatro José Rosas Moreno (opera house, mile 80, 0.3 mi from the route); Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 268, 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.