Real de Catorce to Chacala is about 478 road miles (770 km): roughly 9 h 21 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance by road | 478 mi (770 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 21 min |
| Main roads, in order | SLP 43 → MEX-63 → MEX-49 → MEX-57D → MEX-70 → MEX-80 → MEX-80D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-70D → MEX-200D → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-57D, MEX-80D, MEX-90D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.1 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.
The Real de Catorce–Chacala drive in a few lines
MEX-80D (128 mi) and MEX-15D (76 mi) carry about 43% of the 478 miles. It runs through 4 states: San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-57D, MEX-80D and MEX-90D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Real de Catorce to Chacala
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–7 | 7 | San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 43 | 7–40 | 33 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-63 | 40–114 | 74 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-49 | 114–125 | 11 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 125–140 | 15 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-70 | 140–157 | 17 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-80 | 157–160 | 3 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-80D | 160–201 | 41 | San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Jalisco |
| MEX-80 | 201–234 | 33 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 234–321 | 87 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 321–332 | 11 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 332–341 | 9 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 341–406 | 65 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 406–441 | 35 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 441–459 | 18 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 459–464 | 5 | Nayarit |
| connecting roads | 464–465 | 1 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200 | 465–473 | 8 | Nayarit |
| local roads | 473–478 | 5 | Nayarit |
- Mile 167 of this route: San Luis Potosí → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 178 of this route: Guanajuato → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 390 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Chacala
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Teatro José Rosas Moreno (mile 211), Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (mile 211), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 400)
- Nature and outdoors: Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 465)
- Museums and history: San Luis Potosí Cathedral (mile 131), Teatro José Rosas Moreno (mile 211), Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (mile 211), Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos (mile 240), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 322), Museum of Paleontology of Guadalajara (mile 325), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 400)
San Luis Potosí Cathedral
San Luis Potosí's cathedral anchors the city's historic center, which UNESCO lists as a component of the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro World Heritage Site.
Teatro José Rosas Moreno
Lagos de Moreno's Teatro José Rosas Moreno opened its doors on May 5, 1907, some forty years after construction began in 1867. It honors a writer from Jalisco.
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.
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.
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
Only a few museums in Mexico are devoted to fossils, and one of them sits in Guadalajara's Parque Agua Azul, where it has welcomed visitors since 2000.
Exconvento del Carmen
Built in the 17th century for the Discalced Carmelites, the Ex Convento del Carmen in Guadalajara is now a cultural venue with a long religious history.
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.
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 Real de Catorce to other places in Mexico
- Real de Catorce to Tócuaro
- Real de Catorce to Pacanda
- Real de Catorce to Omitlán
- Real de Catorce to Huasca de Ocampo
- Real de Catorce to Boca de Pascuales
- Real de Catorce to Nuevo Nayarit
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Real de Catorce to Chacala?
About 9 h 21 min of driving without stops, over 478 miles.
What is the driving distance from Real de Catorce to Chacala?
About 478 miles (770 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 Real de Catorce 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 Real de Catorce to Chacala?
The U.S. State Department rates San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; 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 Real de Catorce to Chacala use?
In order: SLP 43, MEX-63, MEX-49, MEX-57D, MEX-70, MEX-80, MEX-80D, 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 Real de Catorce to Chacala?
Closest to the road: Teatro José Rosas Moreno (opera house, mile 211, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (museum, mile 211, 0.4 mi from the route); Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 400, 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.