Plan on about 8 h 56 min of driving for the 553-mile (890 km) trip from Tlaxcala to Chacala, before any stops.
| Distance by road | 553 mi (890 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 56 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-117D → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-70D → MEX-200D → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tlaxcala, Puebla, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-117D, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-70D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 22.1 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 Tlaxcala to Chacala
MEX-15D (321 mi) and MEX-M40D (137 mi) carry about 83% of the 553 miles. It runs through 7 states: Tlaxcala, Puebla, Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-117D, MEX-M40D and MEX-15D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Tlaxcala to Chacala, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-117D | 2–13 | 11 | Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| MEX-M40D | 13–150 | 137 | Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 150–406 | 256 | State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 406–416 | 10 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 416–481 | 65 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 481–515 | 34 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 515–533 | 18 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 533–539 | 6 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200 | 539–547 | 8 | Nayarit |
| local roads | 547–553 | 6 | Nayarit |
- Mile 12 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 15 of this route: Puebla → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 38 of this route: Tlaxcala → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 45 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 58 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 75 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 89 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 119 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 168 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 337 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 464 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
What to see on the way from Tlaxcala to Chacala
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Statue of Minerva, Guadalajara (mile 402)
- Nature and outdoors: Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 539)
- Museums and history: Tula (mile 106), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 151), Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 190), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 396), Panteón de Belén (mile 400), National Museum of Tequila (mile 435)
Exconvent of Santa María Magdalena
The former convent of Santa María Magdalena (Exconvento de Santa María Magdalena) is a 17th-century Baroque church built by the Dieguino friars, still in use as a Catholic temple of the Archdiocese of Puebla.
Tula
Basalt warrior figures over four meters (13 feet) tall, the Atlantes, crown the main pyramid at Tula. Visitors can also explore a ball court, the Burnt Palace and the Coatepantli wall.
Cathedral of Atlacomulco
Dedicated to Divine Providence, the cathedral in Atlacomulco is the principal Catholic church in town and the seat of the local diocese.
Teatro Morelos de Maravatío
French influence shapes the neoclassical lines of the Teatro Morelos, a late-19th-century theater in Maravatío by architect Rafael Guerrero Torres. It first opened in January 1879.
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.
Panteón de Belén
A historic cemetery in Guadalajara, Panteón de Belén is known for its legends and offers night tours.
Statue of Minerva, Guadalajara
At a roundabout fountain in Guadalajara, a bronze statue of Minerva, Roman goddess of wisdom, stands on a large pedestal inscribed with the names of 18 notable citizens.
National Museum of Tequila
Jalisco's state government took back the National Museum of Tequila in 2026, announcing a reopening with refreshed displays. The museum, known as MUNAT, tells the story of the spirit in the town that shares its name.
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 Tlaxcala to other places in Mexico
- Tlaxcala to Omitlán
- Tlaxcala to Atlatlahucan
- Tlaxcala to Huasca de Ocampo
- Tlaxcala to Actopan
- Tlaxcala to Metepec
- Tlaxcala to Malinalco
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tlaxcala to Chacala?
About 8 h 56 min of driving without stops, over 553 miles.
How far is Chacala from Tlaxcala by car?
About 553 miles (890 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 Tlaxcala 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 Tlaxcala to Chacala?
The U.S. State Department rates Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; 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 Tlaxcala to Chacala?
In order: MEX-117D, MEX-M40D, 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 Tlaxcala and Chacala?
Closest to the road: Tula (archaeological site, mile 106, 1 mi from the route); Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (museum, mile 396, 1 mi from the route); Statue of Minerva, Guadalajara (statue, mile 402, 0.7 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.