Tonatico to Chacala is about 487 road miles (783 km): roughly 8 h 7 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance by road | 487 mi (783 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 7 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-55D → MEX-55 → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-70D → MEX-200D → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-55D, MEX-15D, MEX-70D, MEX-200D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
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 Tonatico to Chacala: the shape of the trip
MEX-15D (320 mi) and MEX-55D (53 mi) carry about 77% of the 487 miles. It runs through 4 states: State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-55D, MEX-15D and MEX-70D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Tonatico and Chacala
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 4–28 | 24 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 28–30 | 2 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 30–41 | 11 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 41–52 | 11 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 52–81 | 29 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 81–84 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 84–85 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 85–341 | 256 | State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 341–350 | 9 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 350–414 | 64 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 414–449 | 35 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 449–467 | 18 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 467–472 | 5 | Nayarit |
| connecting roads | 472–473 | 1 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200 | 473–482 | 9 | Nayarit |
| local roads | 482–487 | 5 | Nayarit |
- Mile 103 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 270 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 398 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
Stops between Tonatico and Chacala
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 82), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 379)
- Nature and outdoors: Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 473)
- Museums and history: Museo Felipe Santiago Gutiérrez (mile 43), Calixtlahuaca (mile 47), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 82), Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 123), Museum of Paleontology of Guadalajara (mile 333), Museo del Tequila y el Mariachi (mile 334), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 379)
Museo Felipe Santiago Gutiérrez
In Toluca's historic center, a building from the late 18th and early 19th centuries holds about 225 watercolors, oils and drawings tracing the work of painter Felipe Santiago Gutiérrez. It opened in December 1992.
Calixtlahuaca
Spread over the slopes of Cerro Tenismó near Toluca, this site's standout is the round Temple of Ehécatl-Quetzalcóatl, rebuilt in four phases. Nearby, a Mexica-era skull rack displays stone skulls set into cross-shaped walls.
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
Maravatío's Teatro Morelos is a late-19th-century theater in a French-influenced neoclassical style, designed by architect Rafael Guerrero Torres. It opened on January 11, 1879, with a performance by opera singer Ángela Peralta.
Museum of Paleontology of Guadalajara
Inside Guadalajara's Parque Agua Azul, the Museum of Paleontology opened in 2000 as one of only a few Mexican museums devoted to fossils, with exhibits developed with Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH).
Museo del Tequila y el Mariachi
The Museo del Tequila y el Mariachi is a space devoted to showing and sharing the culture of tequila and mariachi, both part of Mexico's heritage and cultural identity.
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 Tonatico to other places in Mexico
- Tonatico to El Oro
- Tonatico to Bernal
- Tonatico to Mineral de Pozos
- Tonatico to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Tonatico to Cuanajo
- Tonatico to Tócuaro
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Tonatico to Chacala?
About 8 h 7 min of driving without stops, over 487 miles.
What is the driving distance from Tonatico to Chacala?
About 487 miles (783 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 Tonatico 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 Tonatico to Chacala?
The U.S. State Department rates 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.
What roads does the drive from Tonatico to Chacala use?
In order: MEX-55D, MEX-55, 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 Tonatico and Chacala?
Closest to the road: Museo Felipe Santiago Gutiérrez (art museum, mile 43, 1 mi from the route); Cathedral of Atlacomulco (cathedral, mile 82, 0.1 mi from the route); Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (museum, mile 379, 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.