Plan on about 8 h 39 min of driving for the 526-mile (846 km) trip from Tulancingo to Chacala, before any stops.
| Distance by road | 526 mi (846 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 39 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-130 → MEX-132 → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-70D → MEX-200D → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-70D, MEX-200D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.0 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 Tulancingo–Chacala drive in a few lines
MEX-15D (323 mi) and MEX-M40D (93 mi) carry about 79% of the 526 miles. It runs through 5 states: Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-M40D, MEX-15D and MEX-70D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Tulancingo to Chacala
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-130 | 2–6 | 4 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-132 | 6–29 | 23 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-M40D | 29–122 | 93 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 122–123 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 123–380 | 257 | State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 380–388 | 8 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 388–454 | 66 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 454–488 | 34 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 488–506 | 18 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 506–511 | 5 | Nayarit |
| connecting roads | 511–512 | 1 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200 | 512–520 | 8 | Nayarit |
| local roads | 520–526 | 6 | Nayarit |
- Mile 48 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 62 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 92 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 141 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 309 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 437 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
Stops between Tulancingo and Chacala
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 418)
- Nature and outdoors: Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 511)
- Museums and history: Jorge R. Acosta Museum (mile 78), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 124), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 369), Guadalajara Cathedral (mile 373), Guachimontones (mile 402), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 418)
- With kids: Acuario Michin Guadalajara (mile 373)
Church and former convent of Todos los Santos
Franciscan friars built this fortress-style convent in Zempoala, and the complex still keeps the classic layout of atrium, church, open chapel and cloister. It pairs well with a drive through the area's old pulque haciendas.
Jorge R. Acosta Museum
Next to the Tula ruins, the Museo de Sitio Jorge R. Acosta traces the rise and decline of the Toltecs and their city, Tollan Xicocotitlan. It moved into new facilities in 1982 and covers nearly 20 years of digs led by archaeologist Jorge R. Acosta.
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.
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.
Guadalajara Cathedral
In the Centro of Guadalajara, the Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady is the seat of the Archdiocese of Guadalajara and a minor basilica.
Acuario Michin Guadalajara
Acuario Michin Guadalajara is an aquarium in the city of Guadalajara, in the Mexican state 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.
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 Tulancingo to other places in Mexico
- Tulancingo to Tepotzotlán
- Tulancingo to Zimapán
- Tulancingo to Metepec
- Tulancingo to Atlatlahucan
- Tulancingo to Malinalco
- Tulancingo to Tonatico
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Tulancingo to Chacala?
About 8 h 39 min of driving without stops, over 526 miles.
How far is Chacala from Tulancingo by car?
About 526 miles (846 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 Tulancingo 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 Tulancingo to Chacala?
The U.S. State Department rates 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 Tulancingo to Chacala?
In order: MEX-130, MEX-132, 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 Tulancingo and Chacala?
Closest to the road: Jorge R. Acosta Museum (museum, mile 78, 1 mi from the route); Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (museum, mile 369, 1 mi from the route); Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (museum, mile 418, 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.