Plan on about 5 h 36 min of driving for the 314-mile (505 km) trip from Tzintzuntzan to Chacala, before any stops.
| Distance by road | 314 mi (505 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 5 h 36 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-120 → MEX-15 → MICH 39 → MEX-15D → MEX-70D → MEX-200D → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-15D, MEX-70D, MEX-200D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.6 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.
What the drive from Tzintzuntzan to Chacala is like
MEX-15D (192 mi) and MEX-15 (32 mi) carry about 71% of the 314 miles. It runs through 3 states: Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-15D, MEX-70D and MEX-200D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Tzintzuntzan to Chacala
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-120 | 0–5 | 5 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 5–6 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 6–29 | 23 | Michoacán |
| MICH 39 | 29–35 | 6 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 35–40 | 5 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 40–41 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 41–168 | 127 | Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 168–177 | 9 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 177–242 | 65 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 242–276 | 34 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 276–295 | 19 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 295–300 | 5 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200 | 300–309 | 9 | Nayarit |
| local roads | 309–314 | 5 | Nayarit |
- Mile 98 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 226 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
What to see on the way from Tzintzuntzan to Chacala
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 167), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 206), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 235)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 167), Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 300)
- Museums and history: Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 157), Guachimontones (mile 191), National Museum of Tequila (mile 197), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 206), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 235)
Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque
Tlaquepaque has two main ceramics museums, and this is one of them: the Museo Regional de la Cerámica, on Independencia Street in the center of town. The other is the Pantaleón Panduro Museum.
Diana Theatre
The Diana Theatre, or Teatro Diana, is an indoor theater in Guadalajara, in the state of Jalisco, with seating for 2,345 people.
Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara
Concerts, outdoor movie nights and food festivals are among the many events held at Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara, a public park in Zapopan, 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.
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.
Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería
Agave landscapes and mining are the twin themes of the Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería, an interpretive museum in the municipality of Magdalena.
Ixtlán del Rio
Between roughly 300 BC and AD 600, people made their home at Los Toriles in Ixtlán del Río. Today visitors come for its circular temple, a rare design in Mesoamerica.
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 Tzintzuntzan to other places in Mexico
- Tzintzuntzan to Amatitán
- Tzintzuntzan to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Tzintzuntzan to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Tzintzuntzan to Real de Asientos
- Tzintzuntzan to Nombre de Dios
- Tzintzuntzan to San Ignacio, Sinaloa
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tzintzuntzan to Chacala?
About 5 h 36 min of driving without stops, over 314 miles.
What is the driving distance from Tzintzuntzan to Chacala?
About 314 miles (505 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 Tzintzuntzan 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 Tzintzuntzan to Chacala?
The U.S. State Department rates 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 Tzintzuntzan to Chacala?
In order: MEX-120, MEX-15, MICH 39, MEX-15D, 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 Tzintzuntzan to Chacala?
Closest to the road: Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (park, mile 167, 0.9 mi from the route); Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (museum, mile 206, 0.6 mi from the route); Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 235, 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.