Zacualpan de Amilpas to Chacala is about 539 road miles (868 km): roughly 9 h 41 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance by road | 539 mi (868 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 41 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-160 → MEX-160D → MEX-95D → MEX-106 → MEX-200 → EM 44 → MEX-55 → MEX-55D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-70D → MEX-200D |
| Mexican states on the route | Morelos, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-160D, MEX-95D, MEX-55D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.6 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.
The Zacualpan de Amilpas–Chacala drive in a few lines
MEX-15D (321 mi) and MEX-55D (29 mi) carry about 65% of the 539 miles. It runs through 5 states: Morelos, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-160D, MEX-95D and MEX-55D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Zacualpan de Amilpas to Chacala: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–7 | 7 | Morelos |
| MEX-160 | 7–17 | 10 | Morelos |
| MEX-160D | 17–38 | 21 | Morelos |
| connecting roads | 38–39 | 1 | Morelos |
| MEX-95D | 39–49 | 10 | Morelos |
| connecting roads | 49–50 | 1 | Morelos |
| MEX-106 | 50–68 | 18 | Morelos, State of Mexico |
| MEX-200 | 68–72 | 4 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 72–77 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 77–80 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| EM 44 | 80–88 | 8 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 88–93 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 93–104 | 11 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 104–133 | 29 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 133–137 | 4 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 137–393 | 256 | State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 393–402 | 9 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 402–467 | 65 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 467–501 | 34 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 501–519 | 18 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 519–525 | 6 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200 | 525–534 | 9 | Nayarit |
| local roads | 534–539 | 5 | Nayarit |
- Mile 58 of this route: Morelos → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 155 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 323 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 450 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Zacualpan de Amilpas and Chacala
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Tepoztlán Ex Convento Museum (mile 34), Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (mile 59), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 134)
- Nature and outdoors: Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (mile 59), Cumbres del Ajusco National Park (mile 61), La Marquesa National Park (mile 80), Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 525)
- Museums and history: Tepoztlán Ex Convento Museum (mile 34), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 134), Casa Museo López Portillo (mile 386), National Museum of Tequila (mile 421)
Tepoztlán Ex Convento Museum
Tepoztlán's Dominican monastery, built between 1555 and 1580, keeps original 16th-century murals in its cloister. Upstairs, the museum covers local daily life, faith, festivals and dances, and the complex is part of a UNESCO World Heritage listing.
Lagunas de Zempoala National Park
Seven lagoons, three of them permanent, sit among pine, oak and fir forest above 3,000 meters in this park, decreed in 1936 on the Morelos–State of Mexico line. Hiking, horseback riding, camping and rowboats are popular here.
Cumbres del Ajusco National Park
Pine and oak forests climb toward alpine meadows in Cumbres del Ajusco National Park, on Mexico City's southern edge. It draws hikers, climbers and cyclists, and it gets occasional snow, a rarity for the region.
La Marquesa National Park
Set in high-altitude conifer forest along the Mexico City–Toluca highway, La Marquesa National Park offers roadside eateries, horse and ATV rentals, mountain biking and camping, and marks the site of the 1810 Battle of Monte de las Cruces.
Cathedral of Atlacomulco
Atlacomulco's cathedral, the Catedral de la Divina Providencia, is the seat of the Diocese of Atlacomulco and is dedicated to Divine Providence, making it the town's principal Catholic church.
Casa Museo López Portillo
Opened on May 10, 1982, this house museum in Guadalajara's historic center showcases decorative arts and promotes work by young artists from the metro area.
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 Zacualpan de Amilpas to other places in Mexico
- Zacualpan de Amilpas to Ixtenco
- Zacualpan de Amilpas to Omitlán
- Zacualpan de Amilpas to Tetela de Ocampo
- Zacualpan de Amilpas to Huasca de Ocampo
- Zacualpan de Amilpas to El Oro
- Zacualpan de Amilpas to Metztitlán
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Zacualpan de Amilpas to Chacala?
About 9 h 41 min of driving without stops, over 539 miles.
What is the driving distance from Zacualpan de Amilpas to Chacala?
About 539 miles (868 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 Zacualpan de Amilpas 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 Zacualpan de Amilpas to Chacala?
The U.S. State Department rates Morelos Level 3: Reconsider Travel; 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 Zacualpan de Amilpas to Chacala?
In order: MEX-160, MEX-160D, MEX-95D, MEX-106, MEX-200, EM 44, MEX-55, MEX-55D, MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-70D and MEX-200D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Zacualpan de Amilpas to Chacala?
Closest to the road: Tepoztlán Ex Convento Museum (museum, mile 34, 0.5 mi from the route); Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (national park, mile 59, 0.3 mi from the route); Cathedral of Atlacomulco (cathedral, mile 134, 0.1 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.