The Wayro route from Zirahuén to Chacala is 316 miles (509 km), about 6 h 6 min of driving without stops.
| Total distance | 316 mi (509 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 6 h 6 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-37 → MEX-15 → 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.
On the road from Zirahuén to Chacala
MEX-15D (155 mi) and MEX-15 (32 mi) carry about 59% of the 316 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: Zirahuén to Chacala
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–25 | 25 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 25–26 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37 | 26–42 | 16 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 42–65 | 23 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 65–80 | 15 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 80–170 | 90 | Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 170–179 | 9 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 179–244 | 65 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 244–278 | 34 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 278–296 | 18 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 296–302 | 6 | Nayarit |
| connecting roads | 302–303 | 1 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200 | 303–311 | 8 | Nayarit |
| local roads | 311–316 | 5 | Nayarit |
- Mile 100 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 227 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
What to see on the way from Zirahuén to Chacala
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Lago de Camécuaro National Park (mile 57), Diocesan Sanctuary of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 65), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 238)
- Nature and outdoors: Lago de Camécuaro National Park (mile 57), Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 302)
- Museums and history: Diocesan Sanctuary of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 65), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 160), Guadalajara Cathedral (mile 163), Museo Regional de Guadalajara (mile 163), Guachimontones (mile 193), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 238)
Lago de Camécuaro National Park
Fed by countless springs, clear Lake Camécuaro near Tangancícuaro, about 13 km from Zamora, is ringed by old ahuehuete (sabino) trees. The national park is a popular spot for swimming, rowboats and picnics in their shade.
Diocesan Sanctuary of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Rising over Zamora, Michoacán, the Diocesan Sanctuary of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a Gothic Revival Catholic cathedral whose towers reach 107.5 meters, making it the tallest church building in Mexico.
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.
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.
Museo Regional de Guadalajara
Facing the Rotonda de los Jaliscienses Ilustres in downtown Guadalajara, the Museo Regional de Guadalajara fills a full city block bounded by Hidalgo, Pino Suárez, Liceo and Independencia streets.
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.
Ixtlán del Rio
A temple built on a completely round floor plan, unusual anywhere in Mesoamerica, is the highlight at the Ixtlán del Río archaeological site, which locals call Los Toriles. An introductory gallery explains the finds.
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 Zirahuén to other places in Mexico
- Zirahuén to Mineral de Pozos
- Zirahuén to Omitlán
- Zirahuén to Huasca de Ocampo
- Zirahuén to Aquismón
- Zirahuén to San Francisco
- Zirahuén to Mismaloya
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Zirahuén to Chacala?
About 6 h 6 min of driving without stops, over 316 miles.
What is the driving distance from Zirahuén to Chacala?
About 316 miles (509 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 Zirahuén 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 Zirahuén 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.
What roads does the drive from Zirahuén to Chacala use?
In order: MEX-37, MEX-15, MEX-15D, 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 Zirahuén and Chacala?
Closest to the road: Lago de Camécuaro National Park (national park, mile 57, 0.5 mi from the route); Diocesan Sanctuary of Our Lady of Guadalupe (cathedral, mile 65, 0.2 mi from the route); Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 238, 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.