By road, Barra de Navidad and San Francisco are about 177 miles (285 km) apart, or roughly 3 h 44 min of driving.
| Distance | 177 mi (285 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 44 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-200 → MEX-200D |
| Mexican states on the route | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-200D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
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 Barra de Navidad–San Francisco drive in a few lines
MEX-200 (152 mi) and MEX-200D (21 mi) carry about 98% of the 177 miles. It runs through 2 states: Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-200D. Of the 5 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Barra de Navidad to San Francisco: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Jalisco |
| MEX-200 | 2–143 | 141 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 143–144 | 1 | Jalisco |
| MEX-200D | 144–165 | 21 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| MEX-200 | 165–176 | 11 | Nayarit |
| local roads | 176–177 | 1 | Nayarit |
- Mile 153 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
Places worth a stop between Barra de Navidad and San Francisco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Vallarta Botanical Garden (mile 122), Museo Arqueológico de Puerto Vallarta Cuale (mile 137)
- Nature and outdoors: Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve (mile 39), Vallarta Botanical Garden (mile 122), Costalegre (mile 142)
- Museums and history: Museo Arqueológico de Puerto Vallarta Cuale (mile 137)
Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve
On the Pacific coast of Jalisco in La Huerta municipality, the Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve was founded in 1993 and covers about 131 square kilometers.
Vallarta Botanical Garden
At about 1,300 feet above sea level near Puerto Vallarta, the Vallarta Botanical Garden covers 79 acres, 73 of them set aside as a reserve, and has been open to the public since 2005.
Museo Arqueológico de Puerto Vallarta Cuale
The Museo Arqueológico de Puerto Vallarta Cuale presents crafts along with the hunting and gathering items used in pre-Hispanic times, with a focus on western Mexico.
Parque Lineal
Parque Lineal is a linear park in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, with a skatepark among its features.
Costalegre
Costalegre is a string of beaches, capes and bays of many sizes along Jalisco's Pacific coast, between Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo.
More drives to San Francisco
- La Manzanilla to San Francisco
- Tecomán to San Francisco
- San Juan de los Lagos to San Francisco
- Pénjamo to San Francisco
- León to San Francisco
- Aguascalientes to San Francisco
From Barra de Navidad to other places in Mexico
- Barra de Navidad to Temacapulín
- Barra de Navidad to Mineral de Pozos
- Barra de Navidad to Pinal de Amoles
- Barra de Navidad to Omitlán
- Barra de Navidad to Huasca de Ocampo
- Barra de Navidad to Teúl de González Ortega
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Barra de Navidad to San Francisco?
About 3 h 44 min of driving without stops, over 177 miles.
What is the driving distance from Barra de Navidad to San Francisco?
About 177 miles (285 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 Barra de Navidad to San Francisco?
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 Barra de Navidad to San Francisco?
The U.S. State Department rates 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 Barra de Navidad to San Francisco?
In order: MEX-200 and MEX-200D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Barra de Navidad and San Francisco?
Closest to the road: Vallarta Botanical Garden (botanical garden, mile 122, 0.2 mi from the route); Museo Arqueológico de Puerto Vallarta Cuale (museum, mile 137, 0.1 mi from the route); Costalegre (beach, mile 142, 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.