Plan on about 8 h 4 min of driving for the 452-mile (728 km) trip from Bernal to Mismaloya, before any stops.
| Distance by road | 452 mi (728 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 4 min |
| Main roads, in order | QRO 100 → QRO 4 → MEX-57D → MEX-45D → MEX-90 → MEX-90D → MEX-110 → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-70D → MEX-200D → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | Querétaro, Guanajuato, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-57D, MEX-45D, MEX-90D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.1 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.
How the Bernal to Mismaloya drive plays out
MEX-15D (140 mi) and MEX-45D (65 mi) carry about 45% of the 452 miles. It runs through 5 states: Querétaro, Guanajuato, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-57D, MEX-45D and MEX-90D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Bernal to Mismaloya
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| QRO 100 | 0–4 | 4 | Querétaro |
| QRO 4 | 4–24 | 20 | Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 24–36 | 12 | Querétaro |
| MEX-45D | 36–101 | 65 | Querétaro, Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 101–102 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-90 | 102–147 | 45 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-90D | 147–160 | 13 | Guanajuato, Michoacán |
| MEX-110 | 160–182 | 22 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 182–183 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 183–258 | 75 | Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 258–267 | 9 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 267–332 | 65 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 332–366 | 34 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 366–385 | 19 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 385–438 | 53 | Nayarit, Jalisco |
| MEX-200 | 438–452 | 14 | Jalisco |
- Mile 43 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 159 of this route: Guanajuato → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 188 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 315 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
- Mile 428 of this route: Nayarit → Jalisco (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Bernal and Mismaloya
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ixtlán del Rio (mile 326), Las Glorias Beach (mile 442)
- Nature and outdoors: Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 395), Las Glorias Beach (mile 442)
- Museums and history: Querétaro Cathedral (mile 35), Irapuato Cathedral (mile 99), Plazuelas (mile 139), Museo del Periodismo y las Artes Gráficas (mile 251), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 326)
- With kids: Acuario Michin Guadalajara (mile 252)
Querétaro Cathedral
Querétaro's cathedral, dedicated to St. Philip Neri, is a Catholic church built by the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri in Santiago de Querétaro.
Irapuato Cathedral
Irapuato's cathedral, dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, dates from the 18th century and has a Baroque facade. It served as the seat of the local parish until 2004, when the new Diocese of Irapuato made it a cathedral.
Plazuelas
Near Pénjamo, Plazuelas flourished between AD 450 and 700. Trails lead to Casas Tapadas, a platform crowned by four pyramid bases, a ball court, and rocks carved with spirals and La Maqueta, a low-relief model of Casas Tapadas.
Museo del Periodismo y las Artes Gráficas
The Museo del Periodismo y las Artes Gráficas stands on Paseo Alcalde, formerly Avenida Alcalde, in the city of Guadalajara, Jalisco.
Acuario Michin Guadalajara
Acuario Michin Guadalajara is an aquarium in the city of Guadalajara, in the Mexican state of Jalisco.
Ixtlán del Rio
Known locally as Los Toriles, the Ixtlán del Río site is famous for a temple with a fully circular floor plan, rare in Mesoamerica. People lived here from about 300 BC to AD 600, and 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.
Parque Lineal
Parque Lineal is a linear park in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, with a skatepark among its features.
Las Glorias Beach
Las Glorias Beach in Puerto Vallarta runs about 3,080 feet between Los Tules Beach and Tranquila Beach.
When you get to Mismaloya
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.
More drives to Mismaloya
- San Blas to Mismaloya
- Tepic to Mismaloya
- Tequila to Mismaloya
- Amatitán to Mismaloya
- Guadalajara to Mismaloya
- Ajijic to Mismaloya
From Bernal to other places in Mexico
- Bernal to Ihuatzio
- Bernal to Tócuaro
- Bernal to Pacanda
- Bernal to Zirahuén
- Bernal to Temacapulín
- Bernal to San Luis Soyatlán
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Bernal to Mismaloya?
About 8 h 4 min of driving without stops, over 452 miles.
What is the driving distance from Bernal to Mismaloya?
About 452 miles (728 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 Bernal to Mismaloya?
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 Bernal to Mismaloya?
The U.S. State Department rates Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; 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 Bernal to Mismaloya use?
In order: QRO 100, QRO 4, MEX-57D, MEX-45D, MEX-90, MEX-90D, MEX-110, 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 Bernal and Mismaloya?
Closest to the road: Querétaro Cathedral (cathedral, mile 35, 1 mi from the route); Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 326, 0.5 mi from the route); Las Glorias Beach (beach, mile 442, 0.3 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.