By road, Cuanajo and Mismaloya are about 382 miles (615 km) apart, or roughly 6 h 51 min of driving.
| Distance | 382 mi (615 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 6 h 51 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-14 → 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 15.3 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.
On the road from Cuanajo to Mismaloya
MEX-15D (193 mi) and MEX-200D (53 mi) carry about 64% of the 382 miles. It runs through 3 states: Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-15D, MEX-70D and MEX-200D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Cuanajo to Mismaloya, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Michoacán |
| MEX-14 | 4–13 | 9 | Michoacán |
| MEX-120 | 13–24 | 11 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 24–25 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 25–48 | 23 | Michoacán |
| MICH 39 | 48–55 | 7 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 55–60 | 5 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 60–61 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 61–188 | 127 | Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 188–196 | 8 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 196–262 | 66 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 262–296 | 34 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 296–314 | 18 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 314–367 | 53 | Nayarit, Jalisco |
| MEX-200 | 367–382 | 15 | Jalisco |
- Mile 117 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 245 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
- Mile 358 of this route: Nayarit → Jalisco (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Mismaloya
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Church and ex monastery of San Francisco, Tzintzuntzan (mile 20), Statue of Minerva, Guadalajara (mile 183), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 255), Tranquila Beach (mile 373)
- Nature and outdoors: Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 324), Costalegre (mile 369), Tranquila Beach (mile 373)
- Museums and history: Museo de las Artes Populares de Jalisco (mile 181), National Museum of Tequila (mile 216), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 255)
Church and ex monastery of San Francisco, Tzintzuntzan
Tzintzuntzan's Franciscan complex, begun in 1570, centers on an atrium of centuries-old olive trees, the plateresque Church of San Francisco from 1601 and a cloister with painted walls, plus a museum.
Museo de las Artes Populares de Jalisco
Opened on May 31, 2000, in Guadalajara's historic center, this museum researches, safeguards and promotes the crafts and folk art of Jalisco.
Statue of Minerva, Guadalajara
At a roundabout fountain in Guadalajara, a bronze statue of Minerva, Roman goddess of wisdom, stands on a large pedestal inscribed with the names of 18 notable citizens.
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.
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
Gentle waves are the draw at Rincón de Guayabitos, where roughly two kilometers of shoreline make this Compostela, Nayarit, beach town a favorite escape for people from Tepic and Guadalajara.
Costalegre
Costalegre is a string of beaches, capes and bays of many sizes along Jalisco's Pacific coast, between Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo.
Parque Lineal
Parque Lineal is a linear park in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, with a skatepark among its features.
Tranquila Beach
Tranquila Beach is a stretch of sand in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, that sits right beside Las Glorias 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 Cuanajo to other places in Mexico
- Cuanajo to Temacapulín
- Cuanajo to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Cuanajo to Real de Asientos
- Cuanajo to San Ignacio, Sinaloa
- Cuanajo to Mineral de Pozos
- Cuanajo to Bernal
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Cuanajo to Mismaloya?
About 6 h 51 min of driving without stops, over 382 miles.
How far is Mismaloya from Cuanajo by car?
About 382 miles (615 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 Cuanajo 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 Cuanajo to Mismaloya?
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 Cuanajo to Mismaloya use?
In order: MEX-14, 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.
What are good stops between Cuanajo and Mismaloya?
Closest to the road: Church and ex monastery of San Francisco, Tzintzuntzan (convent, mile 20, 0.4 mi from the route); Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 255, 0.5 mi from the route); Tranquila Beach (beach, mile 373, 0.2 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.