Ezequiel Montes to Mismaloya is about 454 road miles (731 km): roughly 8 h 4 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance by road | 454 mi (731 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 4 min |
| Main roads, in order | QRO 5 → 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 18.2 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.
The Ezequiel Montes–Mismaloya drive in a few lines
MEX-15D (140 mi) and MEX-45D (65 mi) carry about 45% of the 454 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, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Ezequiel Montes to Mismaloya, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| QRO 5 | 0–7 | 7 | Querétaro |
| QRO 4 | 7–25 | 18 | Querétaro |
| connecting roads | 25–26 | 1 | Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 26–38 | 12 | Querétaro |
| MEX-45D | 38–103 | 65 | Querétaro, Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 103–104 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-90 | 104–149 | 45 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-90D | 149–162 | 13 | Guanajuato, Michoacán |
| MEX-110 | 162–185 | 23 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 185–260 | 75 | Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 260–269 | 9 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 269–334 | 65 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 334–368 | 34 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 368–386 | 18 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 386–440 | 54 | Nayarit, Jalisco |
| MEX-200 | 440–454 | 14 | Jalisco |
- Mile 45 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 161 of this route: Guanajuato → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 190 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 318 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
- Mile 431 of this route: Nayarit → Jalisco (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Ezequiel Montes and Mismaloya
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ixtlán del Rio (mile 327), Rosita Beach (mile 446), Museo Arqueológico de Puerto Vallarta Cuale (mile 447)
- Nature and outdoors: Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 396), Rosita Beach (mile 446)
- Museums and history: Teatro de la República (mile 37), Celaya Cathedral (mile 65), Plazuelas (mile 141), Museum of Paleontology of Guadalajara (mile 252), Casa Museo López Portillo (mile 253), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 327), Museo Arqueológico de Puerto Vallarta Cuale (mile 447)
Teatro de la República
Originally named Teatro Iturbide, the Teatro de la República stands in Querétaro's historic center. The neoclassical building has a three-level hall with about 500 seats.
Celaya Cathedral
Celaya's main Catholic church, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, occupies the space of a former chapel that was annexed to the neighboring Temple of St. Francis.
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.
Museum of Paleontology of Guadalajara
Only a few museums in Mexico are devoted to fossils, and one of them sits in Guadalajara's Parque Agua Azul, where it has welcomed visitors since 2000.
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.
Ixtlán del Rio
Between roughly 300 BC and AD 600, people made their home at Los Toriles in Ixtlán del Río. Today visitors come for its circular temple, a rare design in Mesoamerica.
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.
Rosita Beach
Next to the Malecón in Puerto Vallarta's Centro, Rosita Beach shares its name with one of the city's long-standing hotels.
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.
In Mismaloya itself
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 Ezequiel Montes to other places in Mexico
- Ezequiel Montes to Tzintzuntzan
- Ezequiel Montes to Tócuaro
- Ezequiel Montes to Pacanda
- Ezequiel Montes to Santa Clara del Cobre
- Ezequiel Montes to Zirahuén
- Ezequiel Montes to Pinos
Continue Your Adventure
- Ezequiel Montes to Maruata Road Trip: Route, Stops & Safety
- Ezequiel Montes to Ajijic Road Trip: Route, Tolls & Stops
- Ezequiel Montes to Tepoztlán Road Trip: Distance, Time & Stops
- Ezequiel Montes to Jalpa Road Trip: Stops, Tolls & Drive Time
- Ezequiel Montes to Tlaltizapán Road Trip: Route, Tolls & Stops
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Ezequiel Montes to Mismaloya?
About 8 h 4 min of driving without stops, over 454 miles.
What is the driving distance from Ezequiel Montes to Mismaloya?
About 454 miles (731 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 Ezequiel Montes 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 Ezequiel Montes 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 Ezequiel Montes to Mismaloya use?
In order: QRO 5, 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.
Where can you stop on the way from Ezequiel Montes to Mismaloya?
Closest to the road: Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 327, 0.5 mi from the route); Rosita Beach (beach, mile 446, 0.1 mi from the route); Museo Arqueológico de Puerto Vallarta Cuale (museum, mile 447, 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.