By road, Guadalajara and Mismaloya are about 204 miles (328 km) apart, or roughly 3 h 35 min of driving.
| Distance by road | 204 mi (328 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 35 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-70D → MEX-200D → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-15D, MEX-70D, MEX-200D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.1 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.
What the drive from Guadalajara to Mismaloya is like
MEX-15D (69 mi) and MEX-200D (53 mi) carry about 60% of the 204 miles. It runs through 2 states: 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.
Road-by-road breakdown: Guadalajara to Mismaloya
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–5 | 5 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 5–9 | 4 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 9–18 | 9 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 18–83 | 65 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 83–117 | 34 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 117–136 | 19 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 136–189 | 53 | Nayarit, Jalisco |
| MEX-200 | 189–204 | 15 | Jalisco |
- Mile 66 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
- Mile 180 of this route: Nayarit → Jalisco (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Mismaloya
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 7), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 47), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 77), Tranquila Beach (mile 194)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 7), Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 146), Costalegre (mile 191), Tranquila Beach (mile 194)
- Museums and history: Guachimontones (mile 32), National Museum of Tequila (mile 37), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 47), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 77)
Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara
Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara is a public park in Zapopan, Jalisco, that hosts many events, including concerts, outdoor movie screenings and food festivals.
Guachimontones
About 40 circular buildings and two ball courts spread over 20 hectares at Guachimontones, outside Teuchitlán. INAH calls it western Mexico's first large population center, dating back to around 1000 BC.
National Museum of Tequila
The National Museum of Tequila (MUNAT) in the town of Tequila tells the story of the spirit that put this corner of Jalisco on the map. The state government took it back in 2026 and announced a reopening with refreshed exhibits.
Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería
In the municipality of Magdalena, Mexico, an interpretive museum focuses on two subjects: the agave landscape and mining.
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
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.
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.
Once you reach 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
- Ajijic to Mismaloya
- San Luis Soyatlán to Mismaloya
From Guadalajara to other places in Mexico
- Guadalajara to Pabellón de Arteaga
- Guadalajara to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Guadalajara to Calvillo
- Guadalajara to Real de Asientos
- Guadalajara to Guadalupe, Zacatecas
- Guadalajara to Zacatecas
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Guadalajara to Mismaloya?
About 3 h 35 min of driving without stops, over 204 miles.
How far is Mismaloya from Guadalajara by car?
About 204 miles (328 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 Guadalajara 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 Guadalajara to Mismaloya?
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 Guadalajara to Mismaloya?
In order: 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 Guadalajara to Mismaloya?
Closest to the road: Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (museum, mile 47, 0.5 mi from the route); Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 77, 0.5 mi from the route); Tranquila Beach (beach, mile 194, 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.