By road, Ihuatzio and Mismaloya are about 370 miles (595 km) apart, or roughly 6 h 34 min of driving.
| Total distance | 370 mi (595 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 6 h 34 min |
| Main roads, in order | 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 14.8 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 Ihuatzio–Mismaloya drive in a few lines
MEX-15D (191 mi) and MEX-200D (53 mi) carry about 66% of the 370 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.
Ihuatzio to Mismaloya: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Michoacán |
| MEX-120 | 3–12 | 9 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 12–13 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 13–36 | 23 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 36–37 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MICH 39 | 37–43 | 6 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 43–47 | 4 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 47–48 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 48–175 | 127 | Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 175–185 | 10 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 185–249 | 64 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 249–283 | 34 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 283–302 | 19 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 302–355 | 53 | Nayarit, Jalisco |
| MEX-200 | 355–370 | 15 | Jalisco |
- Mile 105 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 233 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
- Mile 346 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 174), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 243), Las Glorias Beach (mile 360), Museo Arqueológico de Puerto Vallarta Cuale (mile 362)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 174), Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 313), Costalegre (mile 357), Las Glorias Beach (mile 360)
- Museums and history: Museum of Paleontology of Guadalajara (mile 168), Guadalajara city museum (mile 169), Guachimontones (mile 198), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 243), Museo Arqueológico de Puerto Vallarta Cuale (mile 362)
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.
Guadalajara city museum
Guadalajara's city museum (Museo de la Ciudad), in the historic center, opened on February 14, 1992, and covers the city's history and many sides of its culture.
Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara
Concerts, outdoor movie nights and food festivals are among the many events held at Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara, a public park in Zapopan, Jalisco.
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.
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.
Las Glorias Beach
Las Glorias Beach in Puerto Vallarta runs about 3,080 feet between Los Tules Beach and Tranquila Beach.
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.
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
- Guadalajara to Mismaloya
- Ajijic to Mismaloya
From Ihuatzio to other places in Mexico
- Ihuatzio to Mineral de Pozos
- Ihuatzio to Omitlán
- Ihuatzio to Huasca de Ocampo
- Ihuatzio to Metztitlán
- Ihuatzio to Pinal de Amoles
- Ihuatzio to Ixcateopan
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Ihuatzio to Mismaloya?
About 6 h 34 min of driving without stops, over 370 miles.
What is the driving distance from Ihuatzio to Mismaloya?
About 370 miles (595 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 Ihuatzio 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 Ihuatzio 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.
Which highways go from Ihuatzio to Mismaloya?
In order: 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 Ihuatzio and Mismaloya?
Closest to the road: Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 243, 0.6 mi from the route); Las Glorias Beach (beach, mile 360, 0.2 mi from the route); Museo Arqueológico de Puerto Vallarta Cuale (museum, mile 362, 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.