Plan on about 6 h 15 min of driving for the 352-mile (567 km) trip from Irapuato to Mismaloya, before any stops.
| Distance by road | 352 mi (567 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 6 h 15 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-90 → MEX-90D → MEX-110 → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-70D → MEX-200D → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | Guanajuato, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-90D, MEX-15D, MEX-70D, MEX-200D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.1 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.
The Irapuato–Mismaloya drive in a few lines
MEX-15D (140 mi) and MEX-200D (53 mi) carry about 55% of the 352 miles. It runs through 4 states: Guanajuato, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-90D, MEX-15D and MEX-70D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Irapuato and Mismaloya
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-90 | 2–47 | 45 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-90D | 47–61 | 14 | Guanajuato, Michoacán |
| MEX-110 | 61–83 | 22 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 83–158 | 75 | Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 158–167 | 9 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 167–232 | 65 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 232–267 | 35 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 267–285 | 18 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 285–338 | 53 | Nayarit, Jalisco |
| MEX-200 | 338–352 | 14 | Jalisco |
- Mile 59 of this route: Guanajuato → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 88 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 216 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
- Mile 329 of this route: Nayarit → Jalisco (state line)
Places worth a stop between Irapuato and Mismaloya
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ixtlán del Rio (mile 226), Museo Arqueológico de Puerto Vallarta Cuale (mile 345)
- Nature and outdoors: Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 295), Costalegre (mile 340)
- Museums and history: Plazuelas (mile 39), Museo Regional de Guadalajara (mile 151), Guachimontones (mile 181), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 226), Museo Arqueológico de Puerto Vallarta Cuale (mile 345)
- With kids: Acuario Michin Guadalajara (mile 152)
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 Regional de Guadalajara
Facing the Rotonda de los Jaliscienses Ilustres in downtown Guadalajara, the Museo Regional de Guadalajara fills a full city block bounded by Hidalgo, Pino Suárez, Liceo and Independencia streets.
Acuario Michin Guadalajara
Acuario Michin Guadalajara is an aquarium in the city of Guadalajara, in the Mexican state of 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
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.
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.
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.
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 Irapuato to other places in Mexico
- Irapuato to Paracho
- Irapuato to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Irapuato to Amatitán
- Irapuato to Tequila
- Irapuato to Jerez, Zacatecas
- Irapuato to Sombrerete
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Irapuato to Mismaloya?
About 6 h 15 min of driving without stops, over 352 miles.
What is the driving distance from Irapuato to Mismaloya?
About 352 miles (567 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 Irapuato 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 Irapuato to Mismaloya?
The U.S. State Department rates 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 Irapuato to Mismaloya use?
In order: 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 Irapuato and Mismaloya?
Closest to the road: Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 226, 0.6 mi from the route); Costalegre (beach, mile 340, 1 mi from the route); Museo Arqueológico de Puerto Vallarta Cuale (museum, mile 345, 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.