By road, La Manzanilla and Mexcaltitán are about 304 miles (489 km) apart, or roughly 6 h 33 min of driving.
| Distance by road | 304 mi (489 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 33 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-200 → MEX-200D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 |
| Mexican states on the route | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-200D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
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 La Manzanilla to Mexcaltitán is like
MEX-200 (182 mi) and MEX-200D (48 mi) carry about 76% of the 304 miles. It runs through 2 states: Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-200D and MEX-15D. Of the 6 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect La Manzanilla and Mexcaltitán
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Jalisco |
| MEX-200 | 1–131 | 130 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 131–132 | 1 | Jalisco |
| MEX-200D | 132–180 | 48 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| MEX-200 | 180–232 | 52 | Nayarit |
| MEX-15D | 232–254 | 22 | Nayarit |
| MEX-15 | 254–277 | 23 | Nayarit |
| local roads | 277–304 | 27 | Nayarit |
- Mile 142 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
What to see on the way from La Manzanilla to Mexcaltitán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Vallarta Botanical Garden (mile 110), Las Glorias Beach (mile 127)
- Nature and outdoors: Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve (mile 27), Vallarta Botanical Garden (mile 110), Las Glorias Beach (mile 127), Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 175)
- Museums and history: Tepic Cathedral (mile 234), Museo Regional de Nayarit (mile 234)
Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve
On the Pacific coast of Jalisco in La Huerta municipality, the Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve was founded in 1993 and covers about 131 square kilometers.
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.
Las Glorias Beach
Las Glorias Beach in Puerto Vallarta runs about 3,080 feet between Los Tules Beach and Tranquila Beach.
Rincón de Guayabitos
Rincón de Guayabitos is a beach town in Compostela, Nayarit, with about two kilometers of shore known for gentle waves, a popular getaway from Tepic and Guadalajara.
Tepic Cathedral
Serving the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tepic, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, also called Tepic Cathedral, stands on the main square in the heart of the city.
Museo Regional de Nayarit
In the city of Tepic, the Museo Regional de Nayarit focuses on the different cultural traditions of pre-Hispanic Nayarit.
More drives to Mexcaltitán
- Lo de Marcos to Mexcaltitán
- San Francisco to Mexcaltitán
- Sayulita to Mexcaltitán
- Bucerías to Mexcaltitán
- Nuevo Nayarit to Mexcaltitán
- Amatitán to Mexcaltitán
From La Manzanilla to other places in Mexico
- La Manzanilla to Temacapulín
- La Manzanilla to Tócuaro
- La Manzanilla to Omitlán
- La Manzanilla to Huasca de Ocampo
- La Manzanilla to San Francisco
- La Manzanilla to Real de Catorce
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from La Manzanilla to Mexcaltitán?
About 6 h 33 min of driving without stops, over 304 miles.
How far is Mexcaltitán from La Manzanilla by car?
About 304 miles (489 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 La Manzanilla to Mexcaltitán?
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 La Manzanilla to Mexcaltitán?
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.
What roads does the drive from La Manzanilla to Mexcaltitán use?
In order: MEX-200, MEX-200D, MEX-15D and MEX-15. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from La Manzanilla to Mexcaltitán?
Closest to the road: Vallarta Botanical Garden (botanical garden, mile 110, 0.1 mi from the route); Las Glorias Beach (beach, mile 127, 0.3 mi from the route); Museo Regional de Nayarit (museum, mile 234, 1 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.