Plan on about 3 h 30 min of driving for the 165-mile (266 km) trip from La Manzanilla to San Francisco, before any stops.
| Distance by road | 165 mi (266 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 3 h 30 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-200 → MEX-200D |
| Mexican states on the route | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-200D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 6.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
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 San Francisco is like
MEX-200 (142 mi) and MEX-200D (21 mi) carry about 99% of the 165 miles. It runs through 2 states: Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-200D. Of the 3 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
La Manzanilla to San Francisco: the road sequence
| 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 | 132–153 | 21 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| MEX-200 | 153–165 | 12 | Nayarit |
- Mile 142 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
Places worth a stop between La Manzanilla and San Francisco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Vallarta Botanical Garden (mile 110), Tranquila Beach (mile 127)
- Nature and outdoors: Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve (mile 27), Vallarta Botanical Garden (mile 110), Tranquila Beach (mile 127)
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.
Tranquila Beach
Tranquila Beach is a stretch of sand in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, that sits right beside Las Glorias Beach.
More drives to San Francisco
- Barra de Navidad to San Francisco
- Tecomán to San Francisco
- San Juan de los Lagos to San Francisco
- Pénjamo to San Francisco
- León to San Francisco
- Aguascalientes to San Francisco
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 Mexcaltitán
- La Manzanilla to Real de Catorce
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from La Manzanilla to San Francisco?
About 3 h 30 min of driving without stops, over 165 miles.
What is the driving distance from La Manzanilla to San Francisco?
About 165 miles (266 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 San Francisco?
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 San Francisco?
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 San Francisco use?
In order: MEX-200 and MEX-200D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from La Manzanilla to San Francisco?
Closest to the road: Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve (biosphere reserve, mile 27, 3 mi from the route); Vallarta Botanical Garden (botanical garden, mile 110, 0.1 mi from the route); Tranquila Beach (beach, mile 127, 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.