The Wayro route from Mismaloya to Pacanda is 367 miles (591 km), about 6 h 27 min of driving without stops.
| Total distance | 367 mi (591 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 27 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-200 → MEX-200D → MEX-70D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MICH 39 → MEX-120 |
| Mexican states on the route | Jalisco, Nayarit, Michoacán |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-200D, MEX-70D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.7 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 Mismaloya to Pacanda is like
MEX-15D (190 mi) and MEX-200D (54 mi) carry about 66% of the 367 miles. It runs through 3 states: Jalisco, Nayarit, Michoacán. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-200D, MEX-70D and MEX-15D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Mismaloya to Pacanda, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-200 | 0–14 | 14 | Jalisco |
| MEX-200D | 14–68 | 54 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 68–120 | 52 | Nayarit |
| MEX-15D | 120–186 | 66 | Nayarit, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 186–197 | 11 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 197–321 | 124 | Jalisco, Michoacán |
| MICH 39 | 321–333 | 12 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 333–356 | 23 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 356–357 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-120 | 357–362 | 5 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 362–367 | 5 | Michoacán |
- Mile 24 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
- Mile 137 of this route: Nayarit → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 265 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Pacanda
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Rosita Beach (mile 8), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 127)
- Nature and outdoors: Rosita Beach (mile 8), Costalegre (mile 12), Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 57)
- Museums and history: Ixtlán del Rio (mile 127), Guachimontones (mile 171), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 205)
- With kids: Acuario Michin Guadalajara (mile 200)
Rosita Beach
Next to the Malecón in Puerto Vallarta's Centro, Rosita Beach shares its name with one of the city's long-standing hotels.
Parque Lineal
Parque Lineal is a linear park in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, with a skatepark among its features.
Costalegre
Costalegre is a string of beaches, capes and bays of many sizes along Jalisco's Pacific coast, between Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo.
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.
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.
Guachimontones
Near the town of Teuchitlán, Guachimontones is known for its circular structures. INAH describes it as the first large population center in western Mexico, emerging around 1000 BC, with two ball courts and about 40 circular buildings across 20 hectares.
Acuario Michin Guadalajara
Acuario Michin Guadalajara is an aquarium in the city of Guadalajara, in the Mexican state of Jalisco.
Convento de Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro
Better known as El Perpetuo Socorro, this Guadalajara church is home to a Passionist convent that has housed the order's postulants since 2020.
Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque
Ceramics lovers in central Tlaquepaque, Jalisco, can find the Museo Regional de la Cerámica on Independencia Street. Along with the Pantaleón Panduro Museum, it is one of the city's two principal pottery museums.
Once you reach Pacanda
Church and ex monastery of San Francisco, Tzintzuntzan
Tzintzuntzan's Franciscan complex, begun in 1570, centers on an atrium of centuries-old olive trees, the plateresque Church of San Francisco from 1601 and a cloister with painted walls, plus a museum.
Lake Pátzcuaro
Boats leave the shore of Lake Pátzcuaro for its islands, including Janitzio, topped by a statue of José María Morelos. Purépecha fishers here are known for butterfly-shaped nets, and whitefish is the local specialty.
Ihuatzio
On the shore of Lake Pátzcuaro, Ihuatzio was one of three main Purépecha power centers. Visitors can see raised walkways and two semicircular pyramids called yácatas; excavations here also turned up Chac Mool and coyote sculptures carved from volcanic rock.
More drives to Pacanda
- Amatitán to Pacanda
- Tequila to Pacanda
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Pacanda
- Real de Asientos to Pacanda
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Pacanda
- Zacatecas to Pacanda
From Mismaloya to other places in Mexico
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Mismaloya to Pacanda?
About 6 h 27 min of driving without stops, over 367 miles.
What is the driving distance from Mismaloya to Pacanda?
About 367 miles (591 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 Mismaloya to Pacanda?
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 Mismaloya to Pacanda?
The U.S. State Department rates Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Mismaloya to Pacanda use?
In order: MEX-200, MEX-200D, MEX-70D, MEX-15D, MEX-15, MICH 39 and MEX-120. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Mismaloya and Pacanda?
Closest to the road: Rosita Beach (beach, mile 8, 0.1 mi from the route); Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 127, 0.6 mi from the route); Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (museum, mile 205, 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.