Puerto Vallarta to Calvillo is about 359 road miles (578 km): roughly 6 h 12 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance | 359 mi (578 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 6 h 12 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-200 → MEX-200D → MEX-70D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-80D → MEX-45D → MEX-45 → MEX-70 |
| Mexican states on the route | Jalisco, Nayarit, Aguascalientes |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-200D, MEX-70D, MEX-15D, MEX-80D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.4 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.
Driving Puerto Vallarta to Calvillo: the shape of the trip
MEX-15D (86 mi) and MEX-80D (73 mi) carry about 44% of the 359 miles. It runs through 3 states: Jalisco, Nayarit, Aguascalientes. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-200D, MEX-70D and MEX-15D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Puerto Vallarta and Calvillo
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Jalisco |
| MEX-200 | 1–6 | 5 | Jalisco |
| MEX-200D | 6–59 | 53 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 59–111 | 52 | Nayarit |
| MEX-15D | 111–177 | 66 | Nayarit, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 177–189 | 12 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 189–209 | 20 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 209–211 | 2 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 211–284 | 73 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 284–285 | 1 | Jalisco |
| local roads | 285–297 | 12 | Jalisco |
| MEX-45D | 297–310 | 13 | Jalisco |
| MEX-45 | 310–326 | 16 | Jalisco, Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 326–333 | 7 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-70 | 333–359 | 26 | Aguascalientes |
- Mile 16 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
- Mile 129 of this route: Nayarit → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 314 of this route: Jalisco → Aguascalientes (state line)
Stops between Puerto Vallarta and Calvillo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ixtlán del Rio (mile 118), Statue of Minerva, Guadalajara (mile 191), Museo Descubre (mile 326), Parque Rodolfo Landeros (mile 326)
- Nature and outdoors: Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 49), Parque Walt Disney (mile 194), Parque Rodolfo Landeros (mile 326)
- Museums and history: Ixtlán del Rio (mile 118), Guachimontones (mile 163), Museo del Tequila y el Mariachi (mile 193), Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos (mile 278), Museo Descubre (mile 326)
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.
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
Western Mexico's first large population center, according to INAH, took shape near Teuchitlán around 1000 BC. Guachimontones stands out for its round architecture, with roughly 40 circular structures across the site.
Statue of Minerva, Guadalajara
At a roundabout fountain in Guadalajara, a bronze statue of Minerva, Roman goddess of wisdom, stands on a large pedestal inscribed with the names of 18 notable citizens.
Museo del Tequila y el Mariachi
The Museo del Tequila y el Mariachi is a space devoted to showing and sharing the culture of tequila and mariachi, both part of Mexico's heritage and cultural identity.
Parque Walt Disney
Despite sharing a name with Walt Disney, this recreational space in Guadalajara's Colonia Olímpica has no direct theme tied to Disney's amusement parks.
Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos
Raised between 1732 and 1769, the cathedral basilica of San Juan de los Lagos draws pilgrims from far away who come to visit the small image of the Virgin kept inside.
Museo Descubre
Museo Descubre is a hands-on, interactive museum in the city of Aguascalientes whose spiral-shaped interior leads inward along various paths of knowledge.
Parque Rodolfo Landeros
Also called Parque Héroes, this environmental and recreation park on Avenida José María Chávez in Aguascalientes has an artificial lake, bike rentals and several other attractions.
When you get to Calvillo
Museo Nacional de Pueblos Mágicos
In Calvillo, Aguascalientes, the Museo Nacional de Pueblos Mágicos opened in 2019 to preserve folk art and cultural pieces from Mexico's 121 Pueblos Mágicos.
La Santa Cruz
In Calvillo's town center, La Santa Cruz is a cultural and monumental complex with Catholic and historical themes devoted to Calvillo's role in the Cristero War of 1926; it opened in 2021.
More drives to Calvillo
- Fresnillo to Calvillo
- El Salto, Durango to Calvillo
- Mazatlán to Calvillo
- Tepatitlán to Calvillo
- Guadalajara to Calvillo
- Tequila to Calvillo
From Puerto Vallarta to other places in Mexico
- Puerto Vallarta to Tecomán
- Puerto Vallarta to El Rosario, Sinaloa
- Puerto Vallarta to Tepatitlán
- Puerto Vallarta to Nochistlán
- Puerto Vallarta to San Ignacio, Sinaloa, Sinaloa
- Puerto Vallarta to Pabellón de Arteaga
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Puerto Vallarta to Calvillo?
About 6 h 12 min of driving without stops, over 359 miles.
How far is Calvillo from Puerto Vallarta by car?
About 359 miles (578 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 Puerto Vallarta to Calvillo?
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 Puerto Vallarta to Calvillo?
The U.S. State Department rates Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Puerto Vallarta to Calvillo use?
In order: MEX-200, MEX-200D, MEX-70D, MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-80D, MEX-45D, MEX-45 and MEX-70. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Puerto Vallarta and Calvillo?
Closest to the road: Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 118, 0.5 mi from the route); Statue of Minerva, Guadalajara (statue, mile 191, 0.8 mi from the route); Parque Rodolfo Landeros (park, mile 326, 0.4 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.