By road, Puerto Vallarta and Nombre de Dios are about 429 miles (691 km) apart, or roughly 7 h 19 min of driving.
| Distance | 429 mi (691 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 7 h 19 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-200 → MEX-200D → MEX-15D → MEX-40D → DGO 45 → MEX-45 |
| Mexican states on the route | Jalisco, Nayarit, Sinaloa, Durango |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-200D, MEX-15D, MEX-40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
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.
How the Puerto Vallarta to Nombre de Dios drive plays out
MEX-15D (152 mi) and MEX-40D (128 mi) carry about 65% of the 429 miles. It runs through 4 states: Jalisco, Nayarit, Sinaloa, Durango. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-200D, MEX-15D and MEX-40D. Of the 5 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Puerto Vallarta to Nombre de Dios, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Jalisco |
| MEX-200 | 1–6 | 5 | Jalisco |
| MEX-200D | 6–54 | 48 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| MEX-200 | 54–107 | 53 | Nayarit |
| MEX-15D | 107–259 | 152 | Nayarit, Sinaloa |
| MEX-40D | 259–387 | 128 | Sinaloa, Durango |
| local roads | 387–392 | 5 | Durango |
| DGO 45 | 392–405 | 13 | Durango |
| MEX-45 | 405–428 | 23 | Durango |
| local roads | 428–429 | 1 | Durango |
- Mile 16 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
- Mile 191 of this route: Nayarit → Sinaloa (state line)
- Mile 302 of this route: Sinaloa → Durango (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Nombre de Dios
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): La Ferrería (mile 395), Museo de Sitio de la Ferrería (mile 395)
- Nature and outdoors: Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 49), Agua Grande Lagoon (mile 216)
- Museums and history: Casa Museo Juan Escutia (mile 109), La Ferrería (mile 395), Museo de Sitio de la Ferrería (mile 395)
Rincón de Guayabitos
Gentle waves are the draw at Rincón de Guayabitos, where roughly two kilometers of shoreline make this Compostela, Nayarit, beach town a favorite escape for people from Tepic and Guadalajara.
Casa Museo Juan Escutia
In central Tepic, Casa Museo Juan Escutia honors Juan Escutia, one of the fighters who died defending Chapultepec Castle during the U.S. invasion of Mexico.
Agua Grande Lagoon
Agua Grande is a large coastal lagoon in the Mexican state of Sinaloa that drains into the Pacific Ocean through the Teacapán Estuary.
La Ferrería
La Ferrería is an archaeological site in Durango Municipality, set in country of mesquite and aloe.
Museo de Sitio de la Ferrería
The Museo de Sitio de la Ferrería in Durango shows pieces from local excavations and other areas of the state. It opened in 2000 and was renovated in 2006–2007.
More drives to Nombre de Dios
- Cosalá to Nombre de Dios
- Aguascalientes to Nombre de Dios
- San Juan de los Lagos to Nombre de Dios
- Tepatitlán to Nombre de Dios
- Amatitán to Nombre de Dios
- Ajijic to Nombre de Dios
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 Nombre de Dios?
About 7 h 19 min of driving without stops, over 429 miles.
What is the driving distance from Puerto Vallarta to Nombre de Dios?
About 429 miles (691 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 Nombre de Dios?
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 Nombre de Dios?
The U.S. State Department rates Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Sinaloa Level 4: Do Not Travel; Durango Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Puerto Vallarta to Nombre de Dios use?
In order: MEX-200, MEX-200D, MEX-15D, MEX-40D, DGO 45 and MEX-45. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Puerto Vallarta and Nombre de Dios?
Closest to the road: Casa Museo Juan Escutia (museum, mile 109, 1 mi from the route); Museo de Sitio de la Ferrería (museum, mile 395, 0.4 mi from the route); La Ferrería (archaeological site, mile 395, 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.