Plan on about 8 h 58 min of driving for the 551-mile (887 km) trip from Puerto Vallarta to Omitlán, before any stops.
| Distance by road | 551 mi (887 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 58 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-200 → MEX-200D → MEX-70D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-M40D → MEX-85 → MEX-105 |
| Mexican states on the route | Jalisco, Nayarit, Michoacán, State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-200D, MEX-70D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 22.1 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.
The Puerto Vallarta–Omitlán drive in a few lines
MEX-15D (320 mi) and MEX-M40D (79 mi) carry about 72% of the 551 miles. It runs through 5 states: Jalisco, Nayarit, Michoacán, State of Mexico, Hidalgo. 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.
Puerto Vallarta to Omitlán: the road sequence
| 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 | 189–443 | 254 | Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico |
| MEX-M40D | 443–522 | 79 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| connecting roads | 522–523 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 523–534 | 11 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 534–542 | 8 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 542–546 | 4 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 546–551 | 5 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 16 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
- Mile 129 of this route: Nayarit → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 257 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 424 of this route: Michoacán → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 474 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 505 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 519 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
What to see on the way from Puerto Vallarta to Omitlán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ixtlán del Rio (mile 118), Parque Ecológico Cubitos (mile 539)
- Nature and outdoors: Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 49), Rayón National Park (mile 421), Parque Ecológico Cubitos (mile 539)
- Museums and history: Ixtlán del Rio (mile 118), Guachimontones (mile 163), Teatro Degollado (mile 193), Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl (mile 487), Museo de Mineralogía de la UAEH (mile 542)
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
About 40 circular buildings and two ball courts spread over 20 hectares at Guachimontones, outside Teuchitlán. INAH calls it western Mexico's first large population center, dating back to around 1000 BC.
Teatro Degollado
On Guadalajara's central plaza, along Belén Street between Hidalgo and Morelos avenues, the neoclassical Teatro Degollado is known for its varied performances and artistic design.
Rayón National Park
On the outskirts of Tlalpujahua, Parque Nacional Rayón is the gateway to the area's well-known butterfly reserves, which spread out to the south and west of the park.
Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl
The Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl is an archaeological museum located in Tula de Allende, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
Parque Ecológico Cubitos
Between Pachuca de Soto and Mineral de la Reforma, Parque Ecológico Cubitos is a 90-hectare protected natural area whose public section has a botanical garden, an arboretum, a herpetarium, a farm, a maze, a zip line and a bike path.
Ex monastery of Saint Francis of Assisi, Pachuca de Soto, Hidalgo
The Templo y exconvento de San Francisco in Pachuca de Soto is mainly Baroque, with touches of Churrigueresque and Neoclassical style. Construction began in 1596 under Fray Francisco de Torantos, who chose the style of its facade and windows.
Museo de Mineralogía de la UAEH
Inside the central building of the state university in downtown Pachuca, the UAEH Mineralogy Museum displays minerals and rocks and is one of the longest-running museums of its kind in Mexico.
Once you reach Omitlán
Museo de Medicina Laboral y Centro Cultural Nicolás Zavala
Occupational medicine and mining history are the focus of this museum in Mineral del Monte, Hidalgo, which keeps the original facilities, furniture and medical equipment. Pachuca's mining archive and museum runs it.
Paste Museum
The Museo del Paste in Mineral del Monte, Hidalgo, is a food museum that shares and promotes the culinary and historical legacy of the paste.
Acosta Mine Museum
In Mineral del Monte, Hidalgo, the Museo de Sitio Mina de Acosta is devoted to the history of mining and is run by Pachuca's Archivo Histórico y Museo de Minería.
More drives to Omitlán
- Tulancingo to Omitlán
- Otumba to Omitlán
- Tepotzotlán to Omitlán
- Mexico City to Omitlán
- Jilotepec to Omitlán
- Zimapán to Omitlán
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 does it take to drive from Puerto Vallarta to Omitlán?
About 8 h 58 min of driving without stops, over 551 miles.
What is the driving distance from Puerto Vallarta to Omitlán?
About 551 miles (887 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 Omitlán?
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 Omitlán?
The U.S. State Department rates Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Puerto Vallarta to Omitlán?
In order: MEX-200, MEX-200D, MEX-70D, MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-M40D, MEX-85 and MEX-105. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Puerto Vallarta to Omitlán?
Closest to the road: Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 118, 0.5 mi from the route); Parque Ecológico Cubitos (park, mile 539, 0.7 mi from the route); Ex monastery of Saint Francis of Assisi, Pachuca de Soto, Hidalgo (convent, mile 542, 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.