The Wayro route from Puerto Vallarta to Pinal de Amoles is 496 miles (798 km), about 9 h 16 min of driving without stops.
| Distance by road | 496 mi (798 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 16 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-200 → MEX-200D → MEX-70D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-110 → MEX-90 → MEX-45D → MEX-57D → QRO 4 → QRO 100 → MEX-120 |
| Mexican states on the route | Jalisco, Nayarit, Michoacán, Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-200D, MEX-70D, MEX-15D, MEX-45D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.8 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.
On the road from Puerto Vallarta to Pinal de Amoles
MEX-15D (138 mi) and MEX-45D (67 mi) carry about 41% of the 496 miles. It runs through 5 states: Jalisco, Nayarit, Michoacán, Guanajuato, Querétaro. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-200D, MEX-70D and MEX-15D. None of the 9 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Road-by-road breakdown: Puerto Vallarta to Pinal de Amoles
| 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 | 189–261 | 72 | Jalisco, Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 261–262 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-110 | 262–297 | 35 | Michoacán, Guanajuato |
| MEX-90 | 297–342 | 45 | Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 342–343 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 343–410 | 67 | Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 410–420 | 10 | Querétaro |
| connecting roads | 420–421 | 1 | Querétaro |
| QRO 4 | 421–440 | 19 | Querétaro |
| QRO 100 | 440–449 | 9 | Querétaro |
| local roads | 449–454 | 5 | Querétaro |
| QRO 100 | 454–467 | 13 | Querétaro |
| MEX-120 | 467–495 | 28 | Querétaro |
| local roads | 495–496 | 1 | Querétaro |
- 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 287 of this route: Michoacán → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 401 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Pinal de Amoles
- Nature and outdoors: Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 49), Agua Azul (mile 193)
- Museums and history: Guachimontones (mile 163), Panteón de Belén (mile 193), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 196), Plazuelas (mile 305), Irapuato Cathedral (mile 345), Querétaro Cathedral (mile 408), Queretaro Art Museum (mile 408)
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.
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.
Panteón de Belén
A historic cemetery in Guadalajara, Panteón de Belén is known for its legends and offers night tours.
Agua Azul
Parque Agua Azul is an urban park on Calzada Independencia in Guadalajara's historic center, a green stop close to downtown.
Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque
Tlaquepaque has two main ceramics museums, and this is one of them: the Museo Regional de la Cerámica, on Independencia Street in the center of town. The other is the Pantaleón Panduro Museum.
Plazuelas
Near Pénjamo, Plazuelas flourished between AD 450 and 700. Trails lead to Casas Tapadas, a platform crowned by four pyramid bases, a ball court, and rocks carved with spirals and La Maqueta, a low-relief model of Casas Tapadas.
Irapuato Cathedral
Irapuato's cathedral, dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, dates from the 18th century and has a Baroque facade. It served as the seat of the local parish until 2004, when the new Diocese of Irapuato made it a cathedral.
Querétaro Cathedral
Querétaro's cathedral, dedicated to St. Philip Neri, is a Catholic church built by the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri in Santiago de Querétaro.
Queretaro Art Museum
Set in the cloister of the former San Agustín convent, the Museo de Arte de Querétaro opened in 1988 and shows paintings and sculpture across fifteen galleries.
More drives to Pinal de Amoles
- Celaya to Pinal de Amoles
- Irapuato to Pinal de Amoles
- Pénjamo to Pinal de Amoles
- Mexico City to Pinal de Amoles
- Zitácuaro to Pinal de Amoles
- Morelia to Pinal de Amoles
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 Pinal de Amoles?
About 9 h 16 min of driving without stops, over 496 miles.
What is the driving distance from Puerto Vallarta to Pinal de Amoles?
About 496 miles (798 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 Pinal de Amoles?
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 Pinal de Amoles?
The U.S. State Department rates Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Puerto Vallarta to Pinal de Amoles?
In order: MEX-200, MEX-200D, MEX-70D, MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-110, MEX-90, MEX-45D, MEX-57D, QRO 4, QRO 100 and MEX-120. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Puerto Vallarta to Pinal de Amoles?
Closest to the road: Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (museum, mile 196, 1 mi from the route); Queretaro Art Museum (art museum, mile 408, 1 mi from the route); Querétaro Cathedral (cathedral, mile 408, 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.