By road, Puerto Vallarta and Real de Asientos are about 365 miles (587 km) apart, or roughly 6 h 29 min of driving.
| Total distance | 365 mi (587 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 29 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-200 → MEX-200D → MEX-70D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-80D → MEX-45D → MEX-45 → MEX-71 → AGS 9 → MEX-39 |
| 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 14.6 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 Real de Asientos
MEX-15D (86 mi) and MEX-80D (73 mi) carry about 44% of the 365 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, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Puerto Vallarta and Real de Asientos
| 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 | 310–340 | 30 | Jalisco, Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 340–343 | 3 | Aguascalientes |
| connecting roads | 343–344 | 1 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-71 | 344–350 | 6 | Aguascalientes |
| AGS 9 | 350–357 | 7 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-39 | 357–364 | 7 | Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 364–365 | 1 | 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)
Places worth a stop between Puerto Vallarta and Real de Asientos
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ixtlán del Rio (mile 118), Aguascalientes Cathedral (mile 328), Museum of Contemporary Art (mile 328)
- Nature and outdoors: Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 49)
- Museums and history: Ixtlán del Rio (mile 118), Guachimontones (mile 163), Universidad de Guadalajara. Museo de las Artes (mile 192), Museo de las Artes Populares de Jalisco (mile 193), Teocaltitan Archaeological Site (mile 272), Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos (mile 278), Aguascalientes Cathedral (mile 328), Museum of Contemporary Art (mile 328)
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.
Ixtlán del Rio
Between roughly 300 BC and AD 600, people made their home at Los Toriles in Ixtlán del Río. Today visitors come for its circular temple, a rare design in Mesoamerica.
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.
Universidad de Guadalajara. Museo de las Artes
The University of Guadalajara's Museo de las Artes, known as MUSA, opened on October 10, 1994, and was expanded in 2013.
Museo de las Artes Populares de Jalisco
Opened on May 31, 2000, in Guadalajara's historic center, this museum researches, safeguards and promotes the crafts and folk art of Jalisco.
Teocaltitan Archaeological Site
Pyramids, sunken patios and a ball court spread over roughly nine hectares at Teocaltitán, close to Jalostotitlán in the Los Altos region.
Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos
Pilgrims come from far and wide to San Juan de los Lagos to see the small image of the Virgin kept in this cathedral basilica, built between 1732 and 1769. Inside are Gothic-style ribbed vaults and a silver-framed Way of the Cross.
Aguascalientes Cathedral
The cathedral of Aguascalientes stands on the Plaza de la Patria in the city's historic center.
Museum of Contemporary Art
Aguascalientes' Museum of Contemporary Art shows works by contemporary Mexican artists in its Jesús F. Contreras gallery.
More drives to Real de Asientos
- El Rosario, Sinaloa to Real de Asientos
- Tepatitlán to Real de Asientos
- Guadalajara to Real de Asientos
- Amatitán to Real de Asientos
- Ajijic to Real de Asientos
- Tequila to Real de Asientos
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 Real de Asientos?
About 6 h 29 min of driving without stops, over 365 miles.
How far is Real de Asientos from Puerto Vallarta by car?
About 365 miles (587 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 Real de Asientos?
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 Real de Asientos?
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 Real de Asientos use?
In order: MEX-200, MEX-200D, MEX-70D, MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-80D, MEX-45D, MEX-45, MEX-71, AGS 9 and MEX-39. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Puerto Vallarta to Real de Asientos?
Closest to the road: Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 118, 0.5 mi from the route); Aguascalientes Cathedral (cathedral, mile 328, 0.1 mi from the route); Museum of Contemporary Art (art museum, mile 328, 0.1 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.