Plan on about 8 h 43 min of driving for the 485-mile (780 km) trip from Puerto Vallarta to Rioverde, before any stops.
| Distance by road | 485 mi (780 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 43 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-200 → MEX-200D → MEX-70D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-80D → MEX-80 → SLP 80D → MEX-57D → MEX-70 |
| Mexican states on the route | Jalisco, Nayarit, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-200D, MEX-70D, MEX-15D, MEX-80D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
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 Rioverde: the shape of the trip
MEX-80D (114 mi) and MEX-15D (86 mi) carry about 41% of the 485 miles. It runs through 4 states: Jalisco, Nayarit, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-200D, MEX-70D and MEX-15D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Puerto Vallarta to Rioverde
| 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 |
| MEX-80 | 284–317 | 33 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 317–358 | 41 | Jalisco, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| connecting roads | 358–359 | 1 | San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 80D | 359–406 | 47 | San Luis Potosí |
| connecting roads | 406–408 | 2 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 408–414 | 6 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-70 | 414–482 | 68 | San Luis Potosí |
| local roads | 482–485 | 3 | San Luis Potosí |
- Mile 16 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
- Mile 129 of this route: Nayarit → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 342 of this route: Jalisco → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 352 of this route: Guanajuato → San Luis Potosí (state line)
Places worth a stop between Puerto Vallarta and Rioverde
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Teatro José Rosas Moreno (mile 307), Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (mile 308)
- Nature and outdoors: Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 49), El Gogorrón National Park (mile 388), El Potosí National Park (mile 459)
- Museums and history: National Museum of Tequila (mile 158), Universidad de Guadalajara. Museo de las Artes (mile 192), Teocaltitan Archaeological Site (mile 272), Teatro José Rosas Moreno (mile 307), Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (mile 308)
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.
National Museum of Tequila
In the town of Tequila, MUNAT, the National Museum of Tequila, covers the history of the drink behind the region's fame. Jalisco's state government reclaimed the museum in 2026 and announced it will reopen with updated exhibits.
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.
Teocaltitan Archaeological Site
Near Jalostotitlán in the Los Altos region, the Teocaltitán site holds pyramids, sunken patios and a ball court spread across about nine hectares, built by a people who dominated much of the area from AD 400 to 900.
Teatro José Rosas Moreno
Lagos de Moreno's Teatro José Rosas Moreno opened its doors on May 5, 1907, some forty years after construction began in 1867. It honors a writer from Jalisco.
Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera
Lagos de Moreno, in the state of Jalisco, is home to the Museo Casa Agustín Rivera Altos de Jalisco, a local museum in town.
El Gogorrón National Park
Straddling San Luis Potosí and Guanajuato near Villa de Reyes, this national park offers rugged rock formations, mountain scenery and thermal springs, with camping, hiking and mountain biking.
El Potosí National Park
El Potosí National Park is a protected area in the state of San Luis Potosí, covering about 20 square kilometers.
More drives to Rioverde
- San Miguel de Allende to Rioverde
- Celaya to Rioverde
- Tepatitlán to Rioverde
- Zitácuaro to Rioverde
- Mexico City to Rioverde
- Cuernavaca to Rioverde
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 Rioverde?
About 8 h 43 min of driving without stops, over 485 miles.
What is the driving distance from Puerto Vallarta to Rioverde?
About 485 miles (780 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 Rioverde?
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 Rioverde?
The U.S. State Department rates Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Puerto Vallarta to Rioverde?
In order: MEX-200, MEX-200D, MEX-70D, MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-80D, MEX-80, SLP 80D, MEX-57D and MEX-70. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Puerto Vallarta to Rioverde?
Closest to the road: Universidad de Guadalajara. Museo de las Artes (museum, mile 192, 2 mi from the route); Teatro José Rosas Moreno (opera house, mile 307, 0.3 mi from the route); Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (museum, mile 308, 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.