Plan on about 6 h 44 min of driving for the 335-mile (539 km) trip from Puerto Vallarta to San Ignacio, Sinaloa, Sinaloa, before any stops.
| Distance | 335 mi (539 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 6 h 44 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-200 → MEX-200D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → SIN 407 |
| Mexican states on the route | Jalisco, Nayarit, Sinaloa |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-200D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
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 San Ignacio, Sinaloa: the shape of the trip
MEX-15D (169 mi) and MEX-200 (58 mi) carry about 68% of the 335 miles. It runs through 3 states: Jalisco, Nayarit, Sinaloa. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-200D and MEX-15D. None of the 3 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Puerto Vallarta to San Ignacio, Sinaloa, 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 | 107–276 | 169 | Nayarit, Sinaloa |
| MEX-15 | 276–314 | 38 | Sinaloa |
| SIN 407 | 314–334 | 20 | Sinaloa |
| local roads | 334–335 | 1 | Sinaloa |
- Mile 16 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
- Mile 190 of this route: Nayarit → Sinaloa (state line)
What to see on the way from Puerto Vallarta to San Ignacio, Sinaloa
- Nature and outdoors: Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 49), Agua Grande Lagoon (mile 215)
- Museums and history: Museo Regional de Nayarit (mile 109)
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.
Museo Regional de Nayarit
In the city of Tepic, the Museo Regional de Nayarit focuses on the different cultural traditions of pre-Hispanic Nayarit.
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.
More drives to San Ignacio, Sinaloa
- Calvillo to San Ignacio, Sinaloa
- Aguascalientes to San Ignacio, Sinaloa
- San Juan de los Lagos to San Ignacio, Sinaloa
- Tepatitlán to San Ignacio, Sinaloa
- Amatitán to San Ignacio, Sinaloa
- Mazamitla to San Ignacio, Sinaloa
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 Pabellón de Arteaga
- Puerto Vallarta to Pabellón de Hidalgo
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Puerto Vallarta to San Ignacio, Sinaloa, Sinaloa?
About 6 h 44 min of driving without stops, over 335 miles.
How far is San Ignacio, Sinaloa, Sinaloa from Puerto Vallarta by car?
About 335 miles (539 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 San Ignacio, Sinaloa?
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 San Ignacio, Sinaloa?
The U.S. State Department rates Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Sinaloa Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Puerto Vallarta to San Ignacio, Sinaloa use?
In order: MEX-200, MEX-200D, MEX-15D, MEX-15 and SIN 407. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Puerto Vallarta and San Ignacio, Sinaloa?
Closest to the road: Rincón de Guayabitos (beach, mile 49, 2 mi from the route); Museo Regional de Nayarit (museum, mile 109, 1 mi from the route); Agua Grande Lagoon (lagoon, mile 215, 5 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.