By road, Puerto Vallarta and Tepatitlán are about 239 miles (384 km) apart, or roughly 3 h 55 min of driving.
| Total distance | 239 mi (384 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 3 h 55 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-200 → MEX-200D → MEX-70D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-80D |
| Mexican states on the route | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-200D, MEX-70D, MEX-15D, MEX-80D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.5 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.
What the drive from Puerto Vallarta to Tepatitlán is like
MEX-15D (86 mi) and MEX-200D (53 mi) carry about 58% of the 239 miles. It runs through 2 states: Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-200D, MEX-70D and MEX-15D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Puerto Vallarta to Tepatitlán: 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 | 189–209 | 20 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 209–211 | 2 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 211–236 | 25 | Jalisco |
| local roads | 236–239 | 3 | Jalisco |
- Mile 16 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
- Mile 129 of this route: Nayarit → Jalisco (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Puerto Vallarta and Tepatitlán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ixtlán del Rio (mile 118), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 148), Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 188), Statue of Minerva, Guadalajara (mile 191)
- Nature and outdoors: Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 49), Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 188), Parque Walt Disney (mile 194)
- Museums and history: Ixtlán del Rio (mile 118), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 148), National Museum of Tequila (mile 158), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 196)
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
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.
Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería
In the municipality of Magdalena, Mexico, an interpretive museum focuses on two subjects: the agave landscape and mining.
National Museum of Tequila
The National Museum of Tequila (MUNAT) in the town of Tequila tells the story of the spirit that put this corner of Jalisco on the map. The state government took it back in 2026 and announced a reopening with refreshed exhibits.
Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara
Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara is a public park in Zapopan, Jalisco, that hosts many events, including concerts, outdoor movie screenings and food festivals.
Statue of Minerva, Guadalajara
At a roundabout fountain in Guadalajara, a bronze statue of Minerva, Roman goddess of wisdom, stands on a large pedestal inscribed with the names of 18 notable citizens.
Exconvento del Carmen
Built in the 17th century for the Discalced Carmelites, the Ex Convento del Carmen in Guadalajara is now a cultural venue with a long religious history.
Parque Walt Disney
Despite sharing a name with Walt Disney, this recreational space in Guadalajara's Colonia Olímpica has no direct theme tied to Disney's amusement parks.
Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque
On Independencia Street in central Tlaquepaque, Jalisco, the Museo Regional de la Cerámica is one of the city's two main ceramics museums, alongside the Pantaleón Panduro Museum.
More drives to Tepatitlán
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Tepatitlán
- Zacatecas to Tepatitlán
- Fresnillo to Tepatitlán
- Durango to Tepatitlán
- Mazatlán to Tepatitlán
- Culiacán to Tepatitlán
From Puerto Vallarta to other places in Mexico
- Puerto Vallarta to Tecomán
- Puerto Vallarta to El Rosario, Sinaloa
- Puerto Vallarta to Nochistlán
- Puerto Vallarta to San Ignacio, Sinaloa, Sinaloa
- Puerto Vallarta to Pabellón de Arteaga
- Puerto Vallarta to Pabellón de Hidalgo
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Puerto Vallarta to Tepatitlán?
About 3 h 55 min of driving without stops, over 239 miles.
What is the driving distance from Puerto Vallarta to Tepatitlán?
About 239 miles (384 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 Tepatitlán?
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 Tepatitlán?
The U.S. State Department rates Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Puerto Vallarta to Tepatitlán?
In order: MEX-200, MEX-200D, MEX-70D, MEX-15D, MEX-15 and MEX-80D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Puerto Vallarta to Tepatitlán?
Closest to the road: Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 118, 0.5 mi from the route); Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (museum, mile 148, 0.5 mi from the route); Statue of Minerva, Guadalajara (statue, mile 191, 0.8 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.