Puerto Vallarta to Tepoztlán is about 546 road miles (878 km): roughly 9 h 25 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance by road | 546 mi (878 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 25 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-200 → MEX-200D → MEX-70D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-55D → MEX-55 → EM 44 → MEX-95D → MEX-160D |
| Mexican states on the route | Jalisco, Nayarit, Michoacán, State of Mexico, Morelos |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-200D, MEX-70D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.8 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.
What the drive from Puerto Vallarta to Tepoztlán is like
MEX-15D (319 mi) and MEX-200D (53 mi) carry about 68% of the 546 miles. It runs through 5 states: Jalisco, Nayarit, Michoacán, State of Mexico, Morelos. 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.
The route from Puerto Vallarta to Tepoztlán, 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 | 6–59 | 53 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 59–111 | 52 | Nayarit |
| MEX-15D | 111–177 | 66 | Nayarit, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 177–189 | 12 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 189–442 | 253 | Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 442–446 | 4 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 446–479 | 33 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 479–485 | 6 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 485–491 | 6 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 491–492 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| EM 44 | 492–500 | 8 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 500–502 | 2 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 502–507 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-200 | 507–511 | 4 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 511–526 | 15 | State of Mexico, Morelos |
| connecting roads | 526–533 | 7 | Morelos |
| MEX-95D | 533–539 | 6 | Morelos |
| MEX-160D | 539–543 | 4 | Morelos |
| local roads | 543–546 | 3 | Morelos |
- 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 424 of this route: Michoacán → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 518 of this route: State of Mexico → Morelos (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Puerto Vallarta and Tepoztlán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ixtlán del Rio (mile 118), Toluca Cathedral (mile 484), Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (mile 520)
- Nature and outdoors: Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 49), Rayón National Park (mile 421), La Marquesa National Park (mile 500), Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (mile 520)
- Museums and history: Ixtlán del Rio (mile 118), Guachimontones (mile 163), Basílica de San Felipe Neri (mile 193), Toluca Cathedral (mile 484), Museo Fotográfico de Cuernavaca (mile 533)
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
A temple built on a completely round floor plan, unusual anywhere in Mesoamerica, is the highlight at the Ixtlán del Río archaeological site, which locals call Los Toriles. An introductory gallery explains the finds.
Guachimontones
About 40 circular buildings and two ball courts spread over 20 hectares at Guachimontones, outside Teuchitlán. INAH calls it western Mexico's first large population center, dating back to around 1000 BC.
Basílica de San Felipe Neri
Guadalajara's Basilica of San Felipe Neri is a Catholic church built in baroque style between 1752 and 1802 by master builder Pedro José Ciprés.
Rayón National Park
On the outskirts of Tlalpujahua, Parque Nacional Rayón is the gateway to the area's well-known butterfly reserves, which spread out to the south and west of the park.
Toluca Cathedral
Begun in 1867 and finished only in 1978, Toluca's Cathedral of Saint Joseph has a neoclassical facade and a bronze statue of the saint on its dome. It also preserves the 18th-century baroque front of the former San Elzeario church.
La Marquesa National Park
Set in high-altitude conifer forest along the Mexico City–Toluca highway, La Marquesa National Park offers roadside eateries, horse and ATV rentals, mountain biking and camping, and marks the site of the 1810 Battle of Monte de las Cruces.
Lagunas de Zempoala National Park
Seven lagoons, three of them permanent, sit among pine, oak and fir forest above 3,000 meters in this park, decreed in 1936 on the Morelos–State of Mexico line. Hiking, horseback riding, camping and rowboats are popular here.
Museo Fotográfico de Cuernavaca
The Museo Fotográfico de Cuernavaca is a photography museum in Cuernavaca, Morelos, housed in a building that resembles a French-style castle.
In Tepoztlán itself
Tepoztlán Ex Convento Museum
Tepoztlán's Dominican monastery, built between 1555 and 1580, keeps original 16th-century murals in its cloister. Upstairs, the museum covers local daily life, faith, festivals and dances, and the complex is part of a UNESCO World Heritage listing.
Museo Carlos Pellicer
Tepoztlán's Museo de Arte Prehispánico Carlos Pellicer, opened in 1965 and named for the poet and museographer, displays a collection of pre-Hispanic objects in the former granary of the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Natividad.
El Tepozteco National Park
Eroded volcanic hills of the Sierra de Tepoztlán fill this national park, about half of which lies in Mexico City's Milpa Alta borough. A short, steep climb leads to the Tepozteco archaeological zone; wear good shoes, since the rocks get slippery.
More drives to Tepoztlán
- Mexico City to Tepoztlán
- Metepec to Tepoztlán
- Toluca to Tepoztlán
- Atlixco to Tepoztlán
- Taxco to Tepoztlán
- Tepotzotlán to Tepoztlán
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 is the drive from Puerto Vallarta to Tepoztlán?
About 9 h 25 min of driving without stops, over 546 miles.
What is the driving distance from Puerto Vallarta to Tepoztlán?
About 546 miles (878 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 Tepoztlán?
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 Tepoztlán?
The U.S. State Department rates Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Morelos Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Puerto Vallarta to Tepoztlán?
In order: MEX-200, MEX-200D, MEX-70D, MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-55D, MEX-55, EM 44, MEX-95D and MEX-160D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Puerto Vallarta and Tepoztlán?
Closest to the road: Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 118, 0.5 mi from the route); Toluca Cathedral (cathedral, mile 484, 1 mi from the route); Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (national park, mile 520, 0.3 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.