The Wayro route from Puerto Vallarta to Tonatico is 527 miles (848 km), about 8 h 29 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 527 mi (848 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 29 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-200 → MEX-200D → MEX-70D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-55D → MEX-55 |
| Mexican states on the route | Jalisco, Nayarit, Michoacán, State of Mexico |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-200D, MEX-70D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.1 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.
How the Puerto Vallarta to Tonatico drive plays out
MEX-15D (319 mi) and MEX-55D (58 mi) carry about 72% of the 527 miles. It runs through 4 states: Jalisco, Nayarit, Michoacán, State of Mexico. 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.
Road-by-road breakdown: Puerto Vallarta to Tonatico
| 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 | 485–497 | 12 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 497–498 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 498–523 | 25 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 523–527 | 4 | State of Mexico |
- 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)
Places worth a stop between Puerto Vallarta and Tonatico
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 444), Cosmovitral (mile 484)
- Nature and outdoors: Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 49), Museo de Ciencias Naturales del Estado de México (mile 485)
- Museums and history: Guachimontones (mile 163), Casa Museo López Portillo (mile 193), Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 403), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 444), Calixtlahuaca (mile 480), Cosmovitral (mile 484), Museo de Ciencias Naturales del Estado de México (mile 485)
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.
Guachimontones
Western Mexico's first large population center, according to INAH, took shape near Teuchitlán around 1000 BC. Guachimontones stands out for its round architecture, with roughly 40 circular structures across the site.
Casa Museo López Portillo
Opened on May 10, 1982, this house museum in Guadalajara's historic center showcases decorative arts and promotes work by young artists from the metro area.
Teatro Morelos de Maravatío
Maravatío's Teatro Morelos is a late-19th-century theater in a French-influenced neoclassical style, designed by architect Rafael Guerrero Torres. It opened on January 11, 1879, with a performance by opera singer Ángela Peralta.
Cathedral of Atlacomulco
The seat of the Diocese of Atlacomulco is the Catedral de la Divina Providencia, which serves as the main Catholic church in town and takes its dedication from Divine Providence.
Calixtlahuaca
Spread over the slopes of Cerro Tenismó near Toluca, this site's standout is the round Temple of Ehécatl-Quetzalcóatl, rebuilt in four phases. Nearby, a Mexica-era skull rack displays stone skulls set into cross-shaped walls.
Cosmovitral
Toluca's Cosmovitral wraps a botanical garden of more than 500 plant species in a huge stained-glass work designed by artist Leopoldo Flores. Light filtering through the colored glass sets the mood as you walk the garden paths.
Museo de Ciencias Naturales del Estado de México
Set in the Parque de los Matlatzincas on Cerro del Calvario, the Natural Sciences Museum of the State of Mexico explores biology, geology and the preservation of natural resources.
More drives to Tonatico
- Valle de Bravo to Tonatico
- Zitácuaro to Tonatico
- Tlalpujahua to Tonatico
- Amealco to Tonatico
- San Juan del Río to Tonatico
- Tequisquiapan to Tonatico
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 Tonatico?
About 8 h 29 min of driving without stops, over 527 miles.
What is the driving distance from Puerto Vallarta to Tonatico?
About 527 miles (848 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 Tonatico?
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 Tonatico?
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 (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Puerto Vallarta to Tonatico?
In order: MEX-200, MEX-200D, MEX-70D, MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-55D and MEX-55. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Puerto Vallarta and Tonatico?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Atlacomulco (cathedral, mile 444, 0.4 mi from the route); Cosmovitral (museum, mile 484, 0.8 mi from the route); Museo de Ciencias Naturales del Estado de México (museum, mile 485, 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.