The Wayro route from Querétaro to Puerto Vallarta is 409 miles (659 km), about 7 h 2 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 409 mi (659 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 2 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-45D → MEX-90 → MEX-90D → MEX-110 → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-70D → MEX-200D → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | Querétaro, Guanajuato, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-45D, MEX-90D, MEX-15D, MEX-70D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.4 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 Querétaro to Puerto Vallarta is like
MEX-15D (140 mi) and MEX-45D (64 mi) carry about 50% of the 409 miles. It runs through 5 states: Querétaro, Guanajuato, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-45D, MEX-90D and MEX-15D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Querétaro to Puerto Vallarta, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Querétaro |
| MEX-45D | 2–66 | 64 | Querétaro, Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 66–67 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-90 | 67–112 | 45 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-90D | 112–126 | 14 | Guanajuato, Michoacán |
| MEX-110 | 126–147 | 21 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 147–148 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 148–223 | 75 | Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 223–232 | 9 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 232–297 | 65 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 297–331 | 34 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 331–350 | 19 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 350–403 | 53 | Nayarit, Jalisco |
| MEX-200 | 403–409 | 6 | Jalisco |
- Mile 9 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 124 of this route: Guanajuato → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 153 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 280 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
- Mile 394 of this route: Nayarit → Jalisco (state line)
What to see on the way from Querétaro to Puerto Vallarta
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ixtlán del Rio (mile 291)
- Nature and outdoors: Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 360)
- Museums and history: Celaya Cathedral (mile 29), Irapuato Cathedral (mile 65), Plazuelas (mile 104), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 213), Museum of Paleontology of Guadalajara (mile 216), Museo del Periodismo y las Artes Gráficas (mile 216), Guachimontones (mile 245), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 291)
Celaya Cathedral
The space now taken by the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, the main Catholic church in Celaya, was once a chapel annexed to the Temple of St. Francis next door.
Irapuato Cathedral
Irapuato's cathedral, dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, dates from the 18th century and has a Baroque facade. It served as the seat of the local parish until 2004, when the new Diocese of Irapuato made it a cathedral.
Plazuelas
Near Pénjamo, Plazuelas flourished between AD 450 and 700. Trails lead to Casas Tapadas, a platform crowned by four pyramid bases, a ball court, and rocks carved with spirals and La Maqueta, a low-relief model of Casas Tapadas.
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.
Museum of Paleontology of Guadalajara
Fossils are the focus at Guadalajara's Museum of Paleontology, which opened in 2000 inside Parque Agua Azul with exhibits developed alongside INAH, Mexico's national anthropology and history institute.
Museo del Periodismo y las Artes Gráficas
The Museo del Periodismo y las Artes Gráficas stands on Paseo Alcalde, formerly Avenida Alcalde, in the city of Guadalajara, Jalisco.
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.
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.
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.
In Puerto Vallarta itself
Rosita Beach
Next to the Malecón in Puerto Vallarta's Centro, Rosita Beach shares its name with one of the city's long-standing hotels.
Museo Arqueológico de Puerto Vallarta Cuale
The Museo Arqueológico de Puerto Vallarta Cuale presents crafts along with the hunting and gathering items used in pre-Hispanic times, with a focus on western Mexico.
Parque Lineal
Parque Lineal is a linear park in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, with a skatepark among its features.
More drives to Puerto Vallarta
- Aguascalientes to Puerto Vallarta
- Uruapan to Puerto Vallarta
- Salamanca to Puerto Vallarta
- San Luis Potosí to Puerto Vallarta
- Fresnillo to Puerto Vallarta
- San Juan del Río to Puerto Vallarta
From Querétaro to other places in Mexico
- Querétaro to Pinos
- Querétaro to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Querétaro to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Querétaro to Real de Asientos
- Querétaro to Guadalupe, Zacatecas
- Querétaro to Amatitán
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Querétaro to Puerto Vallarta?
About 7 h 2 min of driving without stops, over 409 miles.
What is the driving distance from Querétaro to Puerto Vallarta?
About 409 miles (659 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 Querétaro to Puerto Vallarta?
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 Querétaro to Puerto Vallarta?
The U.S. State Department rates Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; 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 Querétaro to Puerto Vallarta?
In order: MEX-45D, MEX-90, MEX-90D, MEX-110, MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-70D, MEX-200D and MEX-200. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Querétaro and Puerto Vallarta?
Closest to the road: Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (museum, mile 213, 1 mi from the route); Museum of Paleontology of Guadalajara (museum, mile 216, 1 mi from the route); Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 291, 0.5 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.