The Wayro route from Real de Catorce to Mismaloya is 527 miles (848 km), about 10 h 4 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 527 mi (848 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 10 h 4 min |
| Main roads, in order | SLP 43 → MEX-63 → MEX-49 → MEX-57D → MEX-70 → MEX-80 → MEX-80D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-70D → MEX-200D → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-57D, MEX-80D, MEX-90D, MEX-15D |
| 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.
The Real de Catorce–Mismaloya drive in a few lines
MEX-80D (128 mi) and MEX-15D (76 mi) carry about 39% of the 527 miles. It runs through 4 states: San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-57D, MEX-80D and MEX-90D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Real de Catorce to Mismaloya: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–7 | 7 | San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 43 | 7–40 | 33 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-63 | 40–114 | 74 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-49 | 114–125 | 11 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 125–140 | 15 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-70 | 140–157 | 17 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-80 | 157–160 | 3 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-80D | 160–201 | 41 | San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Jalisco |
| MEX-80 | 201–234 | 33 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 234–321 | 87 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 321–332 | 11 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 332–341 | 9 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 341–406 | 65 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 406–441 | 35 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 441–459 | 18 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 459–513 | 54 | Nayarit, Jalisco |
| MEX-200 | 513–527 | 14 | Jalisco |
- Mile 167 of this route: San Luis Potosí → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 178 of this route: Guanajuato → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 390 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
- Mile 503 of this route: Nayarit → Jalisco (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Real de Catorce and Mismaloya
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Teatro José Rosas Moreno (mile 211), Las Glorias Beach (mile 517)
- Nature and outdoors: Agua Azul (mile 325), Costalegre (mile 514), Las Glorias Beach (mile 517)
- Museums and history: San Luis Potosí Cathedral (mile 131), Teatro José Rosas Moreno (mile 211), Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos (mile 240), Museum of Paleontology of Guadalajara (mile 325), Guachimontones (mile 355)
San Luis Potosí Cathedral
San Luis Potosí's cathedral anchors the city's historic center, which UNESCO lists as a component of the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro World Heritage Site.
Teatro José Rosas Moreno
Construction of the Teatro José Rosas Moreno in Lagos de Moreno began in 1867, and the theater opened on May 5, 1907. It is named for Jalisco writer José Rosas Moreno.
Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos
Pilgrims come from far and wide to San Juan de los Lagos to see the small image of the Virgin kept in this cathedral basilica, built between 1732 and 1769. Inside are Gothic-style ribbed vaults and a silver-framed Way of the Cross.
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.
Agua Azul
Parque Agua Azul is an urban park on Calzada Independencia in Guadalajara's historic center, a green stop close to downtown.
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.
Costalegre
Costalegre is a string of beaches, capes and bays of many sizes along Jalisco's Pacific coast, between Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo.
Las Glorias Beach
Las Glorias Beach in Puerto Vallarta runs about 3,080 feet between Los Tules Beach and Tranquila Beach.
Arriving in Mismaloya
Vallarta Botanical Garden
At about 1,300 feet above sea level near Puerto Vallarta, the Vallarta Botanical Garden covers 79 acres, 73 of them set aside as a reserve, and has been open to the public since 2005.
More drives to Mismaloya
- San Blas to Mismaloya
- Tepic to Mismaloya
- Tequila to Mismaloya
- Amatitán to Mismaloya
- Guadalajara to Mismaloya
- Ajijic to Mismaloya
From Real de Catorce to other places in Mexico
- Real de Catorce to Tócuaro
- Real de Catorce to Pacanda
- Real de Catorce to Omitlán
- Real de Catorce to Huasca de Ocampo
- Real de Catorce to Boca de Pascuales
- Real de Catorce to Chacala
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Real de Catorce to Mismaloya?
About 10 h 4 min of driving without stops, over 527 miles.
What is the driving distance from Real de Catorce to Mismaloya?
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 Real de Catorce to Mismaloya?
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 Real de Catorce to Mismaloya?
The U.S. State Department rates San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Real de Catorce to Mismaloya use?
In order: SLP 43, MEX-63, MEX-49, MEX-57D, MEX-70, MEX-80, MEX-80D, 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 Real de Catorce and Mismaloya?
Closest to the road: Teatro José Rosas Moreno (opera house, mile 211, 0.4 mi from the route); Museum of Paleontology of Guadalajara (museum, mile 325, 1 mi from the route); Las Glorias Beach (beach, mile 517, 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.