By road, San Luis Potosí and Puerto Vallarta are about 398 miles (640 km) apart, or roughly 6 h 46 min of driving.
| Distance | 398 mi (640 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 46 min |
| Main roads, in order | 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 15.9 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 San Luis Potosí to Puerto Vallarta is like
MEX-80D (127 mi) and MEX-15D (77 mi) carry about 51% of the 398 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 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from San Luis Potosí to Puerto Vallarta
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–9 | 9 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 9–19 | 10 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-70 | 19–36 | 17 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-80 | 36–39 | 3 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-80D | 39–81 | 42 | San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Jalisco |
| MEX-80 | 81–114 | 33 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 114–199 | 85 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 199–211 | 12 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 211–221 | 10 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 221–286 | 65 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 286–320 | 34 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 320–338 | 18 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 338–391 | 53 | Nayarit, Jalisco |
| MEX-200 | 391–397 | 6 | Jalisco |
| local roads | 397–398 | 1 | Jalisco |
- Mile 46 of this route: San Luis Potosí → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 57 of this route: Guanajuato → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 269 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
- Mile 382 of this route: Nayarit → Jalisco (state line)
Places worth a stop between San Luis Potosí and Puerto Vallarta
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Teatro José Rosas Moreno (mile 90), Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (mile 90), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 280)
- Nature and outdoors: Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 349)
- Museums and history: Teatro José Rosas Moreno (mile 90), Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (mile 90), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 201), Guachimontones (mile 234), National Museum of Tequila (mile 240), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 280)
- With kids: Acuario Michin Guadalajara (mile 206)
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.
Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera
The Museo Casa Agustín Rivera Altos de Jalisco is a museum you'll find in the town of Lagos de Moreno, in the state of Jalisco.
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.
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.
Acuario Michin Guadalajara
Acuario Michin Guadalajara is an aquarium in the city of Guadalajara, in the Mexican state of Jalisco.
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.
National Museum of Tequila
In the town of Tequila, MUNAT, the National Museum of Tequila, covers the history of the drink behind the region's fame. Jalisco's state government reclaimed the museum in 2026 and announced it will reopen with updated exhibits.
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
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.
Once you reach Puerto Vallarta
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
- Querétaro to Puerto Vallarta
- Fresnillo to Puerto Vallarta
- San Juan del Río to Puerto Vallarta
From San Luis Potosí to other places in Mexico
- San Luis Potosí to Guanajuato
- San Luis Potosí to Salamanca
- San Luis Potosí to Calvillo
- San Luis Potosí to Pedro Escobedo
- San Luis Potosí to Celaya
- San Luis Potosí to Jalpa
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from San Luis Potosí to Puerto Vallarta?
About 6 h 46 min of driving without stops, over 398 miles.
What is the driving distance from San Luis Potosí to Puerto Vallarta?
About 398 miles (640 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 San Luis Potosí 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 San Luis Potosí to Puerto Vallarta?
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 San Luis Potosí to Puerto Vallarta use?
In order: 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 San Luis Potosí and Puerto Vallarta?
Closest to the road: Teatro José Rosas Moreno (opera house, mile 90, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (museum, mile 90, 0.4 mi from the route); Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 280, 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.