Plan on about 4 h 48 min of driving for the 248-mile (399 km) trip from Tepic to Barra de Navidad, before any stops.
| Distance by road | 248 mi (399 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 4 h 48 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15D → MEX-200D → MEX-70D → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | Nayarit, Jalisco |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-15D, MEX-200D, MEX-70D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
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 Tepic to Barra de Navidad is like
MEX-200 (142 mi) and MEX-200D (77 mi) carry about 88% of the 248 miles. It runs through 2 states: Nayarit, Jalisco. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-15D, MEX-200D and MEX-70D. Of the 6 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Tepic and Barra de Navidad
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–5 | 5 | Nayarit |
| MEX-15D | 5–8 | 3 | Nayarit |
| connecting roads | 8–9 | 1 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 9–34 | 25 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 34–52 | 18 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 52–104 | 52 | Nayarit, Jalisco |
| MEX-200 | 104–246 | 142 | Jalisco |
| local roads | 246–248 | 2 | Jalisco |
- Mile 96 of this route: Nayarit → Jalisco (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Barra de Navidad
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Rosita Beach (mile 111), Vallarta Botanical Garden (mile 127)
- Nature and outdoors: Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 62), Costalegre (mile 106), Rosita Beach (mile 111), Vallarta Botanical Garden (mile 127), Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve (mile 209)
Rincón de Guayabitos
Visitors from Guadalajara and Tepic often head to this Nayarit beach town in the municipality of Compostela. Its shore runs about two kilometers, and the waves tend to be calm.
Costalegre
Costalegre is a string of beaches, capes and bays of many sizes along Jalisco's Pacific coast, between Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo.
Parque Lineal
Parque Lineal is a linear park in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, with a skatepark among its features.
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.
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.
Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve
On the Pacific coast of Jalisco in La Huerta municipality, the Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve was founded in 1993 and covers about 131 square kilometers.
More drives to Barra de Navidad
- Cotija to Barra de Navidad
- Tepatitlán to Barra de Navidad
- San Juan de los Lagos to Barra de Navidad
- Nochistlán to Barra de Navidad
- Jalpa to Barra de Navidad
- Pátzcuaro to Barra de Navidad
From Tepic to other places in Mexico
- Tepic to Amatitán
- Tepic to Ajijic
- Tepic to Tepatitlán
- Tepic to Temacapulín
- Tepic to Nochistlán
- Tepic to San Juan de los Lagos
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Tepic to Barra de Navidad?
About 4 h 48 min of driving without stops, over 248 miles.
How far is Barra de Navidad from Tepic by car?
About 248 miles (399 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 Tepic to Barra de Navidad?
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 Tepic to Barra de Navidad?
The U.S. State Department rates Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Tepic to Barra de Navidad?
In order: MEX-15D, MEX-200D, MEX-70D and MEX-200. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Tepic to Barra de Navidad?
Closest to the road: Costalegre (beach, mile 106, 1 mi from the route); Rosita Beach (beach, mile 111, 0.2 mi from the route); Vallarta Botanical Garden (botanical garden, mile 127, 0.2 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.