Plan on about 8 h 50 min of driving for the 535-mile (861 km) trip from Tonatico to Mismaloya, before any stops.
| Distance by road | 535 mi (861 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 50 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-55D → MEX-55 → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-70D → MEX-200D → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-55D, MEX-15D, MEX-70D, MEX-200D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.4 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.
On the road from Tonatico to Mismaloya
MEX-15D (320 mi) and MEX-200D (54 mi) carry about 70% of the 535 miles. It runs through 4 states: State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-55D, MEX-15D and MEX-70D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Tonatico and Mismaloya
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 4–28 | 24 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 28–30 | 2 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 30–41 | 11 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 41–52 | 11 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 52–81 | 29 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 81–84 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 84–85 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 85–341 | 256 | State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 341–350 | 9 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 350–414 | 64 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 414–449 | 35 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 449–467 | 18 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 467–521 | 54 | Nayarit, Jalisco |
| MEX-200 | 521–535 | 14 | Jalisco |
- Mile 103 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 270 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 398 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
- Mile 511 of this route: Nayarit → Jalisco (state line)
Stops between Tonatico and Mismaloya
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cosmovitral (mile 43), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 82), Museo Arqueológico de Puerto Vallarta Cuale (mile 528)
- Nature and outdoors: Costalegre (mile 523)
- Museums and history: Cosmovitral (mile 43), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 82), Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 123), Guadalajara city museum (mile 334), Guachimontones (mile 364), Museo Arqueológico de Puerto Vallarta Cuale (mile 528)
- With kids: Acuario Michin Guadalajara (mile 335)
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.
Cathedral of Atlacomulco
Atlacomulco's cathedral, the Catedral de la Divina Providencia, is the seat of the Diocese of Atlacomulco and is dedicated to Divine Providence, making it the town's principal Catholic church.
Teatro Morelos de Maravatío
Opera singer Ángela Peralta performed at the opening of Maravatío's Teatro Morelos on January 11, 1879. Architect Rafael Guerrero Torres designed the building in a neoclassical style with French influence.
Guadalajara city museum
Guadalajara's city museum (Museo de la Ciudad), in the historic center, opened on February 14, 1992, and covers the city's history and many sides of its culture.
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.
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.
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.
Once you reach 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 Tonatico to other places in Mexico
- Tonatico to El Oro
- Tonatico to Bernal
- Tonatico to Mineral de Pozos
- Tonatico to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Tonatico to Cuanajo
- Tonatico to Tócuaro
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Tonatico to Mismaloya?
About 8 h 50 min of driving without stops, over 535 miles.
How far is Mismaloya from Tonatico by car?
About 535 miles (861 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 Tonatico 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 Tonatico to Mismaloya?
The U.S. State Department rates State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; 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 Tonatico to Mismaloya?
In order: MEX-55D, MEX-55, MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-70D, MEX-200D and MEX-200. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Tonatico to Mismaloya?
Closest to the road: Cosmovitral (museum, mile 43, 0.8 mi from the route); Cathedral of Atlacomulco (cathedral, mile 82, 0.1 mi from the route); Museo Arqueológico de Puerto Vallarta Cuale (museum, mile 528, 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.