Uruapan to Puerto Vallarta is about 349 road miles (561 km): roughly 6 h 26 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance | 349 mi (561 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 6 h 26 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-37 → MEX-15 → MEX-15D → MEX-70D → MEX-200D → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-15D, MEX-70D, MEX-200D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.0 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.
How the Uruapan to Puerto Vallarta drive plays out
MEX-15D (156 mi) and MEX-200D (52 mi) carry about 60% of the 349 miles. It runs through 3 states: Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-15D, MEX-70D and MEX-200D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Uruapan to Puerto Vallarta, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37 | 1–19 | 18 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 19–48 | 29 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 48–58 | 10 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 58–73 | 15 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 73–163 | 90 | Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 163–171 | 8 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 171–237 | 66 | Jalisco, Nayarit |
| local roads | 237–271 | 34 | Nayarit |
| MEX-70D | 271–290 | 19 | Nayarit |
| MEX-200D | 290–342 | 52 | Nayarit, Jalisco |
| MEX-200 | 342–348 | 6 | Jalisco |
| local roads | 348–349 | 1 | Jalisco |
- Mile 93 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 221 of this route: Jalisco → Nayarit (state line)
- Mile 334 of this route: Nayarit → Jalisco (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Puerto Vallarta
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Lago de Camécuaro National Park (mile 50), Diocesan Sanctuary of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 57), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 231)
- Nature and outdoors: Lago de Camécuaro National Park (mile 50), Rincón de Guayabitos (mile 300)
- Museums and history: Diocesan Sanctuary of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 57), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 152), Museum of Paleontology of Guadalajara (mile 155), Teatro Degollado (mile 156), Guachimontones (mile 186), Ixtlán del Rio (mile 231)
Lago de Camécuaro National Park
Fed by countless springs, clear Lake Camécuaro near Tangancícuaro, about 13 km from Zamora, is ringed by old ahuehuete (sabino) trees. The national park is a popular spot for swimming, rowboats and picnics in their shade.
Diocesan Sanctuary of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Rising over Zamora, Michoacán, the Diocesan Sanctuary of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a Gothic Revival Catholic cathedral whose towers reach 107.5 meters, making it the tallest church building in Mexico.
Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque
Ceramics lovers in central Tlaquepaque, Jalisco, can find the Museo Regional de la Cerámica on Independencia Street. Along with the Pantaleón Panduro Museum, it is one of the city's two principal pottery museums.
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.
Teatro Degollado
On Guadalajara's central plaza, along Belén Street between Hidalgo and Morelos avenues, the neoclassical Teatro Degollado is known for its varied performances and artistic design.
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
Between roughly 300 BC and AD 600, people made their home at Los Toriles in Ixtlán del Río. Today visitors come for its circular temple, a rare design in Mesoamerica.
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.
Arriving in 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.
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.
More drives to Puerto Vallarta
- Aguascalientes to Puerto Vallarta
- Salamanca to Puerto Vallarta
- San Luis Potosí to Puerto Vallarta
- Querétaro to Puerto Vallarta
- Fresnillo to Puerto Vallarta
- San Juan del Río to Puerto Vallarta
From Uruapan to other places in Mexico
- Uruapan to Amatitán
- Uruapan to Tequila
- Uruapan to Pabellón de Arteaga
- Uruapan to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Uruapan to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Uruapan to Real de Asientos
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Uruapan to Puerto Vallarta?
About 6 h 26 min of driving without stops, over 349 miles.
How far is Puerto Vallarta from Uruapan by car?
About 349 miles (561 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 Uruapan 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 Uruapan to Puerto Vallarta?
The U.S. State Department rates 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.
What roads does the drive from Uruapan to Puerto Vallarta use?
In order: MEX-37, MEX-15, MEX-15D, 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 Uruapan to Puerto Vallarta?
Closest to the road: Lago de Camécuaro National Park (national park, mile 50, 0.5 mi from the route); Diocesan Sanctuary of Our Lady of Guadalupe (cathedral, mile 57, 0.3 mi from the route); Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 231, 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.