The Wayro route from Actopan to Barra de Navidad is 500 miles (805 km), about 9 h 35 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 500 mi (805 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 35 min |
| Main roads, in order | HGO 30 → HGO 17 → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → MEX-110 → MEX-15 → MEX-54 → MEX-54D → MEX-200D → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Michoacán (Level 4), Jalisco (Level 3), Colima (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-54D, MEX-200D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.0 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 Actopan to Barra de Navidad is like
MEX-15D (188 mi) and MEX-110 (108 mi) carry about 59% of the 500 miles. MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-54D, MEX-200D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-110, MEX-15, MEX-54, MEX-200 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 5 states: Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco, Colima. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Actopan to Barra de Navidad, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–17 | 17 | Hidalgo |
| HGO 30 | 17–26 | 9 | Hidalgo |
| HGO 17 | 26–30 | 4 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-M40D | 30–78 | 48 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 78–80 | 2 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 80–268 | 188 | State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 268–272 | 4 | Jalisco |
| MEX-110 | 272–290 | 18 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 290–296 | 6 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 296–298 | 2 | Michoacán |
| MEX-110 | 298–363 | 65 | Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-54 | 363–372 | 9 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 372–375 | 3 | Jalisco |
| MEX-54D | 375–399 | 24 | Jalisco, Colima |
| MEX-54 | 399–406 | 7 | Colima |
| MEX-110 | 406–431 | 25 | Colima |
| connecting roads | 431–433 | 2 | Colima |
| MEX-200D | 433–470 | 37 | Colima |
| MEX-200 | 470–498 | 28 | Colima, Jalisco |
| local roads | 498–500 | 2 | Jalisco |
- Mile 48 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 97 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 265 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 272 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 321 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 390 of this route: Jalisco → Colima (state line)
- Mile 487 of this route: Colima → Jalisco (state line)
Stops between Actopan and Barra de Navidad
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Comunitario de la Sal (mile 443)
- Nature and outdoors: Rayón National Park (mile 100), Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park (mile 385)
- Museums and history: Tula (mile 34), Jorge R. Acosta Museum (mile 34), Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 118), Cathedral Basilica of Colima (mile 405), Alfonso Michel University Art Gallery (mile 405), Museo Comunitario de la Sal (mile 443)
Hacienda Demiñho
Near Tunititlán in the Mezquital Valley, Hacienda Demiñho is a former Spanish-era estate that once ran cattle, farmed and rented land, becoming one of the region's important haciendas.
Tula
Once the Toltec capital, the Tula archaeological zone is best known for its Atlantes, basalt warrior figures over four meters (13 feet) tall crowning the main pyramid. Visitors also see a ball court, the Burnt Palace and the Coatepantli wall, carved with snakes devouring skeletons.
Jorge R. Acosta Museum
Next to the Tula ruins, the Museo de Sitio Jorge R. Acosta traces the rise and decline of the Toltecs and their city, Tollan Xicocotitlan. It moved into new facilities in 1982 and covers nearly 20 years of digs led by archaeologist Jorge R. Acosta.
Rayón National Park
Just outside Tlalpujahua, Rayón National Park (Parque Nacional Rayón) marks the start of the area's famous butterfly reserve country, which stretches south and west from here.
Teatro Morelos de Maravatío
Maravatío's Teatro Morelos is a late-19th-century theater in a French-influenced neoclassical style, designed by architect Rafael Guerrero Torres. It opened on January 11, 1879, with a performance by opera singer Ángela Peralta.
Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park
This national park in western Mexico protects the upper slopes of two volcanic peaks, Volcán de Colima and Nevado de Colima, in the states of Jalisco and Colima.
Cathedral Basilica of Colima
Colima Cathedral, the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, stands at a corner of the Jardín Libertad in the city center. Pope John Paul II named it a minor basilica on October 12, 1998.
Alfonso Michel University Art Gallery
Two restored old houses in downtown Colima hold this art gallery (Pinacoteca Universitaria Alfonso Michel), which honors painter Alfonso Michel and displays a large collection belonging to the University of Colima.
Museo Comunitario de la Sal
Set in an old warehouse in Cuyutlán, the community Salt Museum (Museo Comunitario de la Sal) explains how local salt has been harvested, from the old tapeixtle technique to modern methods, with historic photos of the salt works.
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 Actopan to other places in Mexico
- Actopan to Otumba
- Actopan to Cadereyta
- Actopan to Ezequiel Montes
- Actopan to Amealco
- Actopan to Pedro Escobedo
- Actopan to El Oro
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Actopan to Barra de Navidad?
About 9 h 35 min of driving without stops, over 500 miles.
How far is Barra de Navidad from Actopan by car?
About 500 miles (805 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 Actopan 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 Actopan to Barra de Navidad?
The U.S. State Department rates Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Colima Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Actopan to Barra de Navidad use?
In order: HGO 30, HGO 17, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-110, MEX-15, MEX-54, MEX-54D, MEX-200D and MEX-200. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Actopan and Barra de Navidad?
Closest to the road: Tula (archaeological site, mile 34, 1 mi from the route); Jorge R. Acosta Museum (museum, mile 34, 1 mi from the route); Museo Comunitario de la Sal (museum, mile 443, 0.4 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 mile 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 (roughly 2 to 7 miles depending on the type, farther for World Heritage sites): at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, with no more than five of one type, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place and city 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.