The Wayro route from Aguascalientes to Colima is 252 miles (406 km), about 4 h 17 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 252 mi (406 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 17 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-45 → MEX-45D → MEX-80D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-54D → MEX-54 |
| Mexican states on the route | Aguascalientes (Level 2), Jalisco (Level 3), Colima (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-45D, MEX-80D, MEX-90D, MEX-15D, MEX-54D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.1 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.
What the drive from Aguascalientes to Colima is like
MEX-54D (89 mi) and MEX-80D (87 mi) carry about 70% of the 252 miles. MEX-45D, MEX-80D, MEX-15D, MEX-54D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-45, MEX-15, MEX-54 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Colima. None of the 8 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Aguascalientes to Colima, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 2–19 | 17 | Aguascalientes, Jalisco |
| MEX-45D | 19–33 | 14 | Jalisco |
| local roads | 33–45 | 12 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 45–132 | 87 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 132–137 | 5 | Jalisco |
| local roads | 137–141 | 4 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 141–158 | 17 | Jalisco |
| MEX-54D | 158–247 | 89 | Jalisco, Colima |
| MEX-54 | 247–252 | 5 | Colima |
- Mile 16 of this route: Aguascalientes → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 238 of this route: Jalisco → Colima (state line)
Stops between Aguascalientes and Colima
- Nature and outdoors: Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park (mile 234)
- Museums and history: Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos (mile 51), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 133), Guadalajara city museum (mile 137), El Ixtépete (mile 142), Ciudad Guzmán Cathedral (mile 213), Museo Arqueológico de Ciudad Guzmán (mile 213)
Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos
Pilgrims come from far and wide to San Juan de los Lagos to see the small image of the Virgin kept in this cathedral basilica, built between 1732 and 1769. Inside are Gothic-style ribbed vaults and a silver-framed Way of the Cross.
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.
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.
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.
El Ixtépete
Zapopan's El Ixtépete preserves a pyramid built around AD 650-750, during the Grillo tradition, with at least seven superimposed construction phases; the site lies within the Guadalajara metro area near the Periférico and Avenida Mariano Otero.
Ciudad Guzmán Cathedral
Ciudad Guzmán's St. Joseph Cathedral (Catedral de San José) is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ciudad Guzmán and the seat of its bishop.
Museo Arqueológico de Ciudad Guzmán
Founded in the 1950s with writer Juan José Arreola among its promoters, this INAH museum in Ciudad Guzmán shows stone and ceramic pieces from western Mexico, colonial-era religious art and sketches by muralist José Clemente Orozco.
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.
When you get to 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.
Museo Regional de la Cristiada
The Museo Regional de la Cristiada is a small museum in the city of Colima, in the Mexican state of the same name. It opened its doors in 2004.
Museo Regional de Historia de Colima
An early 19th-century mansion on Colima's Portal Morelos holds this regional history museum, run jointly by INAH, the University of Colima and the state. Exhibits range from Capacha and Comala pottery and shaft tombs to Philippine trade and the Revolution.
More drives to Colima
- Guadalajara to Colima
- Irapuato to Colima
- Salamanca to Colima
- León to Colima
- Guanajuato to Colima
- San Juan del Río to Colima
From Aguascalientes to other places in Mexico
- Aguascalientes to Jerez, Zacatecas
- Aguascalientes to Fresnillo
- Aguascalientes to Nombre de Dios
- Aguascalientes to El Rosario, Sinaloa
- Aguascalientes to Mazatlán
- Aguascalientes to San Ignacio, Sinaloa
Continue Your Adventure
- Aguascalientes to Tetela del Volcán Road Trip: Stops & Tolls
- Aguascalientes to Xalapa Road Trip: Distance, Time & Stops
- Aguascalientes to Tlaltizapán Road Trip: Route, Tolls & Stops
- Aguascalientes to Cosalá Road Trip: Where to Stop on the Way
- Aguascalientes to Omitlán Road Trip: Where to Stop on the Way
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Aguascalientes to Colima?
About 4 h 17 min of driving without stops, over 252 miles.
How far is Colima from Aguascalientes by car?
About 252 miles (406 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 Aguascalientes to Colima?
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 Aguascalientes to Colima?
The U.S. State Department rates Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; 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 Aguascalientes to Colima use?
In order: MEX-45, MEX-45D, MEX-80D, MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-54D and MEX-54. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Aguascalientes and Colima?
Closest to the road: Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos (minor basilica, mile 51, 2 mi from the route); Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (museum, mile 133, 1 mi from the route); El Ixtépete (archaeological site, mile 142, 1 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.