Colima to General Zaragoza is about 516 road miles (831 km): roughly 10 h 29 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
What the State Department tells travelers on this route:
- Nuevo León: “Those traveling between the U.S. border and Monterrey on highways 85/85D, 54, and 40/40D should exercise caution and avoid travel after dark.”
- Nuevo León: “Armed robberies and carjackings have occurred along these highways even during daylight hours.”
| Distance | 516 mi (831 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 10 h 29 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-54 → MEX-54D → MEX-15 → MEX-15D → MEX-80D → MEX-80 → MEX-70 → MEX-57D → SLP 32 → MEX-57 → SLP 29 → NL 3 |
| Mexican states on the route | Colima, Jalisco, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, Nuevo León |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-54D, MEX-15D, MEX-80D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.7 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.
Driving Colima to General Zaragoza: the shape of the trip
MEX-80D (113 mi) and MEX-54D (90 mi) carry about 39% of the 516 miles. It runs through 5 states: Colima, Jalisco, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, Nuevo León. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-54D, MEX-15D and MEX-80D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Colima to General Zaragoza
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-54 | 0–6 | 6 | Colima |
| MEX-54D | 6–96 | 90 | Colima, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 96–113 | 17 | Jalisco |
| local roads | 113–118 | 5 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 118–134 | 16 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 134–137 | 3 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 137–209 | 72 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80 | 209–242 | 33 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 242–283 | 41 | Jalisco, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-80 | 283–286 | 3 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-70 | 286–304 | 18 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 304–314 | 10 | San Luis Potosí |
| connecting roads | 314–316 | 2 | San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 32 | 316–326 | 10 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 326–338 | 12 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 338–359 | 21 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 359–434 | 75 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 434–441 | 7 | San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 29 | 441–469 | 28 | San Luis Potosí, Nuevo León |
| NL 3 | 469–475 | 6 | Nuevo León |
| local roads | 475–516 | 41 | Nuevo León |
- Mile 15 of this route: Colima → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 267 of this route: Jalisco → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 277 of this route: Guanajuato → San Luis Potosí (state line)
- Mile 449 of this route: San Luis Potosí → Nuevo León (state line)
What to see on the way from Colima to General Zaragoza
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Teatro José Rosas Moreno (mile 232)
- Nature and outdoors: Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park (mile 19)
- Museums and history: Museo Arqueológico de Ciudad Guzmán (mile 42), El Ixtépete (mile 114), Museo del Periodismo y las Artes Gráficas (mile 118), Guadalajara Cathedral (mile 119), Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos (mile 204), Teatro José Rosas Moreno (mile 232), San Luis Potosí Cathedral (mile 318), Matehuala Cathedral (mile 440)
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.
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.
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.
Museo del Periodismo y las Artes Gráficas
The Museo del Periodismo y las Artes Gráficas stands on Paseo Alcalde, formerly Avenida Alcalde, in the city of Guadalajara, Jalisco.
Guadalajara Cathedral
In the Centro of Guadalajara, the Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady is the seat of the Archdiocese of Guadalajara and a minor basilica.
Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos
Raised between 1732 and 1769, the cathedral basilica of San Juan de los Lagos draws pilgrims from far away who come to visit the small image of the Virgin kept inside.
Teatro José Rosas Moreno
Construction of the Teatro José Rosas Moreno in Lagos de Moreno began in 1867, and the theater opened on May 5, 1907. It is named for Jalisco writer José Rosas Moreno.
San Luis Potosí Cathedral
San Luis Potosí's cathedral anchors the city's historic center, which UNESCO lists as a component of the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro World Heritage Site.
Matehuala Cathedral
Matehuala's Immaculate Conception Cathedral is the seat of the Diocese of Matehuala; it is open for worship though still under construction.
More drives to General Zaragoza
- Jerez, Zacatecas to General Zaragoza
- Pabellón de Hidalgo to General Zaragoza
- Celaya to General Zaragoza
- Salvatierra to General Zaragoza
- Tlalpujahua to General Zaragoza
- Angangueo to General Zaragoza
From Colima to other places in Mexico
- Colima to Sayula
- Colima to Tequila
- Colima to Tepatitlán
- Colima to Paracho
- Colima to Temacapulín
- Colima to San Juan de los Lagos
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Colima to General Zaragoza?
About 10 h 29 min of driving without stops, over 516 miles.
What is the driving distance from Colima to General Zaragoza?
About 516 miles (831 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 Colima to General Zaragoza?
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 Colima to General Zaragoza?
The U.S. State Department rates Colima Level 4: Do Not Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Nuevo León Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Colima to General Zaragoza?
In order: MEX-54, MEX-54D, MEX-15, MEX-15D, MEX-80D, MEX-80, MEX-70, MEX-57D, SLP 32, MEX-57, SLP 29 and NL 3. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Colima to General Zaragoza?
Closest to the road: El Ixtépete (archaeological site, mile 114, 1 mi from the route); Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos (basilica, mile 204, 2 mi from the route); Teatro José Rosas Moreno (opera house, mile 232, 0.3 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.