Plan on about 8 h 6 min of driving for the 439-mile (706 km) trip from Colima to Matehuala, before any stops.
| Distance | 439 mi (706 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 6 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 |
| Mexican states on the route | Colima, Jalisco, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-54D, MEX-15D, MEX-80D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.6 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.
The Colima–Matehuala drive in a few lines
MEX-80D (113 mi) and MEX-54D (90 mi) carry about 46% of the 439 miles. It runs through 4 states: Colima, Jalisco, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-54D, MEX-15D and MEX-80D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Colima and Matehuala
| 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 | 359–437 | 78 | San Luis Potosí |
| local roads | 437–439 | 2 | San Luis Potosí |
- 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)
Where to stop on the way to Matehuala
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Teatro José Rosas Moreno (mile 232), Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (mile 232)
- Nature and outdoors: Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park (mile 19)
- Museums and history: Ciudad Guzmán Cathedral (mile 42), Museo Arqueológico de Ciudad Guzmán (mile 42), El Ixtépete (mile 114), Museo de las Artes Populares de Jalisco (mile 119), Teatro José Rosas Moreno (mile 232), Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (mile 232), San Luis Potosí Cathedral (mile 318)
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.
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.
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 de las Artes Populares de Jalisco
Opened on May 31, 2000, in Guadalajara's historic center, this museum researches, safeguards and promotes the crafts and folk art of Jalisco.
Teatro José Rosas Moreno
Named after Jalisco writer José Rosas Moreno, this theater in Lagos de Moreno took decades to finish: work started in 1867, and it opened on May 5, 1907.
Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera
The Museo Casa Agustín Rivera Altos de Jalisco is a museum you'll find in the town of Lagos de Moreno, in the state of Jalisco.
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.
Once you reach Matehuala
Matehuala Cathedral
Still open for worship, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral serves as the seat of the Catholic Diocese of Matehuala, a city in the state of San Luis Potosí.
More drives to Matehuala
- Zitácuaro to Matehuala
- Mexico City to Matehuala
- Pachuca to Matehuala
- Cuernavaca to Matehuala
- Tlaxcala to Matehuala
- Cuautla to Matehuala
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 Matehuala?
About 8 h 6 min of driving without stops, over 439 miles.
How far is Matehuala from Colima by car?
About 439 miles (706 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 Matehuala?
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 Matehuala?
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 (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Colima to Matehuala?
In order: MEX-54, MEX-54D, MEX-15, MEX-15D, MEX-80D, MEX-80, MEX-70, MEX-57D, SLP 32 and MEX-57. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Colima and Matehuala?
Closest to the road: El Ixtépete (archaeological site, mile 114, 1 mi from the route); Teatro José Rosas Moreno (opera house, mile 232, 0.3 mi from the route); Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (museum, mile 232, 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 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.