The Wayro route from Colima to San Juan de los Lagos is 206 miles (332 km), about 3 h 27 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 206 mi (332 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 27 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-54 → MEX-54D → MEX-15 → MEX-15D → MEX-80D |
| Mexican states on the route | Colima (Level 4), Jalisco (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-54D, MEX-15D, MEX-80D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.2 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 Colima to San Juan de los Lagos is like
MEX-54D (90 mi) and MEX-80D (67 mi) carry about 76% of the 206 miles. MEX-54D, MEX-15D, MEX-80D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-54, MEX-15 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 2 states: Colima, Jalisco. None of the 8 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Colima to San Juan de los Lagos, road by road
| 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 | 137–204 | 67 | Jalisco |
| local roads | 204–206 | 2 | Jalisco |
- Mile 15 of this route: Colima → Jalisco (state line)
Stops between Colima and San Juan de los Lagos
- 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), Universidad de Guadalajara. Museo de las Artes (mile 118), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 122), Teocaltitan Archaeological Site (mile 196)
- With kids: Acuario Michin Guadalajara (mile 118)
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.
Universidad de Guadalajara. Museo de las Artes
The University of Guadalajara's Museo de las Artes, known as MUSA, opened on October 10, 1994, and was expanded in 2013.
Acuario Michin Guadalajara
Acuario Michin Guadalajara is an aquarium in the city of Guadalajara, in the Mexican state of Jalisco.
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.
Teocaltitan Archaeological Site
Near Jalostotitlán in the Los Altos region, the Teocaltitán site holds pyramids, sunken patios and a ball court spread across about nine hectares, built by a people who dominated much of the area from AD 400 to 900.
When you get to San Juan de los Lagos
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.
More drives to San Juan de los Lagos
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to San Juan de los Lagos
- Zacatecas to San Juan de los Lagos
- Fresnillo to San Juan de los Lagos
- Durango to San Juan de los Lagos
- Mazatlán to San Juan de los Lagos
- Culiacán to San Juan de los Lagos
From Colima to other places in Mexico
- Colima to Sayula
- Colima to Tequila
- Colima to Tepatitlán
- Colima to Paracho
- Colima to Temacapulín
- Colima to Nochistlán
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Colima to San Juan de los Lagos?
About 3 h 27 min of driving without stops, over 206 miles.
How far is San Juan de los Lagos from Colima by car?
About 206 miles (332 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 San Juan de los Lagos?
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 San Juan de los Lagos?
The U.S. State Department rates Colima Level 4: Do Not Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Colima to San Juan de los Lagos use?
In order: MEX-54, MEX-54D, MEX-15, MEX-15D and MEX-80D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Colima and San Juan de los Lagos?
Closest to the road: El Ixtépete (archaeological site, mile 114, 1 mi from the route); Universidad de Guadalajara. Museo de las Artes (museum, mile 118, 2 mi from the route); Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (museum, mile 122, 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.