The Wayro route from Cuernavaca to Colima is 418 miles (673 km), about 8 h 23 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 418 mi (673 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 23 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-106 → MEX-200 → EM 44 → MEX-55 → MEX-55D → MEX-15D → MEX-110 → MEX-15 → MEX-54 → MEX-54D |
| Mexican states on the route | Morelos (Level 3), State of Mexico (Level 2), Michoacán (Level 4), Jalisco (Level 3), Colima (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-55D, MEX-15D, MEX-54D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.7 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.
What the drive from Cuernavaca to Colima is like
MEX-15D (188 mi) and MEX-110 (83 mi) carry about 65% of the 418 miles. MEX-55D, MEX-15D, MEX-54D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-106, MEX-200, MEX-55, MEX-110, MEX-15, MEX-54 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 5 states: Morelos, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco, Colima. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Cuernavaca to Colima, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–9 | 9 | Morelos |
| MEX-106 | 9–24 | 15 | Morelos, State of Mexico |
| MEX-200 | 24–29 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 29–34 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 34–37 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| EM 44 | 37–44 | 7 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 44–45 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 45–50 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 50–61 | 11 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 61–89 | 28 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 89–90 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 90–93 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 93–281 | 188 | State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 281–286 | 5 | Jalisco |
| MEX-110 | 286–304 | 18 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 304–310 | 6 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 310–312 | 2 | Michoacán |
| MEX-110 | 312–377 | 65 | Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-54 | 377–386 | 9 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 386–389 | 3 | Jalisco |
| MEX-54D | 389–413 | 24 | Jalisco, Colima |
| MEX-54 | 413–418 | 5 | Colima |
- Mile 15 of this route: Morelos → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 111 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 280 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 286 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 335 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 404 of this route: Jalisco → Colima (state line)
Stops between Cuernavaca and Colima
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (mile 16)
- Nature and outdoors: Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (mile 16), La Marquesa National Park (mile 37), Parque Estatal Sierra Morelos (mile 55), Rayón National Park (mile 114), Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park (mile 400)
- Museums and history: Museum José María Velasco (mile 52), Calixtlahuaca (mile 56)
Lagunas de Zempoala National Park
Seven lagoons, three of them permanent, sit among pine, oak and fir forest above 3,000 meters in this park, decreed in 1936 on the Morelos–State of Mexico line. Hiking, horseback riding, camping and rowboats are popular here.
La Marquesa National Park
Set in high-altitude conifer forest along the Mexico City–Toluca highway, La Marquesa National Park offers roadside eateries, horse and ATV rentals, mountain biking and camping, and marks the site of the 1810 Battle of Monte de las Cruces.
Ciénegas del Lerma
These marshes in the Toluca Valley are three lakes left from a wetland of about 27,000 hectares in the late 19th century. A Ramsar site since 2004, they hold dozens of endemic and threatened species and are a key stop for migratory species.
Teatro Morelos
In Toluca's historic center, just west of the State of Mexico's Palace of Justice, Teatro Morelos stages plays along with other shows and cultural events.
Museum José María Velasco
In Toluca's historic center, the Museo José María Velasco shares the work of 19th-century Mexican painter José María Velasco, with Plaza de los Mártires to the south and the Government Palace to the east.
Parque Estatal Sierra Morelos
This Toluca park, one of the State of Mexico's protected natural areas, is home to more than 500 species of plants and animals. Families come for the axolotl center, bat house, small farm and jogging track.
Calixtlahuaca
Spread over the slopes of Cerro Tenismó near Toluca, this site's standout is the round Temple of Ehécatl-Quetzalcóatl, rebuilt in four phases. Nearby, a Mexica-era skull rack displays stone skulls set into cross-shaped walls.
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.
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
El Chanal
North of Colima city, this Postclassic settlement straddles the Colima River. Its ceremonial core holds temples, palaces, altars and a ballcourt, and digs revealed copper, silver and gold metalwork along with pottery and obsidian tools.
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.
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.
More drives to Colima
- Guadalajara to Colima
- Irapuato to Colima
- Salamanca to Colima
- León to Colima
- Aguascalientes to Colima
- Guanajuato to Colima
From Cuernavaca to other places in Mexico
- Cuernavaca to Valle de Bravo
- Cuernavaca to Zitácuaro
- Cuernavaca to El Oro
- Cuernavaca to Tlalpujahua
- Cuernavaca to San Juan del Río
- Cuernavaca to Amealco
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Cuernavaca to Colima?
About 8 h 23 min of driving without stops, over 418 miles.
How far is Colima from Cuernavaca by car?
About 418 miles (673 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 Cuernavaca 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 Cuernavaca to Colima?
The U.S. State Department rates Morelos Level 3: Reconsider Travel; 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 Cuernavaca to Colima use?
In order: MEX-106, MEX-200, EM 44, MEX-55, MEX-55D, MEX-15D, MEX-110, MEX-15, MEX-54 and MEX-54D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Cuernavaca and Colima?
Closest to the road: Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 16, 0.4 mi from the route); Museum José María Velasco (art museum, mile 52, 1 mi from the route); Teatro Morelos (theatre building, mile 52, 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.