The Wayro route from Guadalajara to Colima is 119 miles (191 km), about 2 h 6 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 119 mi (191 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 2 h 6 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15 → MEX-54D → MEX-54 |
| Mexican states on the route | Jalisco (Level 3), Colima (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-54D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 4.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
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 Guadalajara to Colima is like
MEX-54D (89 mi) and MEX-15 (19 mi) carry about 91% of the 119 miles. MEX-54D is a toll highway (cuota); MEX-15, MEX-54 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 2 states: Jalisco, Colima. None of the 4 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Guadalajara to Colima, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–6 | 6 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 6–25 | 19 | Jalisco |
| MEX-54D | 25–114 | 89 | Jalisco, Colima |
| MEX-54 | 114–119 | 5 | Colima |
- Mile 105 of this route: Jalisco → Colima (state line)
Stops between Guadalajara and Colima
- Nature and outdoors: Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park (mile 101)
- Museums and history: El Ixtépete (mile 8), Ciudad Guzmán Cathedral (mile 80), Museo Arqueológico de Ciudad Guzmán (mile 80)
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 Universitario de Artes Populares María Teresa Pomar
Founded by collector María Teresa Pomar and run by the University of Colima, this museum is dedicated to Mexican folk art and handcrafts (artesanía), with pieces from across the country as well as the traditions of Colima state.
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.
More drives to Colima
- Irapuato to Colima
- Salamanca to Colima
- León to Colima
- Aguascalientes to Colima
- Guanajuato to Colima
- San Juan del Río to Colima
From Guadalajara to other places in Mexico
- Guadalajara to Pabellón de Arteaga
- Guadalajara to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Guadalajara to Calvillo
- Guadalajara to Real de Asientos
- Guadalajara to Guadalupe, Zacatecas
- Guadalajara to Zacatecas
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Guadalajara to Colima?
About 2 h 6 min of driving without stops, over 119 miles.
How far is Colima from Guadalajara by car?
About 119 miles (191 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 Guadalajara 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 Guadalajara to Colima?
The U.S. State Department rates 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 Guadalajara to Colima use?
In order: 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 Guadalajara and Colima?
Closest to the road: El Ixtépete (archaeological site, mile 8, 1 mi from the route); Museo Arqueológico de Ciudad Guzmán (museum, mile 80, 2 mi from the route); Ciudad Guzmán Cathedral (cathedral, mile 80, 2 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.