The Wayro route from Guanajuato to Colima is 285 miles (458 km), about 4 h 49 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 285 mi (458 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 49 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-110D → MEX-45 → MEX-45D → MEX-80 → MEX-80D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-54D → MEX-54 |
| Mexican states on the route | Guanajuato (Level 3), Jalisco (Level 3), Colima (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-110D, MEX-45D, MEX-80D, MEX-90D, MEX-15D, MEX-54D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.4 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 Guanajuato to Colima is like
MEX-54D (89 mi) and MEX-80D (85 mi) carry about 61% of the 285 miles. MEX-110D, MEX-45D, MEX-80D, MEX-15D, MEX-54D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-45, MEX-80, MEX-15, MEX-54 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Guanajuato, Jalisco, Colima. None of the 8 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Guanajuato to Colima, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-110D | 4–12 | 8 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45 | 12–25 | 13 | Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 25–26 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 26–63 | 37 | Guanajuato, Jalisco |
| MEX-80 | 63–78 | 15 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 78–163 | 85 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 163–169 | 6 | Jalisco |
| local roads | 169–173 | 4 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 173–191 | 18 | Jalisco |
| MEX-54D | 191–280 | 89 | Jalisco, Colima |
| MEX-54 | 280–285 | 5 | Colima |
- Mile 46 of this route: Guanajuato → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 270 of this route: Jalisco → Colima (state line)
Stops between Guanajuato and Colima
- Nature and outdoors: Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park (mile 266)
- Museums and history: Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos (mile 83), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 165), Basílica de San Felipe Neri (mile 169), Museo del Periodismo y las Artes Gráficas (mile 169), El Ixtépete (mile 174), Ciudad Guzmán Cathedral (mile 245), Museo Arqueológico de Ciudad Guzmán (mile 245)
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.
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.
Basílica de San Felipe Neri
Guadalajara's Basilica of San Felipe Neri is a Catholic church built in baroque style between 1752 and 1802 by master builder Pedro José Ciprés.
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.
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
Museo Regional de la Cristiada
The Museo Regional de la Cristiada is a small museum in the city of Colima, in the Mexican state of the same name. It opened its doors in 2004.
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.
More drives to Colima
- Guadalajara to Colima
- Irapuato to Colima
- Salamanca to Colima
- León to Colima
- Aguascalientes to Colima
- San Juan del Río to Colima
From Guanajuato to other places in Mexico
- Guanajuato to Amatitán
- Guanajuato to Tequila
- Guanajuato to Jerez, Zacatecas
- Guanajuato to Sombrerete
- Guanajuato to El Rosario, Sinaloa
- Guanajuato to San Ignacio, Sinaloa
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Guanajuato to Colima?
About 4 h 49 min of driving without stops, over 285 miles.
How far is Colima from Guanajuato by car?
About 285 miles (458 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 Guanajuato 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 Guanajuato to Colima?
The U.S. State Department rates Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider 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 Guanajuato to Colima use?
In order: MEX-110D, MEX-45, MEX-45D, MEX-80, MEX-80D, MEX-15D, 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 Guanajuato and Colima?
Closest to the road: Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos (minor basilica, mile 83, 2 mi from the route); Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (museum, mile 165, 1 mi from the route); El Ixtépete (archaeological site, mile 174, 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.