The Wayro route from León to Colima is 252 miles (406 km), about 4 h 14 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 252 mi (406 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 14 min |
| Main roads, in order | GTO 37 → 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-45D, MEX-80D, MEX-90D, MEX-15D, MEX-54D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
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 León to Colima is like
MEX-54D (89 mi) and MEX-80D (87 mi) carry about 70% of the 252 miles. MEX-45D, MEX-80D, MEX-15D, MEX-54D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-80, MEX-15, MEX-54 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Guanajuato, Jalisco, Colima. None of the 7 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from León to Colima, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Guanajuato |
| GTO 37 | 2–6 | 4 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 6–31 | 25 | Guanajuato, Jalisco |
| MEX-80 | 31–45 | 14 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 45–132 | 87 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 132–137 | 5 | Jalisco |
| local roads | 137–141 | 4 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 141–158 | 17 | Jalisco |
| MEX-54D | 158–247 | 89 | Jalisco, Colima |
| MEX-54 | 247–252 | 5 | Colima |
- Mile 14 of this route: Guanajuato → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 238 of this route: Jalisco → Colima (state line)
Stops between León and Colima
- Nature and outdoors: Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park (mile 234)
- Museums and history: Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos (mile 51), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 133), El Ixtépete (mile 142), Ciudad Guzmán Cathedral (mile 213), Museo Arqueológico de Ciudad Guzmán (mile 213)
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.
Convento de Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro
Better known as El Perpetuo Socorro, this Guadalajara church is home to a Passionist convent that has housed the order's postulants since 2020.
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
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 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.
Alfonso Michel University Art Gallery
Two restored old houses in downtown Colima hold this art gallery (Pinacoteca Universitaria Alfonso Michel), which honors painter Alfonso Michel and displays a large collection belonging to the University of Colima.
More drives to Colima
- Guadalajara to Colima
- Irapuato to Colima
- Salamanca to Colima
- Aguascalientes to Colima
- Guanajuato to Colima
- San Juan del Río to Colima
From León to other places in Mexico
- León to Pabellón de Arteaga
- León to Real de Asientos
- León to Zacatecas
- León to Amatitán
- León to Tequila
- León to Jerez, Zacatecas
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from León to Colima?
About 4 h 14 min of driving without stops, over 252 miles.
How far is Colima from León by car?
About 252 miles (406 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 León 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 León 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 León to Colima use?
In order: GTO 37, 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 León and Colima?
Closest to the road: Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (museum, mile 133, 1 mi from the route); Convento de Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro (convent, mile 137, 1 mi from the route); El Ixtépete (archaeological site, mile 142, 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.