Manzanillo to Bernal Road Trip: Route, Stops & Safety

By admin, 3 October, 2026

The Wayro route from Manzanillo to Bernal is 386 miles (621 km), about 8 h 5 min of driving without stops.

U.S. State Department travel advisory: Colima — Level 4, Do Not Travel; Jalisco — Level 3, Reconsider Travel; Michoacán — Level 4, Do Not Travel; Guanajuato — Level 3, Reconsider Travel; Querétaro — Level 2, Exercise Increased CautionAdvisory issued May 29, 2026; checked September 29, 2026. Querétaro is the Mexican state that contains Bernal. This route passes through a state at the advisory's highest level. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive.
Museo Comunitario de la SalAlfonso Michel University Art GalleryVolcán Nevado de Colima National ParkPlazuelasTequila CorralejoCelaya CathedralClaustro de San Felipe Neri - Palacio ConinManzanilloBernal
Route from Manzanillo to Bernal with the 7 stops listed below (blue dots).
Distance386 mi (621 km)
Driving time, no stops8 h 5 min
Main roads, in orderMEX-200 → MEX-200D → MEX-110 → MEX-54 → MEX-54D → MEX-15 → MEX-35 → MEX-90 → MEX-45D → MEX-57D → QRO 4 → QRO 100
Mexican states on the routeColima (Level 4), Jalisco (Level 3), Michoacán (Level 4), Guanajuato (Level 3), Querétaro (Level 2)
Toll roadsMEX-200D, MEX-54D, MEX-45D, MEX-57D
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 15.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below7

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 insuranceRequired 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 Manzanillo to Bernal is like

MEX-110 (145 mi) and MEX-45D (68 mi) carry about 55% of the 386 miles. MEX-200D, MEX-54D, MEX-45D, MEX-57D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-200, MEX-110, MEX-54, MEX-15, MEX-35, MEX-90 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 5 states: Colima, Jalisco, Michoacán, Guanajuato, Querétaro. Of the 7 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.

The route from Manzanillo to Bernal, road by road

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miState
local roads0–33Colima
MEX-2003–96Colima
MEX-200D9–3526Colima
connecting roads35–383Colima
MEX-11038–6325Colima
MEX-5463–707Colima
MEX-54D70–9424Colima, Jalisco
MEX-5494–10410Jalisco
MEX-110104–16864Jalisco, Michoacán
connecting roads168–1702Michoacán
MEX-15170–1766Michoacán
MEX-110176–19418Michoacán
MEX-35194–2017Michoacán
MEX-110201–23938Michoacán, Guanajuato
MEX-90239–28445Guanajuato
MEX-45D284–35268Guanajuato, Querétaro
MEX-57D352–36210Querétaro
QRO 4362–38220Querétaro
QRO 100382–3853Querétaro
local roads385–3861Querétaro
  • Mile 80 of this route: Colima → Jalisco (state line)
  • Mile 146 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
  • Mile 229 of this route: Michoacán → Guanajuato (state line)
  • Mile 343 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)

Stops between Manzanillo and Bernal

  • Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Comunitario de la Sal (mile 26)
  • Nature and outdoors: Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park (mile 83)
  • Museums and history: Museo Comunitario de la Sal (mile 26), Alfonso Michel University Art Gallery (mile 65), Plazuelas (mile 247), Celaya Cathedral (mile 322)

Museo Comunitario de la Sal

Mile 26 · Museum · 0.4 mi from the route

Set in an old warehouse in Cuyutlán, the community Salt Museum (Museo Comunitario de la Sal) explains how local salt has been harvested, from the old tapeixtle technique to modern methods, with historic photos of the salt works.

Alfonso Michel University Art Gallery

Mile 65 · Museum · 2 mi from the route

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.

Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park

Mile 83 · National Park of Mexico · 4 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

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.

Plazuelas

Mile 247 · Archaeological site · 2 mi from the route

Near Pénjamo, Plazuelas flourished between AD 450 and 700. Trails lead to Casas Tapadas, a platform crowned by four pyramid bases, a ball court, and rocks carved with spirals and La Maqueta, a low-relief model of Casas Tapadas.

Tequila Corralejo

Mile 262 · Distillery · 1 mi from the route

Tequila Corralejo is distilled in Pénjamo, Guanajuato, at the historic Hacienda de Corralejo, where the brand, established in 1996, offers guided tours and hosts social events.

Celaya Cathedral

Mile 322 · Church building · 2 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Celaya's main Catholic church, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, occupies the space of a former chapel that was annexed to the neighboring Temple of St. Francis.

Claustro de San Felipe Neri - Palacio Conin

Mile 350 · Convent · 1 mi from the route

The Cloister of San Felipe Neri in central Querétaro was part of the Oratorian convent and stands beside the Templo de San Felipe Neri, now the city's cathedral.

More drives to Bernal

From Manzanillo to other places in Mexico

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from Manzanillo to Bernal?

About 8 h 5 min of driving without stops, over 386 miles.

How far is Bernal from Manzanillo by car?

About 386 miles (621 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 Manzanillo to Bernal?

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 Manzanillo to Bernal?

The U.S. State Department rates Colima Level 4: Do Not Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.

What roads does the drive from Manzanillo to Bernal use?

In order: MEX-200, MEX-200D, MEX-110, MEX-54, MEX-54D, MEX-15, MEX-35, MEX-90, MEX-45D, MEX-57D, QRO 4 and QRO 100. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.

What are good stops between Manzanillo and Bernal?

Closest to the road: Museo Comunitario de la Sal (museum, mile 26, 0.4 mi from the route); Tequila Corralejo (distillery, mile 262, 1 mi from the route); Claustro de San Felipe Neri - Palacio Conin (convent, mile 350, 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.