The Wayro route from Manzanillo to Cuanajo is 286 miles (460 km), about 6 h 39 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 286 mi (460 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 39 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-200 → MEX-200D → MEX-110 → MEX-54 → MEX-54D → MEX-15 → MEX-37 → MEX-14D |
| Mexican states on the route | Colima (Level 4), Jalisco (Level 3), Michoacán (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-200D, MEX-54D, MEX-14D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.4 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 Manzanillo to Cuanajo is like
MEX-110 (89 mi) and MEX-15 (50 mi) carry about 49% of the 286 miles. MEX-200D, MEX-54D, MEX-14D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-200, MEX-110, MEX-54, MEX-15, MEX-37 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Colima, Jalisco, Michoacán. Of the 7 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Manzanillo to Cuanajo, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Colima |
| MEX-200 | 3–9 | 6 | Colima |
| MEX-200D | 9–35 | 26 | Colima |
| connecting roads | 35–38 | 3 | Colima |
| MEX-110 | 38–63 | 25 | Colima |
| MEX-54 | 63–70 | 7 | Colima |
| MEX-54D | 70–94 | 24 | Colima, Jalisco |
| MEX-54 | 94–104 | 10 | Jalisco |
| MEX-110 | 104–168 | 64 | Jalisco, Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 168–172 | 4 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 172–203 | 31 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 203–210 | 7 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 210–229 | 19 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37 | 229–246 | 17 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 246–266 | 20 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 266–270 | 4 | Michoacán |
| MEX-14D | 270–278 | 8 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 278–280 | 2 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 280–286 | 6 | Michoacán |
- Mile 80 of this route: Colima → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 146 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
Stops between Manzanillo and Cuanajo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Comunitario de la Sal (mile 26), Lago de Camécuaro National Park (mile 215)
- Nature and outdoors: Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park (mile 83), Lago de Camécuaro National Park (mile 215)
- Museums and history: Museo Comunitario de la Sal (mile 26), Museo Regional de Historia de Colima (mile 64), Zamora de Hidalgo Cathedral (mile 210), Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro (mile 278), Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares (mile 278)
Museo Comunitario de la Sal
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.
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.
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.
Zamora de Hidalgo Cathedral
Zamora's Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is a 19th-century Catholic church in the Michoacán city of Zamora de Hidalgo, attributed to the Celaya architect Eduardo Tresguerras.
Lago de Camécuaro National Park
Fed by countless springs, clear Lake Camécuaro near Tangancícuaro, about 13 km from Zamora, is ringed by old ahuehuete (sabino) trees. The national park is a popular spot for swimming, rowboats and picnics in their shade.
Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro
Pátzcuaro's basilica (Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Salud) rises on pre-Hispanic platforms beside its own plaza. Bishop Vasco de Quiroga planned it as a five-nave cathedral, only one nave was finished, and his remains rest inside.
Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares
Housed in an 18th-century building adapted from the Colegio de San Nicolás, which Vasco de Quiroga founded in the 16th century, this INAH museum in Pátzcuaro shows Purépecha pottery, textiles, woodwork and lacquerware.
More drives to Cuanajo
- Zamora to Cuanajo
- Mazamitla to Cuanajo
- Tepatitlán to Cuanajo
- Amatitán to Cuanajo
- Tequila to Cuanajo
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Cuanajo
From Manzanillo to other places in Mexico
- Manzanillo to Comala
- Manzanillo to Mazamitla
- Manzanillo to Cotija
- Manzanillo to San Luis Soyatlán
- Manzanillo to Ajijic
- Manzanillo to Tequila
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Manzanillo to Cuanajo?
About 6 h 39 min of driving without stops, over 286 miles.
How far is Cuanajo from Manzanillo by car?
About 286 miles (460 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 Cuanajo?
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 Cuanajo?
The U.S. State Department rates Colima Level 4: Do Not Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Manzanillo to Cuanajo use?
In order: MEX-200, MEX-200D, MEX-110, MEX-54, MEX-54D, MEX-15, MEX-37 and MEX-14D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Manzanillo and Cuanajo?
Closest to the road: Museo Comunitario de la Sal (museum, mile 26, 0.4 mi from the route); Lago de Camécuaro National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 215, 0.5 mi from the route); Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares (museum, mile 278, 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.