Plan on about 9 h 54 min of driving for the 508-mile (817 km) trip from Manzanillo to Real de Catorce, before any stops.
| Distance by road | 508 mi (817 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 54 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-200 → MEX-200D → MEX-110 → MEX-54 → MEX-54D → MEX-15 → MEX-15D → MEX-80D → MEX-80 → MEX-70 → MEX-57D → MEX-49 → MEX-63 → SLP 43 |
| Mexican states on the route | Colima, Jalisco, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-200D, MEX-54D, MEX-15D, MEX-80D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
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 Real de Catorce is like
MEX-80D (114 mi) and MEX-54D (91 mi) carry about 40% of the 508 miles. It runs through 4 states: Colima, Jalisco, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-200D, MEX-54D and MEX-15D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Manzanillo to Real de Catorce: the road sequence
| 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 | 70–161 | 91 | Colima, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 161–178 | 17 | Jalisco |
| local roads | 178–182 | 4 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 182–198 | 16 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 198–201 | 3 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 201–273 | 72 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80 | 273–306 | 33 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 306–348 | 42 | Jalisco, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-80 | 348–351 | 3 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-70 | 351–368 | 17 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 368–383 | 15 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-49 | 383–393 | 10 | San Luis Potosí |
| connecting roads | 393–394 | 1 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-63 | 394–467 | 73 | San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 43 | 467–501 | 34 | San Luis Potosí |
| local roads | 501–508 | 7 | San Luis Potosí |
- Mile 80 of this route: Colima → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 331 of this route: Jalisco → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 342 of this route: Guanajuato → San Luis Potosí (state line)
Places worth a stop between Manzanillo and Real de Catorce
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Comunitario de la Sal (mile 26), Teatro José Rosas Moreno (mile 296)
- Nature and outdoors: Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park (mile 83)
- Museums and history: Museo Comunitario de la Sal (mile 26), Cathedral Basilica of Colima (mile 64), Museo Regional de la Cristiada (mile 65), Museo de las Artes Populares de Jalisco (mile 182), Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos (mile 268), Teatro José Rosas Moreno (mile 296), San Luis Potosí Cathedral (mile 377)
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.
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 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.
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.
Museo de las Artes Populares de Jalisco
Opened on May 31, 2000, in Guadalajara's historic center, this museum researches, safeguards and promotes the crafts and folk art of Jalisco.
Diana Theatre
The Diana Theatre, or Teatro Diana, is an indoor theater in Guadalajara, in the state of Jalisco, with seating for 2,345 people.
Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos
Raised between 1732 and 1769, the cathedral basilica of San Juan de los Lagos draws pilgrims from far away who come to visit the small image of the Virgin kept inside.
Teatro José Rosas Moreno
Lagos de Moreno's Teatro José Rosas Moreno opened its doors on May 5, 1907, some forty years after construction began in 1867. It honors a writer from Jalisco.
San Luis Potosí Cathedral
Look closely at the two towers of San Luis Potosí's cathedral: one is built of mortar, the other of quarried cantera stone. The Baroque church is the seat of the archdiocese.
When you get to Real de Catorce
High in the mountains of northern San Luis Potosí Real de Catorce is a former silver-mining town whose most prosperous era began in 1778. It joined the Pueblos Mágicos program in 2001, and its identity grew out of both its mining past and the culture of the Huichol (Wixárika) people.
- Túnel de Ogarrio: The Túnel de Ogarrio, the town's famous tunnel, is one of the landmarks SECTUR highlights for visitors to Real de Catorce. source
- Parroquia de la Purísima Concepción: The Parroquia de la Purísima Concepción is the parish church at the center of town life, and the feast of St. Francis of Assisi on October 4 is its biggest celebration. source
- Museo Parroquial Padre José Robledo: The Museo Parroquial Padre José Robledo preserves pieces of the town's religious history. source
More drives to Real de Catorce
- Comfort, TX to Real de Catorce
- San Antonio, TX to Real de Catorce
- Boerne, TX to Real de Catorce
- San Marcos, TX to Real de Catorce
- McAllen, TX to Real de Catorce
- Bandera, TX to Real de Catorce
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
Coming to Real de Catorce from the United States? Border crossings, permits and routes from U.S. cities: Driving to Real de Catorce, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
- Manzanillo to Ocuituco Road Trip: Stops, Tolls & Drive Time
- Manzanillo to Lagos de Moreno Road Trip: Route, Tolls & Stops
- Manzanillo to Mexcaltitán Road Trip: Route, Stops & Safety
- Manzanillo to Nombre de Dios Road Trip: Route, Tolls & Stops
- Manzanillo to Cadereyta Road Trip: Where to Stop on the Way
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Manzanillo to Real de Catorce?
About 9 h 54 min of driving without stops, over 508 miles.
What is the driving distance from Manzanillo to Real de Catorce?
About 508 miles (817 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 Real de Catorce?
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 Real de Catorce?
The U.S. State Department rates Colima Level 4: Do Not Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; San Luis Potosí 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 Real de Catorce use?
In order: MEX-200, MEX-200D, MEX-110, MEX-54, MEX-54D, MEX-15, MEX-15D, MEX-80D, MEX-80, MEX-70, MEX-57D, MEX-49, MEX-63 and SLP 43. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Manzanillo and Real de Catorce?
Closest to the road: Museo Comunitario de la Sal (museum, mile 26, 0.4 mi from the route); Diana Theatre (theater, mile 183, 1 mi from the route); Teatro José Rosas Moreno (opera house, mile 296, 0.3 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 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: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place 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.