The Wayro route from Manzanillo to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes is 345 miles (556 km), about 6 h 20 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 345 mi (556 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 20 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-200 → MEX-200D → MEX-110 → MEX-54 → MEX-54D → MEX-15 → MEX-15D → MEX-80D → MEX-45D → MEX-45 → AGS 19 |
| Mexican states on the route | Colima (Level 4), Jalisco (Level 3), Aguascalientes (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-200D, MEX-54D, MEX-15D, MEX-80D, MEX-45D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.8 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 Manzanillo to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes is like
MEX-54D (91 mi) and MEX-80D (72 mi) carry about 47% of the 345 miles. MEX-200D, MEX-54D, MEX-15D, MEX-80D, MEX-45D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-200, MEX-110, MEX-54, MEX-15, MEX-45 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Colima, Jalisco, Aguascalientes. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Manzanillo to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes, 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 | 70–161 | 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 |
| connecting roads | 273–274 | 1 | Jalisco |
| local roads | 274–286 | 12 | Jalisco |
| MEX-45D | 286–300 | 14 | Jalisco |
| MEX-45 | 300–329 | 29 | Jalisco, Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 329–333 | 4 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 333–336 | 3 | Aguascalientes |
| connecting roads | 336–337 | 1 | Aguascalientes |
| AGS 19 | 337–345 | 8 | Aguascalientes |
- Mile 80 of this route: Colima → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 304 of this route: Jalisco → Aguascalientes (state line)
Stops between Manzanillo and San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Comunitario de la Sal (mile 26), Teatro Morelos (mile 318)
- Museums and history: Museo Comunitario de la Sal (mile 26), Museo Universitario de Artes Populares María Teresa Pomar (mile 65), Ciudad Guzmán Cathedral (mile 106), El Ixtépete (mile 177), Guadalajara Cathedral (mile 182), Universidad de Guadalajara. Museo de las Artes (mile 182), Teocaltitan Archaeological Site (mile 261)
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 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.
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.
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.
Guadalajara Cathedral
In the Centro of Guadalajara, the Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady is the seat of the Archdiocese of Guadalajara and a minor basilica.
Universidad de Guadalajara. Museo de las Artes
The University of Guadalajara's Museo de las Artes, known as MUSA, opened on October 10, 1994, and was expanded in 2013.
Teocaltitan Archaeological Site
Near Jalostotitlán in the Los Altos region, the Teocaltitán site holds pyramids, sunken patios and a ball court spread across about nine hectares, built by a people who dominated much of the area from AD 400 to 900.
Teatro Morelos
In downtown Aguascalientes, Teatro Morelos is a neoclassical theater designed and built by engineer José Noriega and opened in 1885. In October and November 1914 it hosted the Sovereign Revolutionary Convention.
When you get to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
Santuario del Cristo Roto, San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
A 28-meter broken Christ, the Cristo Roto, stands on an island in the Presidente Calles dam at San José de Gracia, reachable only by boat. Sculptors Erasmo Aguilar and Miguel Romo Santino made it to recall what the town lost when the dam was built.
More drives to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Jerez, Zacatecas to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- El Rosario, Sinaloa to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Tepatitlán to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Amatitán to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Ajijic to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Tequila to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
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 San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
About 6 h 20 min of driving without stops, over 345 miles.
How far is San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes from Manzanillo by car?
About 345 miles (556 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 San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
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 San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
The U.S. State Department rates Colima Level 4: Do Not Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Aguascalientes 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 San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes use?
In order: MEX-200, MEX-200D, MEX-110, MEX-54, MEX-54D, MEX-15, MEX-15D, MEX-80D, MEX-45D, MEX-45 and AGS 19. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Manzanillo and San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
Closest to the road: Museo Comunitario de la Sal (museum, mile 26, 0.4 mi from the route); El Ixtépete (archaeological site, mile 177, 1 mi from the route); Teatro Morelos (theatre building, mile 318, 0.1 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.