Manzanillo to Tócuaro Road Trip: Stops, Tolls & Drive Time

By admin, 3 October, 2026

The Wayro route from Manzanillo to Tócuaro is 270 miles (434 km), about 6 h 19 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 TravelAdvisory issued May 29, 2026; checked September 29, 2026. Michoacán is the Mexican state that contains Tócuaro. 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 SalMuseo Universitario de Artes Populares María Teresa PomarVolcán Nevado de Colima National ParkZamora de Hidalgo CathedralLago de Camécuaro National ParkManzanilloTócuaro
Route from Manzanillo to Tócuaro with the 5 stops listed below (blue dots).
Distance270 mi (434 km)
Driving time, no stops6 h 19 min
Main roads, in orderMEX-200 → MEX-200D → MEX-110 → MEX-54 → MEX-54D → MEX-15 → MEX-37 → MICH 19
Mexican states on the routeColima (Level 4), Jalisco (Level 3), Michoacán (Level 4)
Toll roadsMEX-200D, MEX-54D
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 10.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below5

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 Tócuaro is like

MEX-110 (89 mi) and MEX-15 (50 mi) carry about 51% of the 270 miles. MEX-200D, MEX-54D 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 5 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.

The route from Manzanillo to Tócuaro, 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 roads168–1724Michoacán
MEX-15172–20331Michoacán
local roads203–2107Michoacán
MEX-15210–22919Michoacán
MEX-37229–24617Michoacán
local roads246–26620Michoacán
MICH 19266–2704Michoacán
  • Mile 80 of this route: Colima → Jalisco (state line)
  • Mile 146 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)

Stops between Manzanillo and Tócuaro

  • 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 Universitario de Artes Populares María Teresa Pomar (mile 65), Zamora de Hidalgo Cathedral (mile 210)

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.

Museo Universitario de Artes Populares María Teresa Pomar

Mile 65 · Art gallery · 1 mi from the route

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.

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.

Zamora de Hidalgo Cathedral

Mile 210 · Catholic cathedral · 3 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

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

Mile 215 · National Park of Mexico · 0.5 mi from the route

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.

More drives to Tócuaro

From Manzanillo to other places in Mexico

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from Manzanillo to Tócuaro?

About 6 h 19 min of driving without stops, over 270 miles.

How far is Tócuaro from Manzanillo by car?

About 270 miles (434 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 Tócuaro?

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 Tócuaro?

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 Tócuaro use?

In order: MEX-200, MEX-200D, MEX-110, MEX-54, MEX-54D, MEX-15, MEX-37 and MICH 19. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.

What are good stops between Manzanillo and Tócuaro?

Closest to the road: Museo Comunitario de la Sal (museum, mile 26, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo Universitario de Artes Populares María Teresa Pomar (art gallery, mile 65, 1 mi from the route); Lago de Camécuaro National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 215, 0.5 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.