Manzanillo to Tonatico Road Trip: Where to Stop on the Way

By admin, 3 October, 2026

The Wayro route from Manzanillo to Tonatico is 471 miles (758 km), about 8 h 48 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; State of Mexico — Level 2, Exercise Increased CautionAdvisory issued May 29, 2026; checked September 29, 2026. State of Mexico is the Mexican state that contains Tonatico. 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 Regional de Historia de ColimaVolcán Nevado de Colima National ParkRayón National ParkCathedral of AtlacomulcoMuseum José María VelascoNevado de Toluca National ParkManzanilloTonatico
Route from Manzanillo to Tonatico with the 7 stops listed below (blue dots).
Distance471 mi (758 km)
Driving time, no stops8 h 48 min
Main roads, in orderMEX-200 → MEX-200D → MEX-110 → MEX-54 → MEX-54D → MEX-15 → MEX-15D → MEX-55D → MEX-55
Mexican states on the routeColima (Level 4), Jalisco (Level 3), Michoacán (Level 4), State of Mexico (Level 2)
Toll roadsMEX-200D, MEX-54D, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-55D
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 18.8 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 Tonatico is like

MEX-15D (188 mi) and MEX-110 (107 mi) carry about 63% of the 471 miles. MEX-200D, MEX-54D, MEX-15D, MEX-55D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-200, MEX-110, MEX-54, MEX-15, MEX-55 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: Colima, Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico. Of the 7 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.

The route from Manzanillo to Tonatico, 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
connecting roads194–1984Michoacán, Jalisco
MEX-15D198–386188Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico
connecting roads386–3904State of Mexico
MEX-55D390–42434State of Mexico
MEX-55424–4295State of Mexico
local roads429–44213State of Mexico
connecting roads442–4431State of Mexico
MEX-55D443–46724State of Mexico
local roads467–4714State of Mexico
  • Mile 80 of this route: Colima → Jalisco (state line)
  • Mile 146 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
  • Mile 195 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
  • Mile 201 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
  • Mile 368 of this route: Michoacán → State of Mexico (state line)

Stops between Manzanillo and Tonatico

  • Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Comunitario de la Sal (mile 26), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 388)
  • Nature and outdoors: Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park (mile 83), Rayón National Park (mile 365), Nevado de Toluca National Park (mile 447)
  • Museums and history: Museo Comunitario de la Sal (mile 26), Museo Regional de Historia de Colima (mile 64), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 388), Museum José María Velasco (mile 428)

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 Regional de Historia de Colima

Mile 64 · Museum · 2 mi from the route

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

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.

Rayón National Park

Mile 365 · National Park of Mexico · 5 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Just outside Tlalpujahua, Rayón National Park (Parque Nacional Rayón) marks the start of the area's famous butterfly reserve country, which stretches south and west from here.

Cathedral of Atlacomulco

Mile 388 · Catholic cathedral · 0.4 mi from the route

Atlacomulco's cathedral, the Catedral de la Divina Providencia, is the seat of the Diocese of Atlacomulco and is dedicated to Divine Providence, making it the town's principal Catholic church.

Museum José María Velasco

Mile 428 · Art museum · 1 mi from the route

In Toluca's historic center, the Museo José María Velasco shares the work of 19th-century Mexican painter José María Velasco, with Plaza de los Mártires to the south and the Government Palace to the east.

Nevado de Toluca National Park

Mile 447 · Flora and fauna protection area · 7 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

The Nevado de Toluca volcano was declared a flora and fauna protection area in 2013, a protected zone spanning ten municipalities of the State of Mexico, including Toluca, Zinacantepec and Temascaltepec.

More drives to Tonatico

From Manzanillo to other places in Mexico

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from Manzanillo to Tonatico?

About 8 h 48 min of driving without stops, over 471 miles.

How far is Tonatico from Manzanillo by car?

About 471 miles (758 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 Tonatico?

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 Tonatico?

The U.S. State Department rates Colima Level 4: Do Not Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; State of Mexico 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 Tonatico use?

In order: MEX-200, MEX-200D, MEX-110, MEX-54, MEX-54D, MEX-15, MEX-15D, MEX-55D and MEX-55. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.

What are good stops between Manzanillo and Tonatico?

Closest to the road: Museo Comunitario de la Sal (museum, mile 26, 0.4 mi from the route); Cathedral of Atlacomulco (catholic cathedral, mile 388, 0.4 mi from the route); Museum José María Velasco (art museum, mile 428, 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.