The Wayro route from Manzanillo to Zacatecas is 391 miles (629 km), about 7 h 10 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 391 mi (629 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 10 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 |
| Mexican states on the route | Colima (Level 4), Jalisco (Level 3), Aguascalientes (Level 2), Zacatecas (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-200D, MEX-54D, MEX-15D, MEX-80D, MEX-45D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.6 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 Zacatecas is like
MEX-54D (91 mi) and MEX-80D (72 mi) carry about 42% of the 391 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 4 states: Colima, Jalisco, Aguascalientes, Zacatecas. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Manzanillo to Zacatecas, 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 | 333–362 | 29 | Aguascalientes, Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 362–382 | 20 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 382–391 | 9 | Zacatecas |
- Mile 80 of this route: Colima → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 304 of this route: Jalisco → Aguascalientes (state line)
- Mile 357 of this route: Aguascalientes → Zacatecas (state line)
Stops between Manzanillo and Zacatecas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Comunitario de la Sal (mile 26), Museum of Contemporary Art (mile 318)
- Museums and history: Museo Comunitario de la Sal (mile 26), Cathedral Basilica of Colima (mile 64), Ciudad Guzmán Cathedral (mile 106), El Ixtépete (mile 177), Teatro Degollado (mile 182), Museo de las Artes Populares de Jalisco (mile 182), Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos (mile 268), Museum of Contemporary Art (mile 318)
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.
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.
Teatro Degollado
On Guadalajara's central plaza, along Belén Street between Hidalgo and Morelos avenues, the neoclassical Teatro Degollado is known for its varied performances and artistic design.
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.
Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos
Pilgrims come from far and wide to San Juan de los Lagos to see the small image of the Virgin kept in this cathedral basilica, built between 1732 and 1769. Inside are Gothic-style ribbed vaults and a silver-framed Way of the Cross.
Museum of Contemporary Art
Aguascalientes' Museum of Contemporary Art shows works by contemporary Mexican artists in its Jesús F. Contreras gallery.
When you get to Zacatecas
Zacatecas climbs the steep slopes of a narrow valley between the Bufa and Grillo hills in north-central Mexico. Founded in 1546 after the discovery of a rich silver lode, its historic center has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993, and the city is also part of the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, the colonial silver route listed by UNESCO in 2010.
- Zacatecas Cathedral: Built between 1730 and 1760, the cathedral dominates downtown with Baroque façades that mix European and Indigenous decorative elements. source
- Teatro Calderón: The downtown theater dates from 1834 and is one of the civic landmarks UNESCO highlights in the historic center. source
- Mercado González Ortega: The iron-framed market building from 1886 stands in the historic center near the cathedral. source
Cathedral Basilica of Zacatecas
Dedicated to the Virgin of the Assumption, the Cathedral of Zacatecas is the main church of the Diocese of Zacatecas.
Teatro Fernando Calderón
Built between 1891 and 1897 to plans by architect George Edward King, Zacatecas' Teatro Calderón honors playwright Fernando Calderón and witnessed violent events during the Toma de Zacatecas.
Museo Toma de Zacatecas
On the Cerro de la Bufa, this museum explains the military and social story behind the Taking of Zacatecas during the Mexican Revolution, along with glimpses of daily life in the city at the time.
More drives to Zacatecas
- Del Rio, TX to Zacatecas
- South Padre Island, TX to Zacatecas
- McAllen, TX to Zacatecas
- Laredo, TX to Zacatecas
- Corpus Christi, TX to Zacatecas
- Brownsville, TX to Zacatecas
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 Zacatecas from the United States? Border crossings, permits and routes from U.S. cities: Driving to Zacatecas, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Manzanillo to Zacatecas?
About 7 h 10 min of driving without stops, over 391 miles.
How far is Zacatecas from Manzanillo by car?
About 391 miles (629 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 Zacatecas?
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 Zacatecas?
The U.S. State Department rates Colima Level 4: Do Not Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Zacatecas 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 Zacatecas use?
In order: MEX-200, MEX-200D, MEX-110, MEX-54, MEX-54D, MEX-15, MEX-15D, MEX-80D, MEX-45D and MEX-45. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Manzanillo and Zacatecas?
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); Museum of Contemporary Art (art museum, 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.