Matehuala to La Manzanilla is about 544 road miles (875 km): roughly 10 h 7 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance by road | 544 mi (875 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 7 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-57 → MEX-57D → MEX-70 → MEX-80 → MEX-80D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-54D → MEX-54 → MEX-110 → MEX-200D → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Colima |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-57D, MEX-80D, MEX-90D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.7 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 Matehuala to La Manzanilla is like
MEX-80D (127 mi) and MEX-57 (94 mi) carry about 41% of the 544 miles. It runs through 4 states: San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Colima. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-57D, MEX-80D and MEX-90D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Matehuala to La Manzanilla: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 2–80 | 78 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 80–101 | 21 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 101–117 | 16 | San Luis Potosí |
| local roads | 117–127 | 10 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 127–136 | 9 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-70 | 136–153 | 17 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-80 | 153–157 | 4 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-80D | 157–198 | 41 | San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Jalisco |
| MEX-80 | 198–231 | 33 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 231–317 | 86 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 317–322 | 5 | Jalisco |
| local roads | 322–326 | 4 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 326–344 | 18 | Jalisco |
| MEX-54D | 344–432 | 88 | Jalisco, Colima |
| MEX-54 | 432–440 | 8 | Colima |
| MEX-110 | 440–465 | 25 | Colima |
| connecting roads | 465–467 | 2 | Colima |
| MEX-200D | 467–505 | 38 | Colima |
| MEX-200 | 505–543 | 38 | Colima, Jalisco |
| local roads | 543–544 | 1 | Jalisco |
- Mile 163 of this route: San Luis Potosí → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 174 of this route: Guanajuato → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 424 of this route: Jalisco → Colima (state line)
- Mile 520 of this route: Colima → Jalisco (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Matehuala and La Manzanilla
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Teatro José Rosas Moreno (mile 208)
- Nature and outdoors: Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park (mile 419)
- Museums and history: Museo Laberinto de las Ciencias y las Artes (mile 121), Teatro José Rosas Moreno (mile 208), Teocaltitan Archaeological Site (mile 244), Museum of Paleontology of Guadalajara (mile 321), Casa Museo López Portillo (mile 322), El Chanal (mile 436), Alfonso Michel University Art Gallery (mile 439)
Cineteca Alameda
San Luis Potosí's Cineteca Alameda screens Mexican and international films in the 1940s Teatro Alameda building facing the Alameda Juan Sarabia, and also hosts concerts.
Museo Laberinto de las Ciencias y las Artes
Built in Parque Tangamanga I and opened on September 4, 2008, the Museo Laberinto de las Ciencias y las Artes is an interactive museum in San Luis Potosí.
Teatro José Rosas Moreno
Construction of the Teatro José Rosas Moreno in Lagos de Moreno began in 1867, and the theater opened on May 5, 1907. It is named for Jalisco writer José Rosas Moreno.
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.
Museum of Paleontology of Guadalajara
Fossils are the focus at Guadalajara's Museum of Paleontology, which opened in 2000 inside Parque Agua Azul with exhibits developed alongside INAH, Mexico's national anthropology and history institute.
Casa Museo López Portillo
Opened on May 10, 1982, this house museum in Guadalajara's historic center showcases decorative arts and promotes work by young artists from the metro area.
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.
El Chanal
North of Colima city, this Postclassic settlement straddles the Colima River. Its ceremonial core holds temples, palaces, altars and a ballcourt, and digs revealed copper, silver and gold metalwork along with pottery and obsidian tools.
Alfonso Michel University Art Gallery
Two restored old houses in downtown Colima hold this art gallery (Pinacoteca Universitaria Alfonso Michel), which honors painter Alfonso Michel and displays a large collection belonging to the University of Colima.
More drives to La Manzanilla
- San Luis Soyatlán to La Manzanilla
- Cotija to La Manzanilla
- Amatitán to La Manzanilla
- Tepatitlán to La Manzanilla
- Uruapan to La Manzanilla
- Pénjamo to La Manzanilla
From Matehuala to other places in Mexico
- Matehuala to San Juan de los Lagos
- Matehuala to Pabellón de Arteaga
- Matehuala to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Matehuala to Calvillo
- Matehuala to Temacapulín
- Matehuala to Jalpa
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Matehuala to La Manzanilla?
About 10 h 7 min of driving without stops, over 544 miles.
How far is La Manzanilla from Matehuala by car?
About 544 miles (875 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 Matehuala to La Manzanilla?
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 Matehuala to La Manzanilla?
The U.S. State Department rates San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Colima Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Matehuala to La Manzanilla use?
In order: MEX-57, MEX-57D, MEX-70, MEX-80, MEX-80D, MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-54D, MEX-54, MEX-110, MEX-200D and MEX-200. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Matehuala to La Manzanilla?
Closest to the road: Cineteca Alameda (cinematheque, mile 119, 1 mi from the route); Teatro José Rosas Moreno (opera house, mile 208, 0.3 mi from the route); Museum of Paleontology of Guadalajara (museum, mile 321, 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 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.