The Wayro route from Mexico City to Manzanillo is 483 miles (777 km), about 9 h 9 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 483 mi (777 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 9 min |
| Main roads, in order | Viaducto → Periférico → MEX-57 → MEX-M40D → MEX-15D → MEX-110 → MEX-15 → MEX-54 → MEX-54D → MEX-200D |
| Mexican states on the route | Mexico City (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), Michoacán (Level 4), Jalisco (Level 3), Colima (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-54D, MEX-200D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.3 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 Mexico City to Manzanillo is like
MEX-15D (188 mi) and MEX-110 (108 mi) carry about 61% of the 483 miles. MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-54D, MEX-200D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-57, MEX-110, MEX-15, MEX-54 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 6 states: Mexico City, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Michoacán, Jalisco, Colima. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Mexico City to Manzanillo, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Mexico City |
| Viaducto | 2–6 | 4 | Mexico City |
| Periférico | 6–24 | 18 | Mexico City, State of Mexico |
| MEX-57 | 24–58 | 34 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| connecting roads | 58–60 | 2 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-M40D | 60–93 | 33 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 93–281 | 188 | State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 281–286 | 5 | Jalisco |
| MEX-110 | 286–304 | 18 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 304–309 | 5 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 309–311 | 2 | Michoacán |
| MEX-110 | 311–377 | 66 | Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-54 | 377–386 | 9 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 386–388 | 2 | Jalisco |
| MEX-54D | 388–413 | 25 | Jalisco, Colima |
| MEX-54 | 413–420 | 7 | Colima |
| MEX-110 | 420–444 | 24 | Colima |
| connecting roads | 444–447 | 3 | Colima |
| MEX-200D | 447–479 | 32 | Colima |
| local roads | 479–483 | 4 | Colima |
- Mile 9 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 41 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 62 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 111 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 279 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 286 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 335 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 404 of this route: Jalisco → Colima (state line)
Stops between Mexico City and Manzanillo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Acuario Inbursa (mile 9), Museo Hacienda de Santa Mónica (mile 16), Parque de las Esculturas (mile 26), Museo Comunitario de la Sal (mile 457)
- Nature and outdoors: Bicentennial Park (mile 11), Tula National Park (mile 56), Rayón National Park (mile 114)
- Museums and history: Museo Hacienda de Santa Mónica (mile 16), Tlalnepantla Cathedral (mile 17), Parque de las Esculturas (mile 26), Cathedral Basilica of Colima (mile 419), Museo Comunitario de la Sal (mile 457)
- With kids: Acuario Inbursa (mile 9)
Acuario Inbursa
In the Nuevo Polanco area of Mexico City, Acuario Inbursa spreads across about 3,500 square meters of exhibits holding some 1.6 million liters of seawater.
Bicentennial Park
On the line between the Azcapotzalco and Miguel Hidalgo boroughs, Bicentennial Park (Parque Bicentenario) is a park in the western part of Mexico City.
Museo Hacienda de Santa Mónica
Part of the Antonio Haghenbeck Cultural Foundation, the Museo Hacienda de Santa Mónica is a museum in the municipality of Tlalnepantla de Baz, State of Mexico.
Tlalnepantla Cathedral
Consecrated on August 23, 1964, Tlalnepantla's Corpus Christi Cathedral stands where Franciscans founded the Convent of San Francisco in 1525.
Parque de las Esculturas
Seventeen sculptures by Charlotte Yazbek, first shown at the Mexico Pavilion of the 1964 New York World's Fair, stand in this Cuautitlán Izcalli park. The artist oversaw their installation here in 1976.
Tula National Park
This park protects the ruins of Tula, ancient capital of the Toltecs. Walk up to the main pyramid to stand beside the Atlantes, basalt warrior figures more than four meters tall, and look for the Coatepantli wall's reliefs of snakes devouring skeletons.
Rayón National Park
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 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.
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.
More drives to Manzanillo
- Guadalajara to Manzanillo
- Zamora to Manzanillo
- Uruapan to Manzanillo
- Irapuato to Manzanillo
- Salamanca to Manzanillo
- León to Manzanillo
From Mexico City to other places in Mexico
- Mexico City to Metepec
- Mexico City to Toluca
- Mexico City to Cuernavaca
- Mexico City to Atlatlahucan
- Mexico City to Malinalco
- Mexico City to Cuautla
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Mexico City to Manzanillo?
About 9 h 9 min of driving without stops, over 483 miles.
How far is Manzanillo from Mexico City by car?
About 483 miles (777 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 Mexico City to Manzanillo?
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 Mexico City to Manzanillo?
The U.S. State Department rates Mexico City Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not 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 Mexico City to Manzanillo use?
In order: Viaducto, Periférico, MEX-57, MEX-M40D, MEX-15D, MEX-110, MEX-15, MEX-54, MEX-54D and MEX-200D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Mexico City and Manzanillo?
Closest to the road: Acuario Inbursa (public aquarium, mile 9, 0.6 mi from the route); Museo Hacienda de Santa Mónica (museum, mile 16, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo Comunitario de la Sal (museum, mile 457, 0.4 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.