The Wayro route from Nochistlán to Barra de Navidad is 303 miles (488 km), about 6 h 9 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 303 mi (488 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 9 min |
| Main roads, in order | JAL 205 → JAL 201 → MEX-54 → MEX-15 → MEX-54D → MEX-110 → MEX-200D → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | Zacatecas (Level 4), Jalisco (Level 3), Colima (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-54D, MEX-200D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.1 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 Nochistlán to Barra de Navidad is like
MEX-54D (89 mi) and MEX-200D (37 mi) carry about 42% of the 303 miles. MEX-54D, MEX-200D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-54, MEX-15, MEX-110, MEX-200 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Zacatecas, Jalisco, Colima. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Nochistlán to Barra de Navidad, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Zacatecas |
| JAL 205 | 4–21 | 17 | Zacatecas, Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 21–24 | 3 | Jalisco |
| JAL 201 | 24–60 | 36 | Jalisco |
| MEX-54 | 60–81 | 21 | Jalisco |
| local roads | 81–97 | 16 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 97–113 | 16 | Jalisco |
| MEX-54D | 113–202 | 89 | Jalisco, Colima |
| MEX-54 | 202–209 | 7 | Colima |
| MEX-110 | 209–234 | 25 | Colima |
| connecting roads | 234–236 | 2 | Colima |
| MEX-200D | 236–273 | 37 | Colima |
| MEX-200 | 273–301 | 28 | Colima, Jalisco |
| local roads | 301–303 | 2 | Jalisco |
- Mile 9 of this route: Zacatecas → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 193 of this route: Jalisco → Colima (state line)
- Mile 290 of this route: Colima → Jalisco (state line)
Stops between Nochistlán and Barra de Navidad
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo de Ciencias Ambientales (mile 86), El Ixtépete (mile 96), Museo Comunitario de la Sal (mile 246)
- Nature and outdoors: Museo de Ciencias Ambientales (mile 86), Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park (mile 188)
- Museums and history: Museo Etnográfico Huichol Wixxarika (mile 86), Museo de Ciencias Ambientales (mile 86), El Ixtépete (mile 96), Museo Arqueológico de Ciudad Guzmán (mile 167), Ciudad Guzmán Cathedral (mile 168), Cathedral Basilica of Colima (mile 208), Alfonso Michel University Art Gallery (mile 208), Museo Comunitario de la Sal (mile 246)
Museo Etnográfico Huichol Wixxarika
The Museo de Arte Huichol Wixárika is a public museum where visitors can see a permanent exhibition of Huichol art.
Museo de Ciencias Ambientales
Part of the University of Guadalajara, Zapopan's Museo de Ciencias Ambientales uses interactive exhibits on biodiversity, ecology, climate change and waste to teach about the environment.
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.
Museo Arqueológico de Ciudad Guzmán
Founded in the 1950s with writer Juan José Arreola among its promoters, this INAH museum in Ciudad Guzmán shows stone and ceramic pieces from western Mexico, colonial-era religious art and sketches by muralist José Clemente Orozco.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 Barra de Navidad
- Cotija to Barra de Navidad
- Tepatitlán to Barra de Navidad
- San Juan de los Lagos to Barra de Navidad
- Jalpa to Barra de Navidad
- Pátzcuaro to Barra de Navidad
- Cuanajo to Barra de Navidad
From Nochistlán to other places in Mexico
- Nochistlán to Real de Asientos
- Nochistlán to Amatitán
- Nochistlán to San Luis Soyatlán
- Nochistlán to Pinos
- Nochistlán to Ezequiel Montes
- Nochistlán to El Rosario, Sinaloa
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Nochistlán to Barra de Navidad?
About 6 h 9 min of driving without stops, over 303 miles.
How far is Barra de Navidad from Nochistlán by car?
About 303 miles (488 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 Nochistlán to Barra de Navidad?
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 Nochistlán to Barra de Navidad?
The U.S. State Department rates Zacatecas 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 Nochistlán to Barra de Navidad use?
In order: JAL 205, JAL 201, MEX-54, MEX-15, MEX-54D, MEX-110, MEX-200D and MEX-200. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Nochistlán and Barra de Navidad?
Closest to the road: Museo de Ciencias Ambientales (natural history museum, mile 86, 0.7 mi from the route); El Ixtépete (archaeological site, mile 96, 0.2 mi from the route); Museo Comunitario de la Sal (museum, mile 246, 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.