The Wayro route from Pénjamo to La Manzanilla is 298 miles (480 km), about 6 h 25 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 298 mi (480 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 25 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-90D → MEX-110 → MEX-35 → MEX-15 → MEX-54 → MEX-54D → MEX-200D → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | Guanajuato (Level 3), Michoacán (Level 4), Jalisco (Level 3), Colima (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-90D, MEX-54D, MEX-200D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
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 Pénjamo to La Manzanilla is like
MEX-110 (132 mi) and MEX-200D (38 mi) carry about 57% of the 298 miles. MEX-90D, MEX-54D, MEX-200D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-110, MEX-35, MEX-15, MEX-54, MEX-200 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: Guanajuato, Michoacán, Jalisco, Colima. Of the 5 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Pénjamo to La Manzanilla, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–16 | 16 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-90D | 16–29 | 13 | Guanajuato, Michoacán |
| MEX-110 | 29–53 | 24 | Michoacán |
| MEX-35 | 53–61 | 8 | Michoacán |
| MEX-110 | 61–79 | 18 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 79–85 | 6 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 85–86 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-110 | 86–151 | 65 | Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-54 | 151–160 | 9 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 160–163 | 3 | Jalisco |
| MEX-54D | 163–187 | 24 | Jalisco, Colima |
| MEX-54 | 187–194 | 7 | Colima |
| MEX-110 | 194–219 | 25 | Colima |
| connecting roads | 219–221 | 2 | Colima |
| MEX-200D | 221–259 | 38 | Colima |
| MEX-200 | 259–297 | 38 | Colima, Jalisco |
| local roads | 297–298 | 1 | Jalisco |
- Mile 28 of this route: Guanajuato → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 109 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 178 of this route: Jalisco → Colima (state line)
- Mile 275 of this route: Colima → Jalisco (state line)
Stops between Pénjamo and La Manzanilla
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Comunitario de la Sal (mile 232)
- Nature and outdoors: Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park (mile 174)
- Museums and history: Plazuelas (mile 8), El Chanal (mile 190), Alfonso Michel University Art Gallery (mile 193), Museo Comunitario de la Sal (mile 232)
Plazuelas
Near Pénjamo, Plazuelas flourished between AD 450 and 700. Trails lead to Casas Tapadas, a platform crowned by four pyramid bases, a ball court, and rocks carved with spirals and La Maqueta, a low-relief model of Casas Tapadas.
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.
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 La Manzanilla
- San Luis Soyatlán to La Manzanilla
- Cotija to La Manzanilla
- Amatitán to La Manzanilla
- Tepatitlán to La Manzanilla
- Uruapan to La Manzanilla
- San Juan de los Lagos to La Manzanilla
From Pénjamo to other places in Mexico
- Pénjamo to Cotija
- Pénjamo to Amatitán
- Pénjamo to Tequila
- Pénjamo to Pinos
- Pénjamo to Pabellón de Arteaga
- Pénjamo to Pabellón de Hidalgo
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Pénjamo to La Manzanilla?
About 6 h 25 min of driving without stops, over 298 miles.
How far is La Manzanilla from Pénjamo by car?
About 298 miles (480 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 Pénjamo 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 Pénjamo to La Manzanilla?
The U.S. State Department rates Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; 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 Pénjamo to La Manzanilla use?
In order: MEX-90D, MEX-110, MEX-35, MEX-15, MEX-54, MEX-54D, 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 Pénjamo and La Manzanilla?
Closest to the road: Plazuelas (archaeological site, mile 8, 2 mi from the route); Alfonso Michel University Art Gallery (museum, mile 193, 2 mi from the route); Museo Comunitario de la Sal (museum, mile 232, 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.