The Wayro route from Punta Colonet to Puerto Nuevo is 114 miles (183 km), about 2 h 19 min of driving without stops.
What the State Department tells travelers on this route:
- Baja California: “Travelers should remain on main highways and avoid remote locations.”
| Distance | 114 mi (183 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 2 h 19 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-1 → MEX-1D |
| Mexican states on the route | Baja California (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-1D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 4.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
Driving this route in a car with U.S. plates
| Temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) | Not needed: the whole route is in Baja California / Baja California Sur, Mexico's hassle-free zone for U.S. vehicles |
|---|---|
| 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 Punta Colonet to Puerto Nuevo is like
MEX-1 (75 mi) and MEX-1D (29 mi) carry about 91% of the 114 miles. MEX-1D is a toll highway (cuota); MEX-1 is a free federal road (libre). Of the 4 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Punta Colonet to Puerto Nuevo, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-1 | 0–68 | 68 | Baja California |
| local roads | 68–73 | 5 | Baja California |
| connecting roads | 73–76 | 3 | Baja California |
| MEX-1 | 76–83 | 7 | Baja California |
| MEX-1D | 83–112 | 29 | Baja California |
| local roads | 112–114 | 2 | Baja California |
Stops between Punta Colonet and Puerto Nuevo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Misión San Vicente Ferrer (mile 24), Misión Santo Tomás de Aquino (mile 47)
- Museums and history: Misión San Vicente Ferrer (mile 24), Misión Santo Tomás de Aquino (mile 47), Misión San Miguel Arcángel de la Frontera (mile 103)
Misión San Vicente Ferrer
San Vicente, about 55 miles south of Ensenada, is the site of a Dominican mission founded in 1780; the town's community museum on the central park displays objects from the mission, Pai Pai artifacts, and mammoth fossils.
Misión Santo Tomás de Aquino
Dominican missionaries founded Misión Santo Tomás de Aquino in Baja California in 1791 and named it for Saint Thomas Aquinas, in the valley town of Santo Tomás south of Ensenada.
Estero Punta Banda
Estero de Punta Banda, in the municipality of Ensenada in the state of Baja California, is a wetland recognized as a Ramsar site.
Misión San Miguel Arcángel de la Frontera
Mission San Miguel Arcángel de la Frontera was founded on March 28, 1787, by Dominican missionary Luis Sales among the Kumeyaay people of northwestern Baja California.
When you get to Puerto Nuevo
Misión El Descanso
Mission El Descanso, originally called San Miguel la Nueva, was founded in 1810 by Dominican friar Tomás de Ahumada in what is now Playas de Rosarito, on lands long home to the Kumeyaay.
More drives to Puerto Nuevo
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Punta Colonet to Puerto Nuevo?
About 2 h 19 min of driving without stops, over 114 miles.
How far is Puerto Nuevo from Punta Colonet by car?
About 114 miles (183 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 Punta Colonet to Puerto Nuevo?
No vehicle permit is needed: the whole route is in Baja California / Baja California Sur, Mexico's hassle-free zone for U.S. vehicles. Mexican auto insurance is required for every vehicle.
Is it safe to drive from Punta Colonet to Puerto Nuevo?
The U.S. State Department rates Baja California Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Punta Colonet to Puerto Nuevo use?
In order: MEX-1 and MEX-1D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Punta Colonet and Puerto Nuevo?
Closest to the road: Misión San Vicente Ferrer (spanish mission, mile 24, 0.4 mi from the route); Misión Santo Tomás de Aquino (spanish mission, mile 47, 0.2 mi from the route); Misión San Miguel Arcángel de la Frontera (spanish mission, mile 103, 2 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.