The Wayro route from San Juan del Río to Colima is 319 miles (514 km), about 6 h 33 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 319 mi (514 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 33 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-57D → MEX-45D → MEX-90 → MEX-90D → MEX-110 → MEX-35 → MEX-15 → MEX-54 → MEX-54D |
| Mexican states on the route | Querétaro (Level 2), Guanajuato (Level 3), Michoacán (Level 4), Jalisco (Level 3), Colima (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-57D, MEX-45D, MEX-90D, MEX-54D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
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 San Juan del Río to Colima is like
MEX-110 (108 mi) and MEX-45D (65 mi) carry about 54% of the 319 miles. MEX-57D, MEX-45D, MEX-90D, MEX-54D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-90, MEX-110, MEX-35, MEX-15, MEX-54 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 5 states: Querétaro, Guanajuato, Michoacán, Jalisco, Colima. None of the 8 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from San Juan del Río to Colima, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 2–32 | 30 | Querétaro |
| MEX-45D | 32–97 | 65 | Querétaro, Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 97–98 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-90 | 98–143 | 45 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-90D | 143–156 | 13 | Guanajuato, Michoacán |
| MEX-110 | 156–181 | 25 | Michoacán |
| MEX-35 | 181–188 | 7 | Michoacán |
| MEX-110 | 188–206 | 18 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 206–211 | 5 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 211–213 | 2 | Michoacán |
| MEX-110 | 213–278 | 65 | Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-54 | 278–288 | 10 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 288–290 | 2 | Jalisco |
| MEX-54D | 290–314 | 24 | Jalisco, Colima |
| MEX-54 | 314–319 | 5 | Colima |
- Mile 39 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 155 of this route: Guanajuato → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 236 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 305 of this route: Jalisco → Colima (state line)
Stops between San Juan del Río and Colima
- Nature and outdoors: El Cimatario National Park (mile 27), Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park (mile 301)
- Museums and history: Queretaro Art Museum (mile 31), El Cerrito (mile 35), Celaya Cathedral (mile 59), Irapuato Cathedral (mile 95), Plazuelas (mile 135)
El Cimatario National Park
El Cimatario National Park protects about 24 square kilometers of land just south of the city of Santiago de Querétaro.
Queretaro Art Museum
Set in the cloister of the former San Agustín convent, the Museo de Arte de Querétaro opened in 1988 and shows paintings and sculpture across fifteen galleries.
El Cerrito
Just outside Querétaro city in Corregidora, El Cerrito is an INAH archaeological zone centered on a pyramid close to 100 feet high, later topped by a 19th-century fort, with a small site museum on the grounds.
Celaya Cathedral
Celaya's main Catholic church, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, occupies the space of a former chapel that was annexed to the neighboring Temple of St. Francis.
Irapuato Cathedral
Irapuato's cathedral, dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, dates from the 18th century and has a Baroque facade. It served as the seat of the local parish until 2004, when the new Diocese of Irapuato made it a cathedral.
Tequila Corralejo
Tequila Corralejo is distilled in Pénjamo, Guanajuato, at the historic Hacienda de Corralejo, where the brand, established in 1996, offers guided tours and hosts social events.
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.
When you get to Colima
Museo Regional de Historia de Colima
An early 19th-century mansion on Colima's Portal Morelos holds this regional history museum, run jointly by INAH, the University of Colima and the state. Exhibits range from Capacha and Comala pottery and shaft tombs to Philippine trade and the Revolution.
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.
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.
More drives to Colima
- Guadalajara to Colima
- Irapuato to Colima
- Salamanca to Colima
- León to Colima
- Aguascalientes to Colima
- Guanajuato to Colima
From San Juan del Río to other places in Mexico
- San Juan del Río to San Miguel de Allende
- San Juan del Río to Mineral de Pozos
- San Juan del Río to Salvatierra
- San Juan del Río to Moroleón
- San Juan del Río to Guanajuato
- San Juan del Río to Pénjamo
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from San Juan del Río to Colima?
About 6 h 33 min of driving without stops, over 319 miles.
How far is Colima from San Juan del Río by car?
About 319 miles (514 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 San Juan del Río to Colima?
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 San Juan del Río to Colima?
The U.S. State Department rates Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; 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 San Juan del Río to Colima use?
In order: MEX-57D, MEX-45D, MEX-90, MEX-90D, MEX-110, MEX-35, MEX-15, MEX-54 and MEX-54D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between San Juan del Río and Colima?
Closest to the road: Queretaro Art Museum (art museum, mile 31, 1 mi from the route); Tequila Corralejo (distillery, mile 120, 1 mi from the route); Plazuelas (archaeological site, mile 135, 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.