The Wayro route from San Miguel de Allende to Manzanillo is 352 miles (567 km), about 7 h 35 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 352 mi (567 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 35 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-51 → MEX-45D → MEX-90 → MEX-90D → MEX-110 → MEX-35 → MEX-15 → MEX-54 → MEX-54D → MEX-200D |
| Mexican states on the route | Guanajuato (Level 3), Michoacán (Level 4), Jalisco (Level 3), Colima (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-45D, MEX-90D, MEX-54D, MEX-200D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.1 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 Miguel de Allende to Manzanillo is like
MEX-110 (132 mi) and MEX-90 (45 mi) carry about 50% of the 352 miles. MEX-45D, MEX-90D, MEX-54D, MEX-200D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-51, MEX-90, MEX-110, MEX-35, MEX-15, MEX-54 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: Guanajuato, Michoacán, Jalisco, Colima. Of the 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from San Miguel de Allende to Manzanillo, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-51 | 0–29 | 29 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 29–65 | 36 | Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 65–66 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-90 | 66–111 | 45 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-90D | 111–124 | 13 | Guanajuato, Michoacán |
| MEX-110 | 124–149 | 25 | Michoacán |
| MEX-35 | 149–156 | 7 | Michoacán |
| MEX-110 | 156–174 | 18 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 174–180 | 6 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 180–181 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-110 | 181–246 | 65 | Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-54 | 246–255 | 9 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 255–258 | 3 | Jalisco |
| MEX-54D | 258–282 | 24 | Jalisco, Colima |
| MEX-54 | 282–290 | 8 | Colima |
| MEX-110 | 290–314 | 24 | Colima |
| connecting roads | 314–316 | 2 | Colima |
| MEX-200D | 316–349 | 33 | Colima |
| local roads | 349–352 | 3 | Colima |
- Mile 123 of this route: Guanajuato → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 204 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 273 of this route: Jalisco → Colima (state line)
Stops between San Miguel de Allende and Manzanillo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Comunitario de la Sal (mile 327)
- Nature and outdoors: Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park (mile 269)
- Museums and history: Celaya Cathedral (mile 29), Irapuato Cathedral (mile 63), Plazuelas (mile 103), Cathedral Basilica of Colima (mile 288), Museo Regional de Historia de Colima (mile 288), Museo Comunitario de la Sal (mile 327)
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.
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 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.
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 San Miguel de Allende to other places in Mexico
- San Miguel de Allende to Pénjamo
- San Miguel de Allende to Tócuaro
- San Miguel de Allende to Temacapulín
- San Miguel de Allende to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- San Miguel de Allende to Calvillo
- San Miguel de Allende to Zacatecas
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from San Miguel de Allende to Manzanillo?
About 7 h 35 min of driving without stops, over 352 miles.
How far is Manzanillo from San Miguel de Allende by car?
About 352 miles (567 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 Miguel de Allende 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 San Miguel de Allende to Manzanillo?
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 San Miguel de Allende to Manzanillo use?
In order: MEX-51, MEX-45D, MEX-90, MEX-90D, MEX-110, MEX-35, 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 San Miguel de Allende and Manzanillo?
Closest to the road: Tequila Corralejo (distillery, mile 88, 1 mi from the route); Plazuelas (archaeological site, mile 103, 2 mi from the route); Museo Comunitario de la Sal (museum, mile 327, 0.5 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.