The Wayro route from Santa Clara del Cobre to La Manzanilla is 324 miles (521 km), about 7 h 22 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 324 mi (521 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 22 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-37 → MEX-15 → MEX-110 → MEX-54 → MEX-54D → MEX-200D → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | Michoacán (Level 4), Jalisco (Level 3), Colima (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-54D, MEX-200D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
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 Santa Clara del Cobre to La Manzanilla is like
MEX-110 (91 mi) and MEX-15 (51 mi) carry about 44% of the 324 miles. MEX-54D, MEX-200D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-37, MEX-15, MEX-110, MEX-54, MEX-200 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Michoacán, Jalisco, Colima. Of the 6 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Santa Clara del Cobre to La Manzanilla, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–35 | 35 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37 | 35–52 | 17 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 52–71 | 19 | Michoacán |
| local roads | 71–78 | 7 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 78–110 | 32 | Michoacán |
| MEX-110 | 110–176 | 66 | Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-54 | 176–186 | 10 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 186–188 | 2 | Jalisco |
| MEX-54D | 188–213 | 25 | Jalisco, Colima |
| MEX-54 | 213–220 | 7 | Colima |
| MEX-110 | 220–245 | 25 | Colima |
| connecting roads | 245–247 | 2 | Colima |
| MEX-200D | 247–285 | 38 | Colima |
| MEX-200 | 285–323 | 38 | Colima, Jalisco |
| local roads | 323–324 | 1 | Jalisco |
- Mile 135 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 204 of this route: Jalisco → Colima (state line)
- Mile 300 of this route: Colima → Jalisco (state line)
Stops between Santa Clara del Cobre and La Manzanilla
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Lago de Camécuaro National Park (mile 66), Museo Comunitario de la Sal (mile 257)
- Nature and outdoors: Lago de Camécuaro National Park (mile 66), Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park (mile 199)
- Museums and history: Zamora de Hidalgo Cathedral (mile 71), Cathedral Basilica of Colima (mile 219), Museo Regional de Historia de Colima (mile 219), Museo Comunitario de la Sal (mile 257)
Lago de Camécuaro National Park
Fed by countless springs, clear Lake Camécuaro near Tangancícuaro, about 13 km from Zamora, is ringed by old ahuehuete (sabino) trees. The national park is a popular spot for swimming, rowboats and picnics in their shade.
Zamora de Hidalgo Cathedral
Zamora's Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is a 19th-century Catholic church in the Michoacán city of Zamora de Hidalgo, attributed to the Celaya architect Eduardo Tresguerras.
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 La Manzanilla
- San Luis Soyatlán to La Manzanilla
- Cotija to La Manzanilla
- Amatitán to La Manzanilla
- Tepatitlán to La Manzanilla
- Uruapan to La Manzanilla
- Pénjamo to La Manzanilla
From Santa Clara del Cobre to other places in Mexico
- Santa Clara del Cobre to Amatitán
- Santa Clara del Cobre to Real de Asientos
- Santa Clara del Cobre to Nombre de Dios
- Santa Clara del Cobre to San Ignacio, Sinaloa
- Santa Clara del Cobre to Mineral de Pozos
- Santa Clara del Cobre to Bernal
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Santa Clara del Cobre to La Manzanilla?
About 7 h 22 min of driving without stops, over 324 miles.
How far is La Manzanilla from Santa Clara del Cobre by car?
About 324 miles (521 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 Santa Clara del Cobre 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 Santa Clara del Cobre to La Manzanilla?
The U.S. State Department rates 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 Santa Clara del Cobre to La Manzanilla use?
In order: MEX-37, MEX-15, MEX-110, 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 Santa Clara del Cobre and La Manzanilla?
Closest to the road: Lago de Camécuaro National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 66, 0.5 mi from the route); Cathedral Basilica of Colima (cathedral, mile 219, 2 mi from the route); Museo Comunitario de la Sal (museum, mile 257, 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.