Plan on about 11 h 10 min of driving for the 545-mile (877 km) trip from Tecomán to General Zaragoza, before any stops.
What the State Department tells travelers on this route:
- Nuevo León: “Those traveling between the U.S. border and Monterrey on highways 85/85D, 54, and 40/40D should exercise caution and avoid travel after dark.”
- Nuevo León: “Armed robberies and carjackings have occurred along these highways even during daylight hours.”
| Distance by road | 545 mi (877 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 11 h 10 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-110 → MEX-54 → MEX-54D → MEX-15 → MEX-15D → MEX-80D → MEX-80 → MEX-70 → MEX-57D → SLP 32 → MEX-57 → SLP 29 → NL 3 |
| Mexican states on the route | Colima, Jalisco, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, Nuevo León |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-54D, MEX-15D, MEX-80D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.8 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.
The Tecomán–General Zaragoza drive in a few lines
MEX-80D (115 mi) and MEX-54D (91 mi) carry about 38% of the 545 miles. It runs through 5 states: Colima, Jalisco, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, Nuevo León. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-54D, MEX-15D and MEX-80D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Tecomán to General Zaragoza, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Colima |
| MEX-110 | 2–27 | 25 | Colima |
| MEX-54 | 27–34 | 7 | Colima |
| MEX-54D | 34–125 | 91 | Colima, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 125–142 | 17 | Jalisco |
| local roads | 142–146 | 4 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 146–162 | 16 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 162–165 | 3 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 165–238 | 73 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80 | 238–270 | 32 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 270–312 | 42 | Jalisco, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-80 | 312–315 | 3 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-70 | 315–332 | 17 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 332–342 | 10 | San Luis Potosí |
| connecting roads | 342–345 | 3 | San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 32 | 345–354 | 9 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 354–367 | 13 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 367–388 | 21 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 388–463 | 75 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 463–469 | 6 | San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 29 | 469–498 | 29 | San Luis Potosí, Nuevo León |
| NL 3 | 498–504 | 6 | Nuevo León |
| local roads | 504–545 | 41 | Nuevo León |
- Mile 43 of this route: Colima → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 295 of this route: Jalisco → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 306 of this route: Guanajuato → San Luis Potosí (state line)
- Mile 478 of this route: San Luis Potosí → Nuevo León (state line)
What to see on the way from Tecomán to General Zaragoza
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Teatro José Rosas Moreno (mile 260)
- Nature and outdoors: Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park (mile 48)
- Museums and history: Museo Regional de Historia de Colima (mile 29), Ciudad Guzmán Cathedral (mile 71), Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos (mile 232), Teatro José Rosas Moreno (mile 260), San Luis Potosí Cathedral (mile 347), Matehuala Cathedral (mile 469)
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.
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.
Ciudad Guzmán Cathedral
Ciudad Guzmán's St. Joseph Cathedral (Catedral de San José) is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ciudad Guzmán and the seat of its bishop.
Diana Theatre
The Diana Theatre, or Teatro Diana, is an indoor theater in Guadalajara, in the state of Jalisco, with seating for 2,345 people.
Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos
Raised between 1732 and 1769, the cathedral basilica of San Juan de los Lagos draws pilgrims from far away who come to visit the small image of the Virgin kept inside.
Teatro José Rosas Moreno
Named after Jalisco writer José Rosas Moreno, this theater in Lagos de Moreno took decades to finish: work started in 1867, and it opened on May 5, 1907.
San Luis Potosí Cathedral
A parish church from 1609 once stood where San Luis Potosí's cathedral rose between 1701 and 1728. Today the Baroque building serves as the seat of the archdiocese.
Matehuala Cathedral
Matehuala's Immaculate Conception Cathedral is the seat of the Diocese of Matehuala; it is open for worship though still under construction.
More drives to General Zaragoza
- Jerez, Zacatecas to General Zaragoza
- Pabellón de Hidalgo to General Zaragoza
- Celaya to General Zaragoza
- Salvatierra to General Zaragoza
- Tlalpujahua to General Zaragoza
- Angangueo to General Zaragoza
From Tecomán to other places in Mexico
- Tecomán to Sayula
- Tecomán to Mazamitla
- Tecomán to Tequila
- Tecomán to Amatitán
- Tecomán to Pénjamo
- Tecomán to Temacapulín
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Tecomán to General Zaragoza?
About 11 h 10 min of driving without stops, over 545 miles.
What is the driving distance from Tecomán to General Zaragoza?
About 545 miles (877 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 Tecomán to General Zaragoza?
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 Tecomán to General Zaragoza?
The U.S. State Department rates Colima Level 4: Do Not Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Nuevo León Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Tecomán to General Zaragoza?
In order: MEX-110, MEX-54, MEX-54D, MEX-15, MEX-15D, MEX-80D, MEX-80, MEX-70, MEX-57D, SLP 32, MEX-57, SLP 29 and NL 3. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Tecomán to General Zaragoza?
Closest to the road: Museo Regional de Historia de Colima (museum, mile 29, 2 mi from the route); Diana Theatre (theater, mile 147, 1 mi from the route); Teatro José Rosas Moreno (opera house, mile 260, 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 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: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place 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.