Plan on about 3 h 36 min of driving for the 224-mile (361 km) trip from Tepic to Colima, before any stops.
| Distance by road | 224 mi (361 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 3 h 36 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15D → MEX-GUA 10D → MEX-54D → MEX-54 |
| Mexican states on the route | Nayarit, Jalisco, Colima |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-15D, MEX-GUA 10D, MEX-54D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.0 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.
How the Tepic to Colima drive plays out
MEX-15D (94 mi) and MEX-54D (89 mi) carry about 82% of the 224 miles. It runs through 3 states: Nayarit, Jalisco, Colima. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-15D, MEX-GUA 10D and MEX-54D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Tepic to Colima
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–5 | 5 | Nayarit |
| MEX-15D | 5–99 | 94 | Nayarit, Jalisco |
| MEX-GUA 10D | 99–129 | 30 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 129–130 | 1 | Jalisco |
| MEX-54D | 130–219 | 89 | Jalisco, Colima |
| MEX-54 | 219–224 | 5 | Colima |
- Mile 62 of this route: Nayarit → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 210 of this route: Jalisco → Colima (state line)
Places worth a stop between Tepic and Colima
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ixtlán del Rio (mile 51), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 81)
- Nature and outdoors: Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park (mile 206)
- Museums and history: Ixtlán del Rio (mile 51), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 81), National Museum of Tequila (mile 89), Guachimontones (mile 106), Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila (mile 112), Ciudad Guzmán Cathedral (mile 185), Museo Arqueológico de Ciudad Guzmán (mile 185)
Ixtlán del Rio
Between roughly 300 BC and AD 600, people made their home at Los Toriles in Ixtlán del Río. Today visitors come for its circular temple, a rare design in Mesoamerica.
Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería
The Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería, an interpretive museum of agave landscape and mining, is located in the municipality of Magdalena, Mexico.
National Museum of Tequila
In the town of Tequila, MUNAT, the National Museum of Tequila, covers the history of the drink behind the region's fame. Jalisco's state government reclaimed the museum in 2026 and announced it will reopen with updated exhibits.
Guachimontones
Near the town of Teuchitlán, Guachimontones is known for its circular structures. INAH describes it as the first large population center in western Mexico, emerging around 1000 BC, with two ball courts and about 40 circular buildings across 20 hectares.
Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila
Around the town of Tequila, the Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of blue agave fields shaped by the plant's use for tequila since the 16th century.
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.
Museo Arqueológico de Ciudad Guzmán
Founded in the 1950s with writer Juan José Arreola among its promoters, this INAH museum in Ciudad Guzmán shows stone and ceramic pieces from western Mexico, colonial-era religious art and sketches by muralist José Clemente Orozco.
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.
Once you reach Colima
Museo Universitario de Artes Populares María Teresa Pomar
Founded by collector María Teresa Pomar and run by the University of Colima, this museum is dedicated to Mexican folk art and handcrafts (artesanía), with pieces from across the country as well as the traditions of Colima state.
Museo Regional de la Cristiada
The Museo Regional de la Cristiada is a small museum in the city of Colima, in the Mexican state of the same name. It opened its doors in 2004.
Alfonso Michel University Art Gallery
Two restored old houses in downtown Colima hold this art gallery (Pinacoteca Universitaria Alfonso Michel), which honors painter Alfonso Michel and displays a large collection belonging to the University of Colima.
More drives to Colima
- Guadalajara to Colima
- Irapuato to Colima
- Salamanca to Colima
- León to Colima
- Aguascalientes to Colima
- Guanajuato to Colima
From Tepic to other places in Mexico
- Tepic to Amatitán
- Tepic to Ajijic
- Tepic to Tepatitlán
- Tepic to Temacapulín
- Tepic to Nochistlán
- Tepic to San Juan de los Lagos
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Tepic to Colima?
About 3 h 36 min of driving without stops, over 224 miles.
What is the driving distance from Tepic to Colima?
About 224 miles (361 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 Tepic 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 Tepic to Colima?
The U.S. State Department rates Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Colima Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Tepic to Colima?
In order: MEX-15D, MEX-GUA 10D, MEX-54D and MEX-54. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Tepic to Colima?
Closest to the road: Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 51, 0.5 mi from the route); Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (museum, mile 81, 0.5 mi from the route); Museo Arqueológico de Ciudad Guzmán (museum, mile 185, 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 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.