Tepic to Manzanillo is about 289 road miles (465 km): roughly 4 h 53 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance by road | 289 mi (465 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 4 h 53 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15D → MEX-GUA 10D → MEX-54D → MEX-54 → MEX-110 → MEX-200D |
| Mexican states on the route | Nayarit, Jalisco, Colima |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-15D, MEX-GUA 10D, MEX-54D, MEX-200D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
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 Tepic to Manzanillo is like
MEX-15D (94 mi) and MEX-54D (89 mi) carry about 63% of the 289 miles. It runs through 3 states: Nayarit, Jalisco, Colima. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-15D, MEX-GUA 10D and MEX-54D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Tepic to Manzanillo: the road sequence
| 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 | 219–227 | 8 | Colima |
| MEX-110 | 227–251 | 24 | Colima |
| connecting roads | 251–254 | 3 | Colima |
| MEX-200D | 254–286 | 32 | Colima |
| local roads | 286–289 | 3 | 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 Manzanillo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ixtlán del Rio (mile 51), Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 81), Museo Comunitario de la Sal (mile 263)
- 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), Guachimontones (mile 106), Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila (mile 112), Ciudad Guzmán Cathedral (mile 185), El Chanal (mile 222), Museo Regional de la Cristiada (mile 225), Museo Comunitario de la Sal (mile 263)
Ixtlán del Rio
Known locally as Los Toriles, the Ixtlán del Río site is famous for a temple with a fully circular floor plan, rare in Mesoamerica. People lived here from about 300 BC to AD 600, and an introductory gallery explains the finds.
Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería
In the municipality of Magdalena, Mexico, an interpretive museum focuses on two subjects: the agave landscape and mining.
Guachimontones
Western Mexico's first large population center, according to INAH, took shape near Teuchitlán around 1000 BC. Guachimontones stands out for its round architecture, with roughly 40 circular structures across the site.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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 is the drive from Tepic to Manzanillo?
About 4 h 53 min of driving without stops, over 289 miles.
How far is Manzanillo from Tepic by car?
About 289 miles (465 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 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 Tepic to Manzanillo?
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 Manzanillo?
In order: MEX-15D, MEX-GUA 10D, MEX-54D, MEX-54, MEX-110 and MEX-200D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Tepic to Manzanillo?
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 Comunitario de la Sal (museum, mile 263, 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.