The Wayro route from Tonatico to Barra de Navidad is 505 miles (813 km), about 9 h 28 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 505 mi (813 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 28 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-55D → MEX-55 → MEX-15D → MEX-110 → MEX-15 → MEX-54 → MEX-54D → MEX-200D → MEX-200 |
| Mexican states on the route | State of Mexico (Level 2), Michoacán (Level 4), Jalisco (Level 3), Colima (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-55D, MEX-15D, MEX-54D, MEX-200D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.2 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 Tonatico to Barra de Navidad is like
MEX-15D (188 mi) and MEX-110 (109 mi) carry about 59% of the 505 miles. MEX-55D, MEX-15D, MEX-54D, MEX-200D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-55, MEX-110, MEX-15, MEX-54, MEX-200 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco, Colima. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Tonatico to Barra de Navidad, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 4–28 | 24 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 28–30 | 2 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 30–41 | 11 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 41–52 | 11 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 52–81 | 29 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 81–84 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 84–85 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 85–273 | 188 | State of Mexico, Michoacán, Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 273–277 | 4 | Jalisco |
| MEX-110 | 277–296 | 19 | Jalisco, Michoacán |
| MEX-15 | 296–301 | 5 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 301–303 | 2 | Michoacán |
| MEX-110 | 303–368 | 65 | Michoacán, Jalisco |
| MEX-54 | 368–377 | 9 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 377–380 | 3 | Jalisco |
| MEX-54D | 380–404 | 24 | Jalisco, Colima |
| MEX-54 | 404–411 | 7 | Colima |
| MEX-110 | 411–436 | 25 | Colima |
| connecting roads | 436–438 | 2 | Colima |
| MEX-200D | 438–475 | 37 | Colima |
| MEX-200 | 475–503 | 28 | Colima, Jalisco |
| local roads | 503–505 | 2 | Jalisco |
- Mile 103 of this route: State of Mexico → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 270 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 278 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 326 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 395 of this route: Jalisco → Colima (state line)
- Mile 491 of this route: Colima → Jalisco (state line)
Stops between Tonatico and Barra de Navidad
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 82), Museo Comunitario de la Sal (mile 447)
- Nature and outdoors: Desierto del Carmen National Park (mile 8), Nevado de Toluca National Park (mile 24), Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park (mile 390)
- Museums and history: Museum José María Velasco (mile 42), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 82), Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 123), Museo Universitario de Artes Populares María Teresa Pomar (mile 409), Museo Comunitario de la Sal (mile 447)
Desierto del Carmen National Park
Declared a national park on October 10, 1942, Desierto del Carmen is a protected area in the municipality of Tenancingo, in the State of Mexico.
Nevado de Toluca National Park
The Nevado de Toluca volcano was declared a flora and fauna protection area in 2013, a protected zone spanning ten municipalities of the State of Mexico, including Toluca, Zinacantepec and Temascaltepec.
Museum José María Velasco
In Toluca's historic center, the Museo José María Velasco shares the work of 19th-century Mexican painter José María Velasco, with Plaza de los Mártires to the south and the Government Palace to the east.
Cathedral of Atlacomulco
Atlacomulco's cathedral, the Catedral de la Divina Providencia, is the seat of the Diocese of Atlacomulco and is dedicated to Divine Providence, making it the town's principal Catholic church.
Teatro Morelos de Maravatío
Maravatío's Teatro Morelos is a late-19th-century theater in a French-influenced neoclassical style, designed by architect Rafael Guerrero Torres. It opened on January 11, 1879, with a performance by opera singer Ángela Peralta.
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.
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 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 Barra de Navidad
- Cotija to Barra de Navidad
- Tepatitlán to Barra de Navidad
- San Juan de los Lagos to Barra de Navidad
- Nochistlán to Barra de Navidad
- Jalpa to Barra de Navidad
- Pátzcuaro to Barra de Navidad
From Tonatico to other places in Mexico
- Tonatico to El Oro
- Tonatico to Bernal
- Tonatico to Mineral de Pozos
- Tonatico to Santa Fe de la Laguna
- Tonatico to Cuanajo
- Tonatico to Tócuaro
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tonatico to Barra de Navidad?
About 9 h 28 min of driving without stops, over 505 miles.
How far is Barra de Navidad from Tonatico by car?
About 505 miles (813 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 Tonatico to Barra de Navidad?
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 Tonatico to Barra de Navidad?
The U.S. State Department rates State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; 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 Tonatico to Barra de Navidad use?
In order: MEX-55D, MEX-55, MEX-15D, MEX-110, MEX-15, 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 Tonatico and Barra de Navidad?
Closest to the road: Museum José María Velasco (art museum, mile 42, 1 mi from the route); Cathedral of Atlacomulco (catholic cathedral, mile 82, 0.1 mi from the route); Museo Comunitario de la Sal (museum, mile 447, 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.