Driving from San Salvador to Managua
Managua lies 362 km (225 mi) south-east of San Salvador, in the same time zone. What the numbers say about getting there.
Driving takes about 5 h 32 min without stops, over roughly 442 km (275 mi) of road; add breaks, fuel and any border.
| San Salvador | Managua | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | El Salvador | Nicaragua |
| Population | 525,990 | 973,087 |
| Elevation | 653 m (2,142 ft) | 108 m (354 ft) |
| Time now | UTC-6 (America/El_Salvador) | UTC-6 (America/Managua) |
What changes when you arrive in Managua
Crossing from El Salvador into Nicaragua: money changes from the Dollar to the Cordoba (NIO); the dialling code becomes +505; the emergency number is http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q11185210 / http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q25648801.
Where to book car hire from San Salvador to Managua
We take no bookings for these providers and hold no reservation with them. The provider you choose handles payment, confirmation, changes and refunds. How that works.
Staying in Managua
Our booking partner lists 165 places to stay in Managua. Of the 131 with a star rating, the largest group is 3-star (81), and 8 are five-star. Across 44 properties with at least 50 reviews, the average guest score is 8.5 out of 10. Guests have left 18,996 reviews in total.
Book a hotel in Managua
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Managua from San Salvador?
362 km (225 mi) in a straight line, south-east of San Salvador; by road roughly 442 km (275 mi).
How long does it take to get from San Salvador to Managua by car?
About 5 h 32 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between San Salvador and Managua?
No, both are on the same offset at the moment.
What currency do I need in Managua?
The Cordoba (NIO).
Where can I stay in Managua?
Our booking partner lists 165 places to stay in Managua, bookable on this site.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.