Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Tequila Road Trip: Stops & Drive Time

By admin, 3 October, 2026

The Wayro route from Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Tequila is 244 miles (393 km), about 4 h 23 min of driving without stops.

U.S. State Department travel advisory: Zacatecas — Level 4, Do Not Travel; Aguascalientes — Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution; Jalisco — Level 3, Reconsider TravelAdvisory issued May 29, 2026; checked September 29, 2026. Jalisco is the Mexican state that contains Tequila. This route passes through a state at the advisory's highest level. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive.
Museo de la InsurgenciaMuseum of Contemporary ArtTeatro MorelosCathedral Basilica of San Juan de los LagosTeocaltitan Archaeological SiteMuseo Regional de la Ceramica, TlaquepaqueDiana TheatreMuseo Regional de GuadalajaraGuachimontonesGuadalupe, ZacatecasTequila
Route from Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Tequila with the 9 stops listed below (blue dots).
Distance244 mi (393 km)
Driving time, no stops4 h 23 min
Main roads, in orderMEX-45D → MEX-45 → MEX-80D → MEX-15D → MEX-15
Mexican states on the routeZacatecas (Level 4), Aguascalientes (Level 2), Jalisco (Level 3)
Toll roadsMEX-45D, MEX-80D, MEX-90D, MEX-15D
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 9.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below9

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 insuranceRequired 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 Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Tequila is like

MEX-80D (87 mi) and MEX-45 (58 mi) carry about 59% of the 244 miles. MEX-45D, MEX-80D, MEX-15D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-45, MEX-15 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Jalisco. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.

The route from Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Tequila, road by road

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miState
local roads0–44Zacatecas
MEX-45D4–2521Zacatecas
MEX-4525–5328Zacatecas, Aguascalientes
local roads53–574Aguascalientes
MEX-4557–8730Aguascalientes, Jalisco
MEX-45D87–10013Jalisco
local roads100–11212Jalisco
MEX-80D112–19987Jalisco
MEX-15D199–21112Jalisco
MEX-15211–2198Jalisco
MEX-15D219–24223Jalisco
local roads242–2442Jalisco
  • Mile 30 of this route: Zacatecas → Aguascalientes (state line)
  • Mile 83 of this route: Aguascalientes → Jalisco (state line)

Stops between Guadalupe, Zacatecas and Tequila

  • Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museum of Contemporary Art (mile 68), Teatro Morelos (mile 68)
  • Museums and history: Museo de la Insurgencia (mile 48), Museum of Contemporary Art (mile 68), Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos (mile 119), Teocaltitan Archaeological Site (mile 126), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 200), Museo Regional de Guadalajara (mile 204), Guachimontones (mile 233)

Museo de la Insurgencia

Mile 48 · Museum · 3 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Set in a 17th-century estate, the Museo de la Insurgencia opened in 1964 to tell the story of Mexico's independence movement. One hall shows farm, mining and textile tools from hacienda work; another displays everyday objects from past eras.

Museum of Contemporary Art

Mile 68 · Art museum · 0.2 mi from the route

Aguascalientes' Museum of Contemporary Art shows works by contemporary Mexican artists in its Jesús F. Contreras gallery.

Teatro Morelos

Mile 68 · Theatre building · 0.2 mi from the route

In downtown Aguascalientes, Teatro Morelos is a neoclassical theater designed and built by engineer José Noriega and opened in 1885. In October and November 1914 it hosted the Sovereign Revolutionary Convention.

Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos

Mile 119 · Minor basilica · 2 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Pilgrims come from far and wide to San Juan de los Lagos to see the small image of the Virgin kept in this cathedral basilica, built between 1732 and 1769. Inside are Gothic-style ribbed vaults and a silver-framed Way of the Cross.

Teocaltitan Archaeological Site

Mile 126 · Archaeological site · 2 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Near Jalostotitlán in the Los Altos region, the Teocaltitán site holds pyramids, sunken patios and a ball court spread across about nine hectares, built by a people who dominated much of the area from AD 400 to 900.

Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque

Mile 200 · Museum · 1 mi from the route

On Independencia Street in central Tlaquepaque, Jalisco, the Museo Regional de la Cerámica is one of the city's two main ceramics museums, alongside the Pantaleón Panduro Museum.

Diana Theatre

Mile 203 · Venue · 1 mi from the route

The Diana Theatre, or Teatro Diana, is an indoor theater in Guadalajara, in the state of Jalisco, with seating for 2,345 people.

Museo Regional de Guadalajara

Mile 204 · Museum · 2 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Facing the Rotonda de los Jaliscienses Ilustres in downtown Guadalajara, the Museo Regional de Guadalajara fills a full city block bounded by Hidalgo, Pino Suárez, Liceo and Independencia streets.

Guachimontones

Mile 233 · Archaeological site · 9 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

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.

When you get to Tequila

National Museum of Tequila

Museum · in Tequila

The National Museum of Tequila (MUNAT) in the town of Tequila tells the story of the spirit that put this corner of Jalisco on the map. The state government took it back in 2026 and announced a reopening with refreshed exhibits.

More drives to Tequila

From Guadalupe, Zacatecas to other places in Mexico

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Tequila?

About 4 h 23 min of driving without stops, over 244 miles.

How far is Tequila from Guadalupe, Zacatecas by car?

About 244 miles (393 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 Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Tequila?

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 Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Tequila?

The U.S. State Department rates Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel; Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.

What roads does the drive from Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Tequila use?

In order: MEX-45D, MEX-45, MEX-80D, MEX-15D and MEX-15. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.

What are good stops between Guadalupe, Zacatecas and Tequila?

Closest to the road: Museum of Contemporary Art (art museum, mile 68, 0.2 mi from the route); Teatro Morelos (theatre building, mile 68, 0.2 mi from the route); Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (museum, mile 200, 1 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.