Irapuato to Tequila Road Trip: Route, Stops & Safety

By admin, 3 October, 2026

The Wayro route from Irapuato to Tequila is 191 miles (308 km), about 3 h 31 min of driving without stops.

U.S. State Department travel advisory: Guanajuato — Level 3, Reconsider Travel; Michoacán — Level 4, Do Not Travel; 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.
Tequila CorralejoPlazuelasMuseo Regional de la Ceramica, TlaquepaqueBasílica de San Felipe NeriAcuario Michin GuadalajaraGuachimontonesIrapuatoTequila
Route from Irapuato to Tequila with the 6 stops listed below (blue dots).
Distance191 mi (308 km)
Driving time, no stops3 h 31 min
Main roads, in orderMEX-90 → MEX-90D → MEX-110 → MEX-15D → MEX-15
Mexican states on the routeGuanajuato (Level 3), Michoacán (Level 4), Jalisco (Level 3)
Toll roadsMEX-90D, MEX-15D
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 7.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below6

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 Irapuato to Tequila is like

MEX-15D (98 mi) and MEX-90 (45 mi) carry about 75% of the 191 miles. MEX-90D, MEX-15D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-90, MEX-110, MEX-15 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Guanajuato, Michoacán, Jalisco. None of the 6 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.

The route from Irapuato to Tequila, road by road

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miState
local roads0–22Guanajuato
MEX-902–4745Guanajuato
MEX-90D47–6114Guanajuato, Michoacán
MEX-11061–8322Michoacán
MEX-15D83–15875Michoacán, Jalisco
MEX-15158–1679Jalisco
MEX-15D167–19023Jalisco
local roads190–1911Jalisco
  • Mile 59 of this route: Guanajuato → Michoacán (state line)
  • Mile 88 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)

Stops between Irapuato and Tequila

  • Museums and history: Plazuelas (mile 39), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 147), Basílica de San Felipe Neri (mile 152), Guachimontones (mile 181)
  • With kids: Acuario Michin Guadalajara (mile 152)

Tequila Corralejo

Mile 24 · Distillery · 1 mi from the route

Tequila Corralejo is distilled in Pénjamo, Guanajuato, at the historic Hacienda de Corralejo, where the brand, established in 1996, offers guided tours and hosts social events.

Plazuelas

Mile 39 · Archaeological site · 2 mi from the route

Near Pénjamo, Plazuelas flourished between AD 450 and 700. Trails lead to Casas Tapadas, a platform crowned by four pyramid bases, a ball court, and rocks carved with spirals and La Maqueta, a low-relief model of Casas Tapadas.

Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque

Mile 147 · 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.

Basílica de San Felipe Neri

Mile 152 · Minor basilica · 2 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Guadalajara's Basilica of San Felipe Neri is a Catholic church built in baroque style between 1752 and 1802 by master builder Pedro José Ciprés.

Acuario Michin Guadalajara

Mile 152 · Public aquarium · 3 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Acuario Michin Guadalajara is an aquarium in the city of Guadalajara, in the Mexican state of Jalisco.

Guachimontones

Mile 181 · 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 Irapuato to other places in Mexico

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from Irapuato to Tequila?

About 3 h 31 min of driving without stops, over 191 miles.

How far is Tequila from Irapuato by car?

About 191 miles (308 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 Irapuato 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 Irapuato to Tequila?

The U.S. State Department rates Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.

What roads does the drive from Irapuato to Tequila use?

In order: MEX-90, MEX-90D, MEX-110, 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 Irapuato and Tequila?

Closest to the road: Tequila Corralejo (distillery, mile 24, 1 mi from the route); Plazuelas (archaeological site, mile 39, 2 mi from the route); Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (museum, mile 147, 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.