Plan on about 7 h 32 min of driving for the 307-mile (494 km) trip from Quevedo to Tulcán, before any stops.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Ecuador: Quevedo, Quinsaloma, and Pueblo Viejo, in Los Rios province.
- Level 3: Reconsider Travel in Ecuador: Los Rios province, outside Quevedo, Quinsaloma, and Pueblo Viejo.
- Level 3: Reconsider Travel in Ecuador: Sucumbios, Manabi, Santa Elena, and Santo Domingo provinces.
This route passes through or near an area the State Department rates Do Not Travel. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive: Ecuador. Advisory issued: Ecuador August 18, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Ecuador: “Heavy fog and rain make conditions more dangerous.”
| Total distance | 307 mi (494 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 7 h 32 min |
| Main roads, in order | E25 → E28 → E28B → E282 → E35 |
| Provinces on the route | Los Rios, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Pichincha, Imbabura, Carchi |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
What the drive from Quevedo to Tulcán is like
E25 (104 mi) and E35 (101 mi) carry about 67% of the 307 miles. It runs through 5 provinces: Los Rios, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Pichincha, Imbabura, Carchi. Of the 6 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Quevedo to Tulcán
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Los Rios |
| E25 | 1–105 | 104 | Los Rios, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Pichincha |
| connecting roads | 105–106 | 1 | Pichincha |
| E28 | 106–159 | 53 | Pichincha |
| local roads | 159–167 | 8 | Pichincha |
| E28B | 167–188 | 21 | Pichincha |
| local roads | 188–194 | 6 | Pichincha |
| connecting roads | 194–197 | 3 | Pichincha |
| E282 | 197–204 | 7 | Pichincha |
| E35 | 204–305 | 101 | Imbabura, Carchi |
| local roads | 305–307 | 2 | Carchi |
- Mile 39 of this route: Los Rios → Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas (province line)
- Mile 93 of this route: Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas → Pichincha (province line)
- Mile 204 of this route: Pichincha → Imbabura (province line)
- Mile 258 of this route: Imbabura → Carchi (province line)
Places worth a stop between Quevedo and Tulcán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Intiñan Museum (mile 157), Wiwa Quito (mile 178)
- Nature and outdoors: Jardín botánico La Carolina (mile 66)
- Museums and history: Intiñan Museum (mile 157), Catequilla (mile 158), Inca-Caranqui (mile 229)
- With kids: Wiwa Quito (mile 178)
Jardín botánico La Carolina
Now named Jardín Botánico Padre Julio Marrero, this roughly 17-hectare botanical garden, palm collection and orchid house in Santo Domingo de los Colorados belongs to the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador.
Intiñan Museum
Just 200 meters from Ciudad Mitad del Mundo on the outskirts of Quito, Intiñan Museum (Museo de sitio Intiñán) is a site museum built in 1989.
Catequilla
Catequilla is an archaeological site on a mountaintop in the Pomasqui Valley, in San Antonio parish near Quito, at 2,638 meters and about 300 meters above the valleys on either side.
Historic Center of Quito
The Historic Center of Quito covers about 375 hectares in south-central Quito and is considered among the best-preserved historic districts in Spanish America, with roughly 130 monumental buildings and some 5,000 listed heritage properties.
Wiwa Quito
Known for almost three decades as the Quito Zoo, Wiwa Quito is a wildlife refuge park of about 12 hectares in the Guayllabamba parish of Quito, opened in 1997.
Inca-Caranqui
On the southern edge of Ibarra, Inca-Caranqui preserves a semi-subterranean Inca structure of finely cut stone, possibly the pool described by Spanish chronicler Cieza de León, across from Caranqui's parish church.
More drives to Tulcán
- Latacunga to Tulcán
- Ambato to Tulcán
- Santo Domingo de los Colorados to Tulcán
- Riobamba to Tulcán
- Babahoyo to Tulcán
- Guayaquil to Tulcán
From Quevedo to other places in Ecuador
- Quevedo to Tababela
- Quevedo to Otavalo
- Quevedo to Salinas
- Quevedo to Ipiales, Colombia
- Quevedo to Pitalito, Colombia
- Quevedo to Coconuco, Colombia
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Quevedo to Tulcán?
About 7 h 32 min of driving without stops, over 307 miles.
What is the driving distance from Quevedo to Tulcán?
About 307 miles (494 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.
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Quevedo to Tulcán drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Ecuador Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Parts of this route are in or near areas rated Level 4: Do Not Travel (Ecuador: Quevedo, Quinsaloma, and Pueblo Viejo, in Los Rios province). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Quevedo to Tulcán use?
In order: E25, E28, E28B, E282 and E35. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Quevedo to Tulcán?
Closest to the road: Jardín botánico La Carolina (botanical garden, mile 66, 1 mi from the route); Intiñan Museum (museum, mile 157, 0.2 mi from the route); Wiwa Quito (zoo, mile 178, 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 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 October 10, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.