Quito to Canoa is about 232 road miles (373 km): roughly 5 h 22 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
- Level 3: Reconsider Travel in Ecuador: Sucumbios, Manabi, Santa Elena, and Santo Domingo provinces.
Read the full advisory before you go: 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 | 232 mi (373 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 5 h 22 min |
| Main roads, in order | E28 → E20 → E385 → E382 → E15 |
| Provinces on the route | Pichincha, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Manabi |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
Driving Quito to Canoa: the shape of the trip
E28 (60 mi) and E15 (56 mi) carry about 50% of the 232 miles. It runs through 3 provinces: Pichincha, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Manabi. Of the 3 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Quito to Canoa: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–11 | 11 | Pichincha |
| E28 | 11–71 | 60 | Pichincha |
| connecting roads | 71–73 | 2 | Pichincha |
| local roads | 73–105 | 32 | Pichincha, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas |
| E20 | 105–114 | 9 | Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas |
| E385 | 114–134 | 20 | Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Manabi |
| E382 | 134–175 | 41 | Manabi |
| E15 | 175–231 | 56 | Manabi |
| local roads | 231–232 | 1 | Manabi |
- Mile 88 of this route: Pichincha → Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas (province line)
- Mile 131 of this route: Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas → Manabi (province line)
What to see on the way from Quito to Canoa
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo de sitio La Florida (mile 7), Ciudad Mitad del Mundo (mile 19), Intiñan Museum (mile 19)
- Nature and outdoors: Ciudad Mitad del Mundo (mile 19)
- Museums and history: Museo de sitio La Florida (mile 7), Intiñan Museum (mile 19)
Museo de sitio La Florida
On the slopes of Pichincha volcano in Quito's La Florida area, this archaeological site museum covers a small part of an ancient pre-Hispanic burial ground.
Ciudad Mitad del Mundo
Ciudad Mitad del Mundo is a site owned by Pichincha province in San Antonio parish, 26 kilometers north of central Quito.
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.
More drives to Canoa
From Quito to other places in Ecuador
- Quito to Mindo
- Quito to Santo Domingo de los Colorados
- Quito to Esmeraldas
- Quito to Baños
- Quito to Puyo
- Quito to Quevedo
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Quito to Canoa?
About 5 h 22 min of driving without stops, over 232 miles.
How far is Canoa from Quito by car?
About 232 miles (373 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.
Is it safe to drive from Quito to Canoa?
The U.S. State Department rates Ecuador Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Quito to Canoa?
In order: E28, E20, E385, E382 and E15. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Quito to Canoa?
Closest to the road: Museo de sitio La Florida (museum, mile 7, 0.6 mi from the route); Intiñan Museum (museum, mile 19, 0.1 mi from the route); Ciudad Mitad del Mundo (park, mile 19, 0.2 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.