Quito to Santo Domingo de los Colorados is about 112 road miles (180 km): roughly 2 h 43 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: “Some roads are poorly maintained. They may lack crash barriers, guard rails, signs, and streetlights.”
| Total distance | 112 mi (180 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 2 h 43 min |
| Main roads, in order | E28 → E25 |
| Provinces on the route | Pichincha, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 4.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
Driving Quito to Santo Domingo de los Colorados: the shape of the trip
E28 (60 mi) and E25 (37 mi) carry about 87% of the 112 miles. It runs through 2 provinces: Pichincha, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas. Of the 3 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Quito to Santo Domingo de los Colorados: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–11 | 11 | Pichincha |
| E28 | 11–71 | 60 | Pichincha |
| connecting roads | 71–72 | 1 | Pichincha |
| E25 | 72–109 | 37 | Pichincha, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas |
| local roads | 109–112 | 3 | Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas |
- Mile 85 of this route: Pichincha → Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas (province line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Quito and Santo Domingo de los Colorados
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo de sitio La Florida (mile 7)
- Nature and outdoors: Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve (mile 21)
- Museums and history: Museo de sitio La Florida (mile 7), Catequilla (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.
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.
Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve
Surrounding Pululahua Volcano, this geobotanical reserve lies 17 km north of Quito in the northwestern part of the Pomasqui Valley, Pichincha province.
Arriving in Santo Domingo de los Colorados
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.
More drives to Santo Domingo de los Colorados
From Quito to other places in Ecuador
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Quito to Santo Domingo de los Colorados?
About 2 h 43 min of driving without stops, over 112 miles.
What is the driving distance from Quito to Santo Domingo de los Colorados?
About 112 miles (180 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 Quito to Santo Domingo de los Colorados drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Ecuador Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Quito to Santo Domingo de los Colorados use?
In order: E28 and E25. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Quito and Santo Domingo de los Colorados?
Closest to the road: Museo de sitio La Florida (museum, mile 7, 0.6 mi from the route); Catequilla (archaeological site, mile 19, 2 mi from the route); Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve (nature area, mile 21, 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.