Plan on about 9 h 21 min of driving for the 416-mile (670 km) trip from Quito to Zamora, before any stops.
Full advisory: 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.”
| Distance by road | 416 mi (670 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 21 min |
| Main roads, in order | E28A → E35 → E46 → E45 |
| Provinces on the route | Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Napo, Chimborazo, Morona Santiago, Zamora Chinchipe |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
How the Quito to Zamora drive plays out
E45 (197 mi) and E35 (97 mi) carry about 71% of the 416 miles. It runs through 6 provinces: Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Napo, Chimborazo, Morona Santiago, Zamora Chinchipe. Of the 6 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Quito to Zamora
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–14 | 14 | Pichincha |
| E28A | 14–19 | 5 | Pichincha |
| E35 | 19–116 | 97 | Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Napo, Chimborazo |
| local roads | 116–139 | 23 | Chimborazo |
| E46 | 139–214 | 75 | Chimborazo, Morona Santiago |
| local roads | 214–219 | 5 | Morona Santiago |
| E45 | 219–416 | 197 | Morona Santiago, Zamora Chinchipe |
- Mile 32 of this route: Pichincha → Cotopaxi (province line)
- Mile 70 of this route: Cotopaxi → Napo (province line)
- Mile 103 of this route: Napo → Chimborazo (province line)
- Mile 170 of this route: Chimborazo → Morona Santiago (province line)
- Mile 357 of this route: Morona Santiago → Zamora Chinchipe (province line)
Places worth a stop between Quito and Zamora
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Sacred Heart Basilica (Riobamba) (mile 121)
- Nature and outdoors: Cotopaxi National Park (mile 36), Botanical Garden Atocha-La Liria (mile 81), Siete Iglesias Municipal Ecological Conservation Area (mile 310)
- Museums and history: Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Elevation, Ambato (mile 81), Sacred Heart Basilica (Riobamba) (mile 121)
Cotopaxi National Park
Roughly 50 km south of Quito, Cotopaxi National Park spans parts of three provinces and surrounds Cotopaxi volcano, along with dormant Rumiñahui to the northwest and Sincholagua to the southeast.
Área nacional de recreación El Boliche
Created in 1979, El Boliche National Recreation Area is a 400-hectare protected area on the Pichincha–Cotopaxi border, at elevations from about 3,484 to 3,726 meters.
Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Elevation, Ambato
Ambato Cathedral, the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Elevation, faces Juan Montalvo Park between Bolívar and Montalvo streets in the capital of Tungurahua province. It has held the rank of minor basilica since April 1961.
Botanical Garden Atocha-La Liria
On Avenida Circunvalación in Ambato, Tungurahua Province, the Atocha-La Liria Botanical Garden covers 35 acres and dates back to 1849.
Sacred Heart Basilica (Riobamba)
Facing Parque Libertad in Riobamba, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart (Basílica del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús) was begun in 1883, took 32 years to finish and was consecrated in 1915.
Siete Iglesias Municipal Ecological Conservation Area
Siete Iglesias Municipal Ecological Conservation Area in Morona Santiago, Ecuador, is a protected area that also welcomes some tourism.
More drives to Zamora
- Latacunga to Zamora
- Montecristi to Zamora
- Portoviejo to Zamora
- Bahía de Caráquez to Zamora
- Otavalo to Zamora
- Ibarra to Zamora
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 Zamora?
About 9 h 21 min of driving without stops, over 416 miles.
How far is Zamora from Quito by car?
About 416 miles (670 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 Zamora?
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 Zamora use?
In order: E28A, E35, E46 and E45. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Quito and Zamora?
Closest to the road: Botanical Garden Atocha-La Liria (botanical garden, mile 81, 1 mi from the route); Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Elevation, Ambato (basilica, mile 81, 2 mi from the route); Sacred Heart Basilica (Riobamba) (basilica, mile 121, 0.1 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 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.