Riobamba to Tulcán is about 272 road miles (438 km): roughly 6 h 34 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
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 | 272 mi (438 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 34 min |
| Main roads, in order | E35 → E28A → E28B → E282 |
| Provinces on the route | Chimborazo, Napo, Cotopaxi, Pichincha, Imbabura, Carchi |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
How the Riobamba to Tulcán drive plays out
E35 (202 mi) and E28B (21 mi) carry about 82% of the 272 miles. It runs through 6 provinces: Chimborazo, Napo, Cotopaxi, Pichincha, Imbabura, Carchi. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Riobamba to Tulcán: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Chimborazo |
| E35 | 2–103 | 101 | Chimborazo, Napo, Cotopaxi, Pichincha |
| E28A | 103–117 | 14 | Pichincha |
| local roads | 117–132 | 15 | Pichincha |
| E28B | 132–153 | 21 | Pichincha |
| local roads | 153–160 | 7 | Pichincha |
| connecting roads | 160–162 | 2 | Pichincha |
| E282 | 162–169 | 7 | Pichincha |
| E35 | 169–270 | 101 | Pichincha, Imbabura, Carchi |
| local roads | 270–272 | 2 | Carchi |
- Mile 17 of this route: Chimborazo → Napo (province line)
- Mile 49 of this route: Napo → Cotopaxi (province line)
- Mile 88 of this route: Cotopaxi → Pichincha (province line)
- Mile 170 of this route: Pichincha → Imbabura (province line)
- Mile 224 of this route: Imbabura → Carchi (province line)
What to see on the way from Riobamba to Tulcán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): La Capilla del Hombre (mile 124), Wiwa Quito (mile 144)
- Nature and outdoors: Botanical Garden Atocha-La Liria (mile 37), Cotopaxi National Park (mile 83), Gustavo Orcés V. Natural History Museum (mile 117), Quito Botanical Garden (mile 124)
- Museums and history: Museum House of Sucre (mile 116), Gustavo Orcés V. Natural History Museum (mile 117), La Capilla del Hombre (mile 124), Cochasquí (mile 156), Inca-Caranqui (mile 194)
- With kids: Wiwa Quito (mile 144)
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.
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.
Museum House of Sucre
Sucre House is a museum in Quito's historic center, established in 1977 by Ecuador's Ministry of Defence.
Gustavo Orcés V. Natural History Museum
A natural history museum in Quito, Ecuador, the Gustavo Orcés V. Natural History Museum was established in 2005.
La Capilla del Hombre
Painter Oswaldo Guayasamín's La Capilla del Hombre is a purpose-built art museum in Bellavista, overlooking Quito, dedicated to the peoples of Latin America.
Quito Botanical Garden
Covering 18,600 square meters in Quito, the Quito Botanical Garden combines a park, arboretum and greenhouses displaying plant species from across Ecuador.
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.
Cochasquí
On the slopes of Mojanda, an inactive volcano in Pichincha province, Cochasquí is an archaeological site in Ecuador's northern highlands, 52 km north of Quito.
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
- Quevedo to Tulcán
- Babahoyo to Tulcán
- Guayaquil to Tulcán
From Riobamba to other places in Ecuador
- Riobamba to Mindo
- Riobamba to Otavalo
- Riobamba to Salinas
- Riobamba to Puerto López
- Riobamba to Puerto Cayo
- Riobamba to Agua Blanca
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Riobamba to Tulcán?
About 6 h 34 min of driving without stops, over 272 miles.
What is the driving distance from Riobamba to Tulcán?
About 272 miles (438 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 Riobamba to Tulcán 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 Riobamba to Tulcán use?
In order: E35, E28A, E28B and E282. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Riobamba and Tulcán?
Closest to the road: Botanical Garden Atocha-La Liria (botanical garden, mile 37, 1 mi from the route); La Capilla del Hombre (museum, mile 124, 0.5 mi from the route); Wiwa Quito (zoo, mile 144, 0.7 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.