The Wayro route from Tequila to Cuetzalan is 537 miles (864 km), about 9 h 3 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 537 mi (864 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 3 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-M40D → MEX-136 → MEX-140D → MEX-129D → PUE 575 |
| Mexican states on the route | Jalisco (Level 3), Michoacán (Level 4), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2), Puebla (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-140D, MEX-129D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
Driving this route in a car with U.S. plates
| Temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) | Required: this route is outside the zones where U.S.-registered cars can skip the temporary import permit (Baja California, Baja California Sur and part of Sonora) |
|---|---|
| Mexican auto insurance | Required for all vehicles: buy a Mexican policy before you drive |
Sources: U.S. State Department, Mexico travel information (updated August 11, 2026); permits are issued by Banjercito.
What the drive from Tequila to Cuetzalan is like
MEX-15D (275 mi) and MEX-M40D (121 mi) carry about 74% of the 537 miles. MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-140D, MEX-129D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-15, MEX-136 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 6 states: Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala, Puebla. Of the 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Tequila to Cuetzalan, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 4–25 | 21 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 25–36 | 11 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 36–290 | 254 | Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico |
| MEX-M40D | 290–411 | 121 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala |
| MEX-136 | 411–464 | 53 | Tlaxcala |
| connecting roads | 464–465 | 1 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-140D | 465–478 | 13 | Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| MEX-129D | 478–503 | 25 | Puebla |
| connecting roads | 503–505 | 2 | Puebla |
| PUE 575 | 505–536 | 31 | Puebla |
| local roads | 536–537 | 1 | Puebla |
- Mile 104 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 272 of this route: Michoacán → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 322 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 352 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 366 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 383 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 395 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 403 of this route: Hidalgo → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 473 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
Stops between Tequila and Cuetzalan
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 35)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (mile 35), Rayón National Park (mile 268), La Malinche National Park (mile 452)
- Museums and history: Guachimontones (mile 11), Museo del Periodismo y las Artes Gráficas (mile 40), Museo Regional de la Cerámica (mile 44), Jorge R. Acosta Museum (mile 335)
Guachimontones
Near the town of Teuchitlán, Guachimontones is known for its circular structures. INAH describes it as the first large population center in western Mexico, emerging around 1000 BC, with two ball courts and about 40 circular buildings across 20 hectares.
Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara
Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara is a public park in Zapopan, Jalisco, that hosts many events, including concerts, outdoor movie screenings and food festivals.
Museo del Periodismo y las Artes Gráficas
The Museo del Periodismo y las Artes Gráficas stands on Paseo Alcalde, formerly Avenida Alcalde, in the city of Guadalajara, Jalisco.
Museo Regional de la Cerámica
On Calle Independencia in central Tlaquepaque, Jalisco, the Museo Regional de la Cerámica is one of the town's two main ceramics museums.
Rayón National Park
Just outside Tlalpujahua, Rayón National Park (Parque Nacional Rayón) marks the start of the area's famous butterfly reserve country, which stretches south and west from here.
Jorge R. Acosta Museum
Next to the Tula ruins, the Museo de Sitio Jorge R. Acosta traces the rise and decline of the Toltecs and their city, Tollan Xicocotitlan. It moved into new facilities in 1982 and covers nearly 20 years of digs led by archaeologist Jorge R. Acosta.
Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque
Built by Franciscan friar Francisco de Tembleque between 1554 and 1572, this 16th-century water system runs more than 48 km between Zempoala and Otumba. Its tallest arcade at Tepeyahualco reaches almost 40 meters, and UNESCO listed it in 2015.
La Malinche National Park
Tlaxcala's La Malinche National Park surrounds the inactive Matlalcuéyetl volcano, with pine, oak and fir forests on its slopes, hiking trails, birdwatching, and stone cabins and campsites at the Malintzi Vacation Center.
When you get to Cuetzalan
Yohualichan
Pre-Columbian ruins at Yohualichan form an archaeological site in the municipality of Cuetzalan del Progreso, in the Mexican state of Puebla.
More drives to Cuetzalan
- Chiautempan to Cuetzalan
- Cholula to Cuetzalan
- Huejotzingo to Cuetzalan
- Calpulalpan to Cuetzalan
- Pachuca to Cuetzalan
- Otumba to Cuetzalan
From Tequila to other places in Mexico
- Tequila to Temacapulín
- Tequila to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Tequila to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Tequila to Calvillo
- Tequila to Real de Asientos
- Tequila to El Rosario, Sinaloa
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tequila to Cuetzalan?
About 9 h 3 min of driving without stops, over 537 miles.
How far is Cuetzalan from Tequila by car?
About 537 miles (864 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.
Do I need a permit to drive my U.S. car from Tequila to Cuetzalan?
Yes. A temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) is required for a U.S.-registered car on this route, which is outside the zones where it can be skipped. Mexican auto insurance is required for every vehicle.
Is it safe to drive from Tequila to Cuetzalan?
The U.S. State Department rates Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Tequila to Cuetzalan use?
In order: MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-M40D, MEX-136, MEX-140D, MEX-129D and PUE 575. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Tequila and Cuetzalan?
Closest to the road: Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara (park, mile 35, 0.9 mi from the route); Museo Regional de la Cerámica (museum, mile 44, 1 mi from the route); Jorge R. Acosta Museum (museum, mile 335, 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 mile 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 (roughly 2 to 7 miles depending on the type, farther for World Heritage sites): at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, with no more than five of one type, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place and city 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 September 29, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.